In memoriam: Lee Morse Love (2008)

Lee Morse Love, a pioneer in reporting on United Nations’ efforts to ensure the peaceful uses of outer space for over 40 years, passed away Sunday 31 August 2008. She wrote about the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space from its early days, and her personal relations were so close with committee members that during the Cold War years she was one of the very few people who was able to entertain delegates from both the United Sates and the former Soviet Union at the same occasion.

By the time she left the U.N., only a few months prior to her illness, Lee had covered man’s flights into space and the moon and reported on arguments over who owned the rights to outer space, seas and satellites orbits. She attended the annual International Astronautical Congress all over the world and was elected to membership in the International Institute of Space Law in recognition of her work in the area of space law and policy.

Lee was also hired by the United States Agency for International Development to go to places like Truk in Micronesia, to see if and how satellites could help its many islands to better communicate.

Her generosity and warmth were eclipsed only by her beauty. A former model and actress, she studied at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. She grew up in Los Angeles, moved to New York and opened her heart and home to the world.

In a world of givers and takers, she was a giver with no boundaries. Lee’s love and devotion to the United Nations and its diplomatic concepts brought people together from all over the world regardless of race, religion or political beliefs.

With her boundless energy, Lee touched and brought joy to so many people. She will be missed by all her family, friends and anyone fortunate to have been in her company

Lee Lee, as she was known, by those closest to her, leaves behind her loving husband of sixty years, Matthew; her children, Wendy Barnard and Gregory Love and his fiancé Nipa; and her grandchildren, Lance, Alessandra, Samantha and Anouchka and many loving nephews and nieces. One of Lee Lee’s favorite expressions was: Age is a number and mine is unlisted, and it will remain so as per her wishes.

New York services will be held on Wednesday, 10:30am at Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, Amsterdam & 91st, Manhattan. Funeral Services will be held on Friday 2:00pm at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles, 6001 W Centinela Ave., where she will rejoin her mother, father, and loving sister Florence. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lee and Matthew Love Foundation (a charitable foundation) (860 UN Plaza Apt. 23A, New York, NY 10017) for the funding of the Lee Love Award for members of the winning team at the International Institute of Space Law’s annual Moot Court Competition.