Santa Cruz County DA Bob Lee dies at age 57

Long-time Santa Cruz County District Attorney Bob Lee died early Saturday morning, officials have confirmed.

“Bob died in the early hours of this morning, at home, surrounded by friends and family, just as he has for the past several months,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosell said.

Lee had turned 57 on Oct. 12, Rosell said.

Lee had been battling cancer for the past several months and earlier this month, he announced that he would be stepping down from his position as the county’s top prosecutor. Lee had been elected to a fourth term, set to begin in January 2015.

In a statement released Oct. 8, Lee said he would be asking the Board of Supervisors to nominate Rosell as his successor.

“There are no words capable of expressing my heartache at not being able to serve my fourth term.” he said then. “The greatest privilege of my life has been to serve with my staff, and with so many members of the community, to make Santa Cruz County as safe and healthy as possible.”

Lee was a lifelong resident of Santa Cruz County who lived in Santa Cruz with his wife, Barbara Lee, an employee of the county Probation Department. The couple does not have children.

Lee was elected Santa Cruz County DA in 2002, having joined the office as an assistant district attorney in 1988.