Obituary of John Lee Lineburgh III

John "Lee" Lineburgh III, known to many as J Lee passed on January 2, 2025. He was born August 21, 1949 to J. L. Lineburgh Jr. and Louise Murphy Lineburgh of Waterbury, CT. His father was in the Army and was stationed in Japan where they lived for several years. Upon returning to the states, they resided in Waterbury where Lee attended elementary and middle school. He then completed his high school years at Cheshire Academy prep school, graduating 1967. He then attended Post University and earned a bachelor's degree in education. Throughout his youth he was very active in various sports and spent a lot of time at the YMCA. He was a lifeguard many summers and saved several lives. He was a swim coach, played college basketball and even had a tryout with NY Knicks. His father was a longtime member of the Mattatuck Fife & Drum Band, established in 1767, the oldest continually operating band in the county. Lee became a mascot at age 6 and then a member a couple years later. He took great pride in the band performing all over the country; one of the more memorable was at John F Kennedy' s inauguration at JFK's request. He built a career & excelled in sales specifically in the industrial laundry and linen services. Lee co-owned a bar in Danbury CT called the "Bushwhacker". He had many interests and loved learning and then implementing that new information. He earned another degree in environmental sciences and started a business in protecting the waterways from debris from construction and repairs of bridges. His travels eventually brought him to the Jersey Shore where he and his wife Stephanie fell in love with Cape May County. He is probably best known in this area for his management and marketing of Cape May Distillery (now known as Shore Craft Distillery). He came on board originally in 2013 when his nephew in law, Lee Phillips who started the business with a college friend, asked him to handle the sales and distribution. When the business closed in August 2023 they had developed over 12 different liquors and flavor profiles and were sold in bars, restaurants and liquor stores throughout New Jersey. Lee enjoyed life and had a serious love of fine dining, the Borgata and golf. He is survived by his wife Stephanie and her family, his half-sister Darby Wright of Washington, CT and his cousins Bruce Lineburgh of Noank, CT and James Lineburgh, Enfield, CT. There will be a memorial service in April, details to be announced. Lee would be pleased if any donations were sent to the Red Cross to benefit the fire victims in California or to your local Animal Shelter.