Lee Gutleber, esteemed and beloved wife, mother and pillar of the Long Island community, always had a kind word for everyone, passed away on Jan. 3, 2005 at the age of 61. Born in Neptune, NJ to Charles Hanigan and Mary Dafeldecker, she was orphaned at a young age and raised in foster care. She spent her life and passion creating the strong, supportive family and community that she missed as a child. Mrs. Gutleber passed away of congestive heart failure resulting from her fight with cancer.

She is survived by husband John J. Gutleber, president and CEO of Castagna Realty and their three daughters. Stephanie, a 2000 graduate of Cornell, works with real estate finance company Charter Mac Related Capital in Manhattan; Jaclyn, a 2002 graduate of Roger Williams University, will receive a master's degree in social work from Adelphi in 2005; and Megan, a junior at Cornell University, will study at the University of New South Wales in Australia this year.

Lacking opportunity as a young woman, Mrs. Gutleber worked hard to rise within the ranks of many of New York's prominent law firms as a paralegal. Her work in copyright law at Abeles, Clark and Osterberg brought her into contact with major musical performing artists of the time. On May 26, 1973, she married John Gutleber and devoted herself to raising their daughters and supporting a variety of local charities.

Mrs. Gutleber's compassion for those with limited opportunities and dedication to her community led her to leadership roles in many organizations across Long Island. The Neighborhood House in Setauket, the Museum at Stony Brook, the Ward-Melville Heritage Society, the Historical Society, the Usdan Center for the Performing Arts and Adelphi University all benefited from her dedication and counsel. She gave special attention to the Arthritis Foundation and the National Center for Disabilities, and found great satisfaction in her work there. "She always put the concerns of others ahead of her own," said her husband John. "In her values of family and charity, she was selfless and sought no personal recognition for what she did."

Simple and elegant in style, always in high heels, Mrs. Gutleber was affectionately known as "The Dancing Queen," for her grace on the dance floor. Whether the music called for the Charleston, a waltz or the Irish jig, she would be the first person in the room to dance at a party, and could follow any partner. At home, she would often hum to herself and was the first to offer comfort, loyalty and strong-willed support for her beloved family. Mrs. Gutleber also enjoyed travel and hours spent walking on the beach in Captiva Island and Naples, FL, hunting for seashells.

She loved to collect and create family heirlooms for her daughters, since she had never inherited any herself. Special china and a collection of teddy bears were among the treasures she wanted to share with her family. But perhaps her most important legacy was her honesty, her generosity and her support for her family and friends. "Even when she was sick, she would always say, 'Give me a smile,'" said her husband John. "We were all very proud of the life she led."

Mrs. Gutleber is also survived by brothers Charles Hanigan of New York, and William Hanigan of Michigan. The wake was held on Jan. 6 at OB Davis Funeral Home in Port Jefferson. The funeral mass was held on Jan. 7 at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Setauket. Donations in her memory may be made to any of the charitable organizations to which she contributed.