Obituaries

Amanda Glorioso Lee, 24, Dies in New York City

East Hampton native was full of life despite illness, best friend says.

Amanda Lee had a Chinese tattoo that meant "fighter," a word that summed up her short 24 years.

Lee died on Tuesday night at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, according to her best friend Bethany Trowbridge, of East Hampton. She had been in hospice care since Friday after a long illness.

An East Hampton native, Lee had lived in Queens for 5 years with her boyfriend Kevin Hansel, whom she met during her studies at Queens College.

She had finally decided on psychology as a major, and was close to finishing her degree, but just couldn't finish in light of her illness.

"She had thousands of dreams. Amanda, she wanted to be everything. She just wanted to help people," Trowbridge said. Asked why that was so important to Lee, she answered: "People always helped her. Someone always stepped in to be there for her and she wanted to give back."

Born Amanda Marie Glorioso Lee at Southampton Hospital on Nov. 8, 1988, she was the youngest to Nanette Glorioso and Paul Lee. She and her older brother Paul Lee was raised primarily in East Hampton.

She attended Stella Maris, graduating from there in eighth grade, and moving onto East Hampton High School. At her high school graduation in 2006, she received a standing ovation as she walked across the stage to receive her diploma. It was the first time she had walked in about two years following an adverse reaction to the a tetanus shot.

"She never got back to where she was," Trowbridge said. "But she carried my babies. The girls were born that year and she was was helping me regardless," she said. Lee was godmother to Davianna and Rebecca Trowbridge, as well as 7 other children in the Philippines.

Lee's mother, who owned Glorioso's, a clothing shop that had stores in Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Montauk over the years, was from the Philippines. Lee's father was Chinese and Puerto Rican. Both of her parents predeceased her. Her brother, Paul Lee, of Hampton Bays, survives.

Her father died about 18 years ago and her mother in 2009, the same year Lee was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Despite the adversities that she faced, Lee was determined and fun loving.
"Amanda was a total tomboy. She was so much fun. She was the most vibrant person you could ever meet. She was always doing something crazy," Trowbridge recalled.

When the best friends were younger they'd chase the ducks at the Duck Pond in East Hampton or don "crazy hats" and jump out and scare passersby. Lee rode her skateboard or bike everywhere around East Hampton.

She was a talented musician, playing the drums and flute. She also sang. She performed at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton and at Our Lady of Peace in New York City.

Most of all, Lee was a good friend to many, keeping everyone's secrets, no matter what, her best friend said.

"Amanda was full of life," Trowbridge said. "She didn't let anything stop her. No matter what happened, she just saw it as another example to use to show people you can fight no matter what. Amanda was a fighter."

A wake will be held at the Peter DeLuca Funeral Home at 199 Bleeker Street, New York City, on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral will be held at Our Lady of Peace, 237 East 62nd Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, in New York City, on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Her friends are planning a memorial service in East Hampton. East Hampton Patch will post information when it becomes available.

Please join East Hampton Patch in remembering Amanda Lee. Leave a comment below to share your memories of the young woman. Our deepest condolences to her family and friends.


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