Remembering Visionary Citizen Activist and Author Pamela Roberts Lee

Alamogordo is an area with a deep and rich history of ranching families and the influence of families with deep roots within the region. However the story of Alamogordo is much richer due to the influence of certain individuals that transplanted here, many because of military connections. Once transplanted they have made Alamogordo their home and some, such as Pamela Roberts Lee, will long be remembered beyond their time here for the positive impact, vision and legacy they have left that will live well beyond their lives.

It is with profound sadness and admiration that streaming KALHRadio.org and AlamogordoTownNews.org highlights the legacy of Pamela Roberts Lee in memorium of her death. 

Pamela Roberts Lee passed away on January 20, 2025, at Casa Arena Health Care in Alamogordo, New Mexico. She leaves behind her husband, Matthew Grinberg; her sister, Cheryl Berardi; her daughters, Christine Lee and Nicole Moore; her grandchildren, Walker and Ava Moore.

Pamela was born in Richmond, California on May 30, 1948, to Thaddeus and Omita Lee. Her family moved to Pleasant Hill, California, then Seattle, Washington, and later to Mount Prospect, Illinois. She graduated from Prospect High School in 1966.

Pamela got a BA in Political Science from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in 1970. She then got a Juris Doctor degree from Drake in 1973 specializing in Advocacy. From early on, Pamela had an interest in the military and in particular the Air Force. After her first law degree, she joined the Air Force and was sent to George Washington University in Washington, DC to get her Master of Laws degree in 1979, specializing in Government Contracts.

Even as a young adult and a military officer she was a pioneering spirit, as in the early 80's there were few women in the Military JAG corps. Even today, fewer than 1 in 11 that apply are garnered the prestigious placement of sevice to the JAG corps.

Pamela got a BA in Political Science from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in 1970. She then got a Juris Doctor degree from Drake in 1973 specializing in Advocacy. From early on, Pamela had an interest in the military and in particular the Air Force. After her first law degree, she joined the Air Force and was sent to George Washington University in Washington, DC to get her Master of Laws degree in 1979, specializing in Government Contracts.

Her assignments as a Judge Advocate in the Air Force were McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington, Keflavik Naval Air Station in Iceland, Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and the Pentagon. In 1985, Pamela argued the case United States vs. Albertini before the US Supreme Court and won. The decision allowed military bases to bar criminals from base open house events. In 1985, Pamela left active duty and went into the Air Force Reserves as a Judge Advocate eventually retiring in 1998, as a Colonel.

After leaving active duty, Pamela went to the Department of Justice as a trial attorney working on environmental cases. In her work for environmental justice with the Department of Justice she won and had a positive impact on multiple cases to include CEMEX, Indiana Power and Gas and many more. For a brief time, between two jobs at the Department of Justice, she was with a private law firm. During that time, she was a member of the Virginia Transportation Board representing Northern Virginia.

Pamela met her husband Matthew  at the Arlington Chess Club in Arlington, Virginia in 2001 and started dating that August. They got a house together in Kingstowne, Virginia in 2004.

After retiring from the Department of Justice in 2010, she moved to Alamogordo with Matthew whom she married in 2016, at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Once here, she started on the passion of her life, writing the historical novel, “The Darkness at Dawn”.  

The writing of this historical novel which blended factual historical events and family history with a fictional license took 9 years to complete and fulfilled a deep passion connecting her to her historical roots.  In an interview with Hudson Weekly Pamela said,  "My career, first in the military as a US Air Force Colonel Judge Advocate General, and then as a Trial Attorney at the US Justice Department, was important in understanding the legal and governmental systems of the New England Colonists" and was key to research and development of the novel.

She continued in reflection of her writing, 
"The struggles of the early New England Colonists: trying to create new settlements out of nothing; trying to understand and coexist with the Indians; passing along their faith and culture to new generations in a new land.

The history of Colonial New England – i.e. even before the Revolutionary War, there was a lot we should know about US history, how they traveled to New England, how they governed themselves, how they dealt with the Indians, including the Pequot and King Philip’s Wars, and how they dealt with the nearby Dutch colonists.

How the colonists dealt with the difficulties of establishing the colonies through their faith, irrespective of specific religious doctrine, and hard work and persistence."

She said, "all told it took me just short of 9 years to complete the novel. The first four years were consumed with research and outlining the novel’s story. Five more years were needed to complete the writing and editing...and helped establish a closer connection to the stories she heard as a young girl. She said "at a young age my grandfather told me of my early English ancestors who came to America in the 17th Century, including John Lee who is the main character of The Darkness at Dawn."

After 9 years of research and writing, the book was published to rave reviews in 2019.

Not one to rest, Pamela then turned her attention to her local Alamogordo community with passion and commitment to a vision of revitalization and preservation as well as democratization of local city government.  She served as President of the local chapter of MOAA (Military Officers Association of America), the was elected Chairwoman of the then active Alamogordo Planning and Zoning Commission, served as a board member of the International Space Hall of Fame and did a lot of work for St. John’s Episcopal Church. Her passion and vision is part of thr reason you see the Alamogordo MainStreet makeover on New York Avenue as she was a leading advocate who worked to bring the Main Street movement and organization to Alamogordo.  Politically she was a mover and shaker as the person who started the drive to have the mayor elected in a general election instead of being selected by the City Commissioners.

Outside of work, Pamela had several interests. Since being taught by her father as a child, she was an avid golfer. After moving to Alamogordo, she cranked up her game and won the Alamogordo Women’s Golf Championship in 2017, with a two-round score of 162.

From when she was in ROTC Pamela was an avid runner. She ran in some marathons and was doing 10 milers as recently as 20 years ago. Even after she stopped racing, she still ran along Scenic Drive for exercise until five years ago.

In the area of sports, Pamela was a great 49ers fan from the time she was a child living in the San Francisco Bay area. She went to many 49ers games with Matthew after retiring. She also went to three Super Bowls with the 49ers, two with her father and one with Matthew.

Another interest from childhood was astronomy. Pam always had a telescope and loved star gazing. Part of the reason for moving to Alamogordo was to have good skies. With Matthew, she joined the Alamogordo Astronomy Club. Pamela and Matthew went to two White Sands Star Parties and three Texas Star Parties in Fort Davis.

For about 10 years, Pamela was an avid chess player and played in tournaments in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New Mexico. She won the Upset Prize at the 2002 US Open Chess Championship, round 1, Thomas Levine (1954), Pam (1016). With the rating difference, Pam would be expected to win about 1 game in 200 against Thomas.

Pamela also loved to travel and with Matthew, took trips to Italy, Australia, England, Wales, Scotland, France, and Belgium.

Favorite quotes: "Persistence will always overcome doubt." Pamela Lee; "Dreams must never be destroyed by details." Pamela Lee; "It is part of the American character to consider nothing as desperate." Thomas Jefferson

In memorium we honor the memory of Pamela Roberts Lee.

The memorial service for Pamela Lee will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Alamogordo Funeral Home with Father Michael Drinkwater officiating.

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