St. John Vianney football quarterback Zach LaBarca throws the ball
St. John Vianney football quarterback Zach LaBarca throws the ball around during practice
John Lee, a standout football player at what was then Red Bank High School (now Red Bank Regional) in the early 1970s, has died. He was 71 years old.
Lee, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound defensive lineman, was a key player on Red Bank’s 9-0 team in his final season in 1971. The 1971 season was the first of three undefeated teams the Buccaneers had over a five-year period under head coach Bob Strangia.
Lee then played under head coach Tom Osborne at Nebraska University from 1973 to 1975. In his final season in 1975, he finished third in voting for the Lombardi Award.
More: Shore High School Football Summer Coverage: Player/Team Rankings, Previews, Must-See Games
He was then selected in the 13th round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the then San Diego Chargers, now the Los Angeles Chargers, and was a starter for the Chargers for several seasons before ending the NFL portion of his career in 1981 with the New England Patriots.
Lee eventually played for the Chicago Blitz and Arizona Wranglers in the United States Football League. With the Wranglers, he recorded six sacks in one game.
One of Lee’s teammates on Red Banks’ 1971 team was wide receiver Lonnie Allgood, who later played for Syracuse University before spending six seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills.
John Dana Lee Sr. died on Friday, August 16. He is survived by his ex-wife, Uva; three children, John D. Lee II, Shea-Ahmi Lee and Brie Ridolfi (Charlie); and two siblings, Lawrence Lee (Judy) and Sharon Lee.
A wake will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 1 to 5 p.m. and a service will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank.
