A legendary figure in forensic science, he founded the University of New Haven’s forensic science program and led it for decades, while also serving as Connecticut’s chief criminalist and later Commissioner of Public Safety and head of the Connecticut State Police.

Globally influential, he worked as a forensic consultant across all 50 states and more than 46 countries, collaborating with hundreds of law enforcement agencies and testifying in courts worldwide more than a thousand times.

From 1978 to 2000, he directed the Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory and served as chief criminalist, while lecturing as an expert in forensics across the nation.

He credited his sister Sylvia Lee-Huang for support, emphasizing that without her there would be no Dr. Henry Lee.

He is survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife Margaret in 2017 and is survived by his daughter, son, their spouses, four grandchildren, and his partner Angel Xiaping Jiang with her sons.

In public matters, he denied any wrongdoing in the controversies that surrounded him.

Donations in his memory will support the Friends of Dr. Henry C. Lee Fund to enhance laboratory spaces, equipment, and teaching facilities at the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.

He authored or co-authored more than 40 books and was finalizing a new work on missing-persons investigations for posthumous publication.

At the time of his passing, he was working on a missing-persons investigations book with anticipated future publication.

In his final days, he continued to contribute to the field through a forthcoming book on missing-persons investigations and a prolific bibliography.

His international acclaim stemmed from involvement in high-profile cases such as the O. J. Simpson trial, the JonBenét Ramsey case, the Laci Peterson case, the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping, and post-9/11 forensic work.