Michael Lee has passed away at the age of 70. Lee lost his battle with lung cancer early Friday morning.
Lee founded the gay apparel brand ‘Jocko’ in 1993. ‘Jocko’ was sold in gay boutiques throughout the United States including the former Los Angeles Sporting Club in West Hollywood, Union Jack in Dallas, Pride Factory in Fort Lauderdale, among others.
In early 2000, Lee partnered with Kamal Ahmed. Ahmed would take over the management and direction of the brand ‘Jocko’. Lee continued to consult until 2014 when he pulled the plug on Ahmed and sold the brand to Underwear Station, a large wholesale distributor. Ahmed is the licensee of the ‘undergear’ brand, an offspring of the International Male catalog.
Michael spent his life in WeHo and had many friends in the community. His smile and authenticity touched everybody he met. David Wood, former Chair of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and long term friend was close to Lee throughout his illness.
Upon Lee’s passing Wood announced “Today we lost one of the good ones, my dear friend Michael Lee.”, “Alas Michael succumbed to the complications of lung cancer this morning after a valiant 15 month fight at the mighty age of 70. You can say a man’s life can be judged by his friends- and Michael had alot of them who loved him dearly, as did his family.”
Rolanda Watts wrote about Lee “Michael was such a kind, funny and wonderful man. His positive spirit lit up the room.” Lee was known for his sense of humor and down to earth style.
Michael’s sister Cindy wrote about her brother “Mike asserted his fashion sense at an early age. He proudly told our mother what outfits to buy for my Barbie.
Lee was born in Toledo, Ohio. The family moved to Fort Lauderdale and where Mike attended Pine Crest High School and captured the superlative ‘most popular’ said his sister Cindy. ”
“Frequently Mike would skip the last couple of periods of the school day when he had study hall. He and his friends would come home and play Bridge. Mother sanctioned this minor transgression because she knew what he was up to and, after all, it was Bridge. She would even sit in if they needed a fourth.”
RIP Michael Lee.
#cancersucks
Thank you Michael Vajen Lee. You helped create the sexy atmosphere in Boystown.
Jocko was such a popular brand in the day, prominent in most of the gay retailers in Boystown. I often wondered where it went. Now I know who was behind it.
So he founded an underwear company?
Dude. Knock it off.