Not long ago a local Tribune subscriber brought an obituary from the Minneapolis newspaper to the newsroom. This was one of those special news obituaries for a musician with an Albert Lea connection named Thomas Nee. He died July 7 in Encinitas, Calif., and his news obituary was published in the July 14 issue of the Minneapolis newspaper.

A few weeks later another Tribune subscriber provided a second copy of the Thomas Nee obituary and two comments worth passing along. One said, “Don’t pass up this story! A native son who kept track of Albert Lea; the Nee family was prominent in Albert Lea.” The second was more timely and explained that Thomas would have been in Albert Lea on Aug. 16 for the 70th reunion of his Albert Lea High School graduating class.

As the previous sentence indicates, Thomas Nee graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1938 and the yearbook says he played in both the band and orchestra. This clearly indicates he obtained part of his early musical education from L.J. “Cap” Emmons. Incidentally, his obituary said he was a French horn player.

Thomas then attended the University of Minnesota School of Music and graduated in 1943. This was followed by service with the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.

In 1948 he received a master’s degree in music from St. Paul’s Hamline University.

From 1948 to 1967 Thomas was active in several orchestras and other musical groups and activities in the Twin Cities. In 1967 he became a faculty member of the University of California, San Diego. He was the musical director of the La Jolla Symphony Orchestra until 1998. And from 1960 to 1992 Thomas was the music director of the award-winning New Hampshire Music Festival. I have a hunch this festival was a yearly summertime music camp.

As the title on this column implies, other members of the Nee family made outstanding contributions to life in Albert Lea and also in the Twin Cities suburb of Fridley.

Thomas’s younger brother, William, graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1943. While in high school Bill, as he was better known, was a member of a radio club which led to a part-time job at KATE. And that’s where he met his future wife, Kay Bonner.

Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge during the winter of 1944-45 in Belgium.

After discharge from the army in 1946, Bill married Kay in 1947, and attended the University of Minnesota, graduating about 1951. He then became involved in radio, television and advertising sales.

The Nees moved to Fridley in 1956 and he became involved in this city’s civic affairs. During the years up to 1996 he was a member of the city council, served a total of 25 years as mayor, and was responsible for the creation of six public parks in Fridley.

Research by Linda Evenson, librarian at the Freeborn County Historical Museum, indicates Bill died Jan. 28, 2000, in Anoka County.

The parents of the Nee brothers, plus their sister, Martha (Nee) Gates, now of Minneapolis, were Pat and Ruby Nee.

This family came to the city in the 1930s from Oelwein, Iowa. Pat Nee was an employee of Interstate Power Co. and retired in 1957 as the assistant manager of the Albert Lea District. He was active in several civic organizations, including Naeve Hospital Association, Rotary, Eagles, president of the Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce, VFW and Americn Legion. His membership in the Legion and VFW was based on his service with the U.S. Army during World Wars I and II. He died on Jan. 1, 1967.

Ruby Nee was a physical and occupational therapist in Washington, D.C., and Fort Sheridan, Ill., during World War I. After coming to Albert Lea, she worked at Naeve Hospital. Ruby was on the hospital’s board, a member of their auxiliary, active with the Girl Scouts, Post 56 Legion Auxiliary, and a member of the Freeborn County Health Board.

The name of Ruby Nee was used for the former medical and science building at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. This building was constructed and given its name before her death in June 1976. Just when this building was torn down is a detail I was unable to determine. Anyway, it’s no longer around as a reminder of one of Albert Lea’s outstanding families of the past.

Ed Shannon’s column has been appearing in the Tribune every Friday since December 1984.