Lola S. (Stendig) Lea

     Freeport - Lola Stendig Lea, 84, died on October 11, 2018, after a fierce battle with pulmonary fibrosis.  Lola was born on September 20, 1934, in New York City.   Lola started college when she was 15, earning a degree, cum laude, from NYU in 1950.  After college, Lola went on to Yale Law School where she was one of only 7 women in her class.  At Yale, she was a director of the Moot Court, a Chair of the Public Defenders and Secretary of the Executive Board.   After Yale, Lola continued to be ahead of her time, clerking for a federal judge and worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in New York.  Finding a glass ceiling at the U.S. Attorney’s office, Lola left being an AUSA and went on to represent Howard Hughes and his interests in landmark litigation with TWA.  Lola had an illustrious legal career arguing cases before the Supreme Court of the United State, being appointed to be the Chair of the New York State Commission of Investigation in 1981, a position that she pursued with her infamous tenacity, and chairing numerous committees for the bar association.  Eventually, Lola decided to leave her practice in New York and move to Maine to be near family.  In Maine, Lola continued to practice law and was also a member of the Parole Board, a trustee of the Freeport Community Library and was Director of the Liaison Staff for Maine OpSail 2000. 

     Lola was an avid knitter, gardener, cook, cake maker and wine enthusiast.  She will be missed by many but especially by her daughter, Jennie Stendig Lea Clegg, son in law, Campbell Clegg, and granddaughters, Rachel A. Clegg and Zelda Hershel V. Clegg.

     A graveside service will be held at 11 AM on Sunday, October 14, 2018 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services, 256 Bartlett St., Lewiston, ME. 04240 or Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL. 36104.  Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath.  Condolences may be made online at www.DaigleFuneralHome.com. 

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