M. Owen Lee

Mark Owen Lee, also known as M. Owen Lee and Father Owen Lee (May 28, 1930 – July 25, 2019), was an American-Canadian classics and music scholar and Roman Catholic priest.

He was the first person to be awarded a PhD in classics at the University of British Columbia (in 1960), a professor emeritus of classics at the University of Toronto, a holder of four honorary degrees, and an author of more than 20 books on various subjects, such as opera, Richard Wagner, and Der Ring des Nibelungen.

[1][2] Lee was also active as a commentator on musical topics.

He was especially well known for his many contributions as intermission commentator, pianist, and quiz panelist on the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts.

[3] Lee died in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 25, 2019, at the age of 89.