Jennifer Lee Knowles (née Jennifer Hope Lee), CPO, passed away from serous carcinoma in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, on January 3, 2012. She was 46.
Born in New York, New York, on August 23, 1965, Knowles graduated from Ossining High School, New York, in 1983. She graduated from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, in 1987 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. She then worked as a senatorial aide during the late 1980s and early 1990s, before earning her bachelor of science degree in prosthetics and orthotics from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1995. Knowles returned to New York to complete her residency at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, and earn her American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC) certification.
Knowles joined the staff of Creative Technology Prosthetics & Orthotics, Denver, Colorado, last year. Prior to that she worked at La Torre Orthopedic Laboratory, Latham, New York, and at BioMetrics Prosthetics & Orthotics, Trumbull, Connecticut. She also worked as a volunteer prosthetist-orthotist and the U.S. coordinator for the Ecuadorian-focused, non-profit Fundación Prótesis para la Vida (Prosthetics for Life Foundation).
Creative Technology Prosthetics & Orthotics issued the following statement: “It is with heartfelt sentiments that we celebrate the life and achievements of our friend and colleague, Jen Lee, as we mourn her unexpected passing. Jen came on staff…in 2011 and advanced our practice with her professional experience and principled approach, along with her personal patient-first mindset…. We feel as honored she chose to work with us as we were to work with her.”
Knowles is preceded in death by her father Edwin Lee, and her in-laws Richard and Deloris Knowles. She is survived by her husband Mark, her mother, Jean Lee, and her sister, Kim Lee-Brown.
Donations can be made to the Fundación Prótesis para la Vida.