LOCAL NEWS By Alana Bonillo and Joel Gausten
Remembering
Lee Vetland
1947 – 2019
I knew Lee Vetland since 1983. He was generous, giving and always there to help. As a Board member, he had some of the best qualities of anyone I ever met. We were fortunate enough to have him as a state president; he had the personality and the ability to work personalities and bring people together to get the job done. He was excellent at that. No matter who met Lee, no matter what part of the country we were in, people remembered him. He was a lot of fun to be around, knowledgeable and always ready to help anyone. He was just a great person. You had to know him to appreciate him. Joe Lubrano AASP/NJ Hall of Fame J&E Auto Body Clark, NJ
22 | New Jersey Automotive | February 2019
Lee will certainly be remembered as an industry icon for his many hardfought battles and what he accomplished to make the industry what it is today. - AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant
n January 1, longtime AASP/NJ member, shop owner and association Hall of Fame inductee Lee Vetland passed away at the age of 71. Vetland owned Lee’s Auto Body and Pine Top Service in Avenel, NJ and was the co-owner of the Colonia Country Club (the site of AASP/NJ’s annual Golf Outing) in Colonia. In addition to his long history with AASP/NJ, he was a longtime member of Auto Body Distributing Co. and served as president of the Garden State Automotive Federation, one of the groups that merged to form AASP/NJ nearly 20 years ago.
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Lee was a part of Auto Body Distributing Co. since 1977. He had a big influence on our company, and he served on the Board for many years. He helped make it what it is today. I don’t think our company would be as great as it is today without him. Lee was a very kind and caring man; he helped everyone. There aren’t a lot of guys around anymore who care the way he did. He did a lot for the industry, and I’m so sad about this. He’s going to be missed – personally and professionally. Karyn Breidt General Manager Auto Body Distributing Co. Hillside, NJ