Longtime Malibu public servant Lee Gustafson died on Feb. 6.
Gustafson served as Postmaster of the United States Post Office in Malibu from the early 1980s until his retirement in 2000, and had served a total of 36 years with the United States Postal Service. He also served on the Malibu Chamber of Commerce during post office years.
Gustafson was born in Illinois on April 6, 1944 and grew up in the Mar Vista/Culver City area since he was 14 months old. He served in the U.S. Military in 1965, where he was mostly stationed in France.
Since his teens, Gustafson showed interest in America’s railroads — primarily those in the western states and California. He amassed a collection of railroad research material and artifacts and his research led him to co-author two books on the Santa Fe depots in California with publisher and personal friend Phil Serpico. Gustafson also assisted other authors by providing historical information and photos of railroad subjects.
He is survived by his two adult children, his brother, his sister, and many friends and former co-workers.
“He will be held forever in the hearts of his postal family,” a loved one said.
A memorial service will take place on Feb. 19 at the Chapel of the Islands at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home at 2 p.m.