Widower saw a young couple dining and was reminded of late wife. He left them a note and a surprise — all for her
After Carol's death, Lee visited an Italian restaurant where he dined alone for a first time.
Oftentimes, we find pieces of ourselves reflected in others — be it moments that pull us back to a time when we were younger, in love, or simply living a chapter that is now in the past. In one such emotional tale from January 2014, a widower at a restaurant noticed a young couple and was struck by a wave of memory. With a touching note on a napkin, he let them know how much they reminded him of something deeply special. Then he went on to do a gesture for the couple, as an ode to his late wife.
Lee Ballantyne, originally from Kirkland Lake, is a widower who lost his wife Carol due to lung cancer a couple of days before the incident. After her death at 62, Lee visited an Italian restaurant in Barrie, where he decided to dine alone for the first time. Carol and Lee were high school sweethearts in 1970 and were married for 43 years, going on to have three sons and five grandchildren. As Lee sat there grieving his dear wife, he spotted a young couple in the restaurant, a sight that took him back to the time he spent with his late wife. Watching them enjoying their time reminded Lee of his most cherished memories that he'd made with his wife before her death. Moved by the couple, Lee decided to pay homage to his wife by paying for the young couple's meals. He called the waitress and informed her of his request and asked her to send an anonymous note to the couple that read, "Hi, you don't know me, but my beautiful wife of 43 years died last week. Tonight, I dined alone for the first time. You remind me of us many years ago. Please allow me to buy your dinner. Enjoy! It would put a smile on Carol's face and make me happy. For now, Happy New Year! Lee B, Pay it forward."
Immediately after the incident, Lee's family received online messages from the people who informed them that the note had been shared online and was being widely circulated. Lee and Carol's son, Jason Ballantyne, was proud of his dad for making a meaningful gesture, despite grieving the loss of his 'best friend' of 43 years. "I know my mom would be tremendously proud,” he said. “My parents had a very special relationship," Jason revealed.
In an essay authored by Kristin Fitzgerald-Zita in 2021, she reflects on the profound loss of her son, Thomas, who lived only 20 hours. In his memory, she and her partner initiated 'March 9 Random Act of Kindness Day,' encouraging others to perform acts of kindness on his birthday. This initiative grew into a global movement, with people worldwide participating in various acts of kindness, such as buying flowers for strangers, donating to charities, and supporting local businesses. Similarly, a study authored by A. Darvishpour in 2025 examined how many adults cope with grief by focusing on their engagement in compassionate outreach. The findings showed that many individuals channel their grief into helping others, doing kind gestures, which proves that acts of kindness can be a significant part of the healing process — just as Lee had shown.
More on Scoop Upworthy
Waitress moved to tears after receiving thank you note from widow eating alone
Daughter gives her grieving dad a blanket — when he saw what was on it, he broke down
Share on Facebook
