I met him a couple of times. He was genuinely nice on both occassions. He really seemed to love his fans, and the celebrity of his fame. He was excited for them when they met or interacted with him. In a way, it's good now that he can't be exploited by everyone around him anymore. It was an absolute disgusting shame how the carpet baggers, and hangers on kept forcing that tired old man to make appearances and use him as a cash cow. Especially those closest to him.
Back in the 70's if you read comics he was a God. I was 8, or 9 I think and once wrote him a letter about Thor. I was sure it would wind up in a comic book. It didn't. I did get a form letter, and a Thor key chain. My friends and I were blown away by that. I told him that story the first time I met him. He asked me if I still had either of them. I told him no. He said, "Why not?!"
His legacy is surely complex. A hero in his own right to legions of fans; unless of course you're in the Jack Kirby, or Steve Ditko camps. Supervillain would be a term you and other like minded tortured souls would probably use. One thing for sure, his creative genius will remain with us for a long, long time.
RIP and Excelsior Mr. Lee. Hope you can rest now. You deserve it.