Dr. Kuhn Hong Lee, PhD, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 21 at his Cambridge home, at age 83. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Watertown and promoter of peace and justice.
Dr. Lee was born in 1938 in Seoul, Korea. In 1965, he married Bang Won, who is shown with him, above, while volunteering at a Rotary event. The Lees immigrated in 1970 to Mankato, Minnesota, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in economics in 1960 from Sung Kyun Kwan University, a master's in international economics in 1971 from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a PhD in international economics and education in 1985 from Walden University.
Dr. Lee served as the director of the International Student Office of Minnesota State University, Mankato for nearly three decades before retiring in 1998 as emeritus faculty. He and his wife then moved in 2000 to St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 2008 to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dr. Lee was a loving husband, caring father, doting grandfather, and admired leader, who made countless contributions to both Minnesota State University and his community. At the university, was recognized for his work building cross-cultural connections and promoting peace and justice. A dedicated Rotarian since 1970, he also served in a variety of officer and leadership roles in Mankato, St. Paul, and Boston.
At social events, Dr. Lee was always the life of the party. He loved playing golf, traveling (to countless countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America), making new friends, and spending time with his family. He looked forward to Christmas every year, when all of his children and grandchildren would gather in Boston.
Dr. Lee is survived by: his wife, Bang; his daughter and son-in-law, Patty Lee and Jaime Vidaurrazaga of Cambridge, and their three children, Ally, Tom and Christopher; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Souyeon Lee of Seoul, Korea, and their two children, Katie and Lisa; and his son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Joanne Lee of St. Paul, and their children Abby, Charis and Ethan.
Recently, Dr. Lee had a memorial service and burial. In lieu of flowers, make donations to the GoFundMe account in memory of Dr. Kuhn Hong Lee. Funds will be sent to in his honor to the Rotary Club of Watertown and to Rotary International.
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