Robert H. Lee's Obituary
Bob Lee, loving husband, brother, son, uncle, and friend, passed away suddenly on the evening of Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the age of 76. While his heart may have failed him, it guided a life full of compassion, empathy, and generosity.
Bob was born in Nanking, China, on July 1, 1947. He was the first-born son of Ock Wing Lee and Kuo Wah Tsang, who wed there during Ock Wing's service in the U.S. Army. In rapid succession, Bob became the big brother, or Goh-goh, to two baby sisters and, over the next decade, gained a younger brother and a third sister. Bob fulfilled the role of big brother in varying degrees but always with a sense of responsibility and deep loyalty.
The family settled on the East Coast, developing strong roots in New Hyde Park, NY, where the Lees owned and operated a laundry and laundromat. Bob graduated from Sewanhaka Technical High School, attended Boston University where he studied Aeronautical Engineering and Business, and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Following his tour of duty (Specialist 5th Class), Bob worked as a claims adjuster for Allstate Insurance in Elmhurst, New York.
In the early 70s, two of Bob’s sisters moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Like so many Baby Boomers, Bob was intrigued by the West Coast and soon planned a visit. He headed to California with a buddy with whom he also toured Japan and Hong Kong. His sister Barbara encouraged him to connect with her friend in Honolulu on the return trip. She was a graduate student at the University of Hawaii and soon-to-be an ESL educator named Louise Y. Louie. The two of them hit it off immediately and continued to see each other back in the Bay Area. They married in August of 1979, forging an unwavering partnership that lasted 53 years.
In 1972, Bob helped the rest of his family relocate to Oakland, CA. Soon after, he found a position in the federal government at the General Services Administration in San Francisco, first as an accountant and then as a stationary plant engineer. He retired in 2005 after a 32-year career.
In addition to working and helping manage residential/commercial property for Louise’s family, Bob was a grand tinkerer–delving into everything from computer hard drives to auto engines. He was an avid fan of PBS (and Dr. Who), fine wine, and siu yeh (late night meals). In later years, but especially since retirement, Bob caught a serious travel bug: he and Louise visited the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, Africa, and numerous countries in Asia and the Pacific Islands as well as continental Europe. While many of these trips fulfilled his “bucket list,” it was their second home in Oahu, HI, where Bob found great comfort and peace.
Bob is survived by his devoted wife Louise; sisters Barbara Jue of San Francisco and Betty Hawks (Richard) of Washington, DC; brother Ronald (of San Francisco) and sister Brenda Lee (John Fischler) of San Jose. He impacted the lives of brother- and sister-in-law Frank and Jean Chin; numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, and a grand-niece; and many life-long friends. Let us take comfort in knowing that all of you touched his life, just as he indelibly touched ours.
Arrangements have been made for a private viewing to be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Skylawn Funeral Home, San Mateo. A Celebration of Life gathering for Bob will take place at a later time and place to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of these non-profits whose aim is, in part, to assist immigrant families in transition:
Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), caasf.org
Wu Yee Children’s Services, wuyee.org
Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC), chinatowncdc.org
Please reach out to Skylawn Funeral Home with questions or concerns regarding health and safety, parking and facilities, as well as questions about the Memorial Park. The hours of operation are Monday through Sunday, 8:30am-5:00pm
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