Kae Yol Lee

Dr. Kae Yol Lee (이계열), MD, PhD, (born May 3, 1939 in Seoul, South Korea) passed away on July 18, 2026 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY surrounded by the love of his family. Dr. Lee immigrated to Rochester, NY with his wife and two daughters to pursue academic freedom for himself and his family. As a medical researcher in gastroenterology for 35 years at both Genesee Hospital and Strong Memorial Hospital, he contributed to over 100 academic publications which are still cited today. His interests included politics, comparative religion, and philosophy. He adored opera and classical music; his car radio was always tuned to WXXI AM 1370 or FM 91.5. While he never had the opportunity to take formal music lessons, he could pick up any instrument and play a tune. He proudly supported music study for his daughters at the Eastman Community Music School and the tradition continues with his grandchildren today. One of the earliest Korean immigrant families to the Rochester area, Dr. Lee, his wife, and other new families from South Korea were early and active members of the Greater Rochester Korean American Association where Dr. Lee served as president of their golf club for several years. Dr. Lee was an avid and enthusiastic golfer and a member of Victor Hills Golf Course for 25 years. He boasted about his two holes-in-one, golfed with his league partners every week from spring to fall, and spent one of his last spring days playing 18 holes while promising to watch his wife make a hole-in-one one day soon. He was married to his wife, Soon Ja (백순자), for 56 and a half years after only dating for a short four months. On one of their first dates, they went to see "The Sound of Music", and it became a well-loved classic in their household. In his final days, he sang songs for his family and hospital staff that he recalled singing with his wife in the early days of their marriage. In addition to his wife, Soon Ja, he is survived by their daughters, Christina and Terri, and their grandchildren, Miya, Rose, Oscar, Max, and Nabi. His wife, children, grandchildren, sister, nieces, nephews, and dear friends all gathered by his bedside at the end and he called siblings in California, New Jersey, Georgia, and South Korea to share memories of their childhood. It was a loving and tearful goodbye. He will be greatly missed and remembered for his kind smile, dimples, silly jokes, and diligent monitoring of flights when any family member traveled. Family and friends are invited to call from 10am-12pm on Sunday, August 30, 2026 at Leo M. Bean and Sons Funeral Home, 2771 Chili Avenue Rochester, NY 14624. A celebration of his life will immediately follow at 12pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dr. Lee's honor to the Wilmot Cancer Institute (https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/cancer-institute/giving/make-a-gift), where he received stellar care, WXXI (https://donate.wxxi.org/wxxi/donate), or the Eastman Community Music School (https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1676/giving19/giving19.aspx?sid=1676&gid=2&pgid=13050&cid=19831&appealcode=25EAW)

Kae Yol Lee

May 3, 1939 - July 18, 2026