Sam Yit Lee

Sam Yit Lee, 91, of Fredericksburg, VA passed away peacefully on January 26, 2017 surrounded by his four children Maude, Vanessa, Diane, Kory and wife, Mary Anne Scott Lee. In addition to them, he is survived by eight nieces and nephews and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Isabel Lee and four sisters, Hung Chun Chun, Yan Keo Ching, Chew Fong Young and Bau Hung Yuen. Sam was born in Hilo, Hawaii in 1925. At the time Pearl Harbor was bombed he was a high school sophomore and when he recalled hearing loud booms which were Japanese submarines shelling Hilo Bay. Drafted into the Army at the age of 18, he completed his enlistment and later earned an appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY after WWII. His matriculation was interrupted by the passing of his mother, necessitating the return to Hawaii to support his sisters. Sam was a life-long learner earning two Bachelor of Science degrees in Engineering and Tropical Agriculture and a Master of Business Administration degree. As a civil servant for the Navy, he worked as an electronics engineer at Pearl Harbor Navy Base, Hawaii and Washington Navy Yard, D.C. After retiring, he spent much of his time traveling the world to far off destinations to include Iceland, India, Israel, Peru, Syria, Jordan and China. He continued his studies at George Mason University by auditing art history, meteorology, studio art, world history and religion classes. His sculptures were displayed at the University and a Georgetown gallery. His hobbies included fishing, raising orchids, tropical fish and pheasants. He also enjoyed designing and building a sunroom, gazebo, patio, koi fish pond, and was an avid player and fan of tennis. A private memorial service was held on February 25, 2017 at Demaine Funeral Home in Springfield. In March, Sam will receive full military burial rites at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. Donations may be sent to George Mason University in memory of Sam Lee by selecting George Mason’s Memorial Gift Online at https://give.gmu.edu