Chong Heon Rhee

Dr. Chong Heon Rhee, 83, passed away peacefully Christmas Eve with his family by his side at Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA. His memorial service will be held this Saturday, December 29 at 3pm at Onnuri Church, 17200 Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA 92614.

Dr. Rhee was born on September 10, 1935 in Umsung, South Korea and immigrated to the United States in 1968. He graduated from Seoul National University Medical School in 1961 and also received his Ph.D. from Seoul National in 1967. After immigrating the following year, he started his fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, then practiced at Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut as a pulmonary specialist for 19 years. He later became the Head of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care at Samsung Hospital in Seoul, Korea.

He married Youngsil Lee on October 12, 1964 and raised two children, Mia and James. He is survived by his children, son-in-law, Daniel, and two grandchildren, Zander and Jackson.

He will always be remembered by his loved ones as a scholar and gentle man of faith. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.