Steve Young Rhee

Dr. Steve (Sei) Young Rhee, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU), died April 26, 2012 after a valiant battle with bile duct cancer, with his family by his side at his home in Oceanside, California. He was 77.

As an international expert on Far East Asian affairs he served on many panels and organizations traveling the globe. He helped develop Asian studies programs at AASU by bringing authorities around the world to Savannah, Georgia. Later in life, he served as a regular columnist in several journals and translator, honing his fluency in Japanese, Korean, French, and English.

Steve (Sei)Young Rhee was born in Seoul, Korea in February 17, 1935 and as a student at Korea University, decided to head to the United States to further his studies at the University of Oregon. Dr Rhee met Sarah Rhee, both students at the university. They married on May 5, 1963 in Eugene, Oregon.

He received both his BA and MA in Political Science in 1962 and 1964. After graduation, they moved to Missouri where he obtained his Ph.D in Political Science in 1973 from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He retired in 2003 after 30 years of teaching at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. Dr Rhee then moved to Oceanside, California in 2007. He was a member of the Palomar Korean Church in San Marcos, California.

Dr Rhee, through his many years of teaching, was asked what did he enjoy the most about teaching. He replied, “the students.” He was known to be a gentle professor, encouraging both his students and colleagues, and was recognized as the recipient of The H. Dean Propst Teacher of the Year Award in 1991.

He is survived by his loving wife Sarah Rhee; a son, Dr. Eugene Rhee, a physician, and daughter, Dr Sonia Rhee, a pharmacist, both from San Diego, California; a sister and brother in Seoul, Korea, as well as nieces and nephews.

His interests included traveling, gardening, and teaching and he worked with various veterans’ charities and food banks.