I had just learned about the passing of Dr KH Lee. Dr Lee was a giant in the field of medicinal chemistry. He had welcomed me to participate in undergraduate research while I was at UNC studying for and preparing to go into dental school. He was always humble, honest, and friendly, and welcomed all questions and curiosities from me. It was an honor to have known Dr Lee. I send my condolences to his family and may he rest in peace.

Alexander Y Z Li DMD
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

I was a visiting scholar in 1997-2000.
Dr.Lee gave two chances to me.
First is to get Ph.D.
Second is to get a business chance.
I am running a pharmacy in Yokohama in Japan now. I asked him to
introduce someone in Japan for business relating consultation five years ago. Dr. Lee referred me to a Chinese researcher in Japan at once. He referred me to a medical professional, who lives in China town in Yokohama.
I owe Dr. Lee many things.
I really miss him.
Junko Ishida

 

Dr. Lee,

There aren't words to describe my time working with you, but it was something I'll never forget.  Your meticulous tea-making, your calligraphy and poetry, and just how funny you could be will stick with me forever.  And that's the sort of man you were - you left a lasting impression on everyone you met.  And you met everyone!

May your memory be a blessing,
Carrie Goldsmith

To our long-term mentor and beloved professor, K. H. Lee:

We were a stunned and saddened to learn of your passing on October 24th, 2021.

As a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of our research center, for over 10 years you tirelessly and constructively provided our faculty and young scholars with advice and suggestions on our research. Most importantly, your vision and conviction about the development of natural products and traditional medicines for human health greatly inspired and encouraged our Principal Investigators and all those associated with our Herbal Medicine Research group giving us the strength and conviction to carry on in our careers as scientists in Taiwan. We can hardly believe that we will never again hear your voice or receive your tutelage. But we will follow in your footsteps and never give up, continuing our research work on the modernization of herbal medicines! 

We will miss you forever, our mentor and role-model!


Lie-Fen Shyur and the Herbal Medicine Research Team 
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center
Academia Sinica
Taiwan



I am shocked and sad to know the message that you have just passed away on October 24, 2021, due to a heart attack. Not only possess outstanding research achievements but also mentored and helped numerous scientists, you are the best example for us. Until now, the guidance from you during my visiting student and postdoc in Chapel Hill (1986-1989) is still vivid, and I still really appreciate it.
Your compassion and kind heart will be kept in our memories. Two months ago, we discussed Taiwan Ching-Quan No 1 (NRICM 101), invented by my institute (National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taiwan). Your recommendation on using the clinically effective Chinese medicine as NRICM 101 to cure more COVID-19 patients helped the development of this medicine. And just one month ago, we received your beautiful calligraphy on the inscribed board presenting “Taiwan Traditional Medicine Museum (臺灣中醫藥博物館)” in our TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Museum of NRICM. The beautiful calligraphy you wrote is not only a fine piece of art but also an expression of the outstanding contributions of traditional medicines and natural products you have made.
My feelings and my respect for you are beyond my English ability. I hope Mrs. Lee and her family keep strong and healthy life with the moment and hope the following two sentences in Chinese can express Professor Lee’s contributions to the world.

國家棟樑天然醫藥 道傳羣英芳萬世
雄才異稟傳神書藝 德滿人間馨千秋

晚郭曜豪叩輓
Yao-Haur Kuo, National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taipei


I am still reckoning with the shock and sadness of Dr. Lee’s passing. I worked with Dr. KH Lee for over four years as his program administrator at NPRL, and in that time I met so many talented and dedicated scientists. I had so much respect for Dr. Lee and his research and was honored to get to work with that team from 2015-2019. I will miss Dr. Lee’s funny anecdotes, his frequent generosity with delicious group luncheons at the Carolina Club and sweets brought back from his trips to Taiwan (many a pineapple and cranberry cake were enjoyed by our entire team at NPRL). The holiday dinners with the entire team and Dr. Lee’s family were cherished memories to go with the calligraphy holiday cards I helped him send out to hundreds every year. I send all my love and hugs to his family during this terribly sad time. You will be missed, Dr. Lee. 

I am writing to express my sincere condolences on the unexpected passing of Professor K.H. Lee. Professor Lee was a mentor for me and many natural product scientists in Taiwan. I worked with Professor Lee during 2002-2003 when I was an exchange PhD student from Kaohsiung Medical University. He not only open up my horizons on drug discovery from natural products and traditional Chinese medicine, but also is a paradigm of the scientist to me. Besides, Professor Lee knew me as a hobbyist of Chinese calligraphy and kindly taught me the basic principles of 永字八法. I appreciate all the teaching and help he gave and keep them in my memories.  
Words fall short of expressing my sorrow for your loss. Dear Professor Lee, I will miss you forever. 

Chih-Chuang Liaw
Professor at Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources,
National Sun Yat-sen University
Kaohsiung, Taiwan



聽到李教授過世的消息真的很驚訝!!
李老師除了是一位名聞中外的科學家之外，對後輩的提攜也十分不遺餘力，非常謝謝李老師在NPRL的照顧。
除此之外，李老師在藝術方面的造詣也很高。我印象最深刻的是，李老師會用毛筆沾自來水在桌上或是擦手紙上示範寫書法。以及每年的十二月，總是可以準時收到李老師寄來的自製電子賀卡。
祝福李老師在另一個世界也可以開心地做想做的事情，也希望李老師的家人們健康平安。


I was deeply grieved to know Dr. Lee’s sudden passing. Until this moment, it was hard to accept the news. From 1993 to 1998, it is a privilege Dr. Lee was my research advisor at UNC-CH. In those years, Dr. Lee lived out a pattern of an intelligent, gracious, and organized professor. Besides, I experienced Dr. Lee was a family-oriented person. During my study, my mother was diagnosed as an advanced cancer with six-month lifespan. At that time, I was hoping to go back Taiwan to take care of my mother in her last days, and also meantime continued the graduate research. Through Dr. Lee’s arrangement, I was able to continue the research at Dr. LM Yang’s laboratory at National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine in Taiwan. Dr. Lee always sent greetings to me and my mother, and reminded me to take care. Fortunately, my mother lived beyond six months. I was so truly thankful for Dr. Lee’s support and encouragement in those difficult times. 

May Mrs. Lee and all the families be strengthened by grace in these difficult days 

I-Chen Sun
Center for Drug Evaluation, Taiwan

I met Dr. Lee in March 2021 when I was hired to help him wind down his Natural Products Research Laboratories at UNC. Though I did not know him long, his brilliance and kindness were immediately evident. He seemed driven by a passion to help people live their best lives with as few risks as possible.  It was an honor to have worked with him. 

One thing that particularly stuck out to me was how incredibly proud  he was of his family. Nearly every day he came into the office with a new story praising his wife, children, or grandchildren.  

My sincere condolences to Dr. Lee's family and to all those who knew him. He will certainly be missed. 

Sincerely, 
Rachel Thimke

We were very shocked and saddened to learn the passing of Dr. Lee. Please accept our deepest sympathy and condolences to Mrs. Lee and Dr. Lee’s family. His sudden passing is a great loss to the scientific community of medicinal chemistry. Dr. Lee was a world-renowned natural product and medicinal chemistry scientist who contributed significantly to the field of natural product drug discovery and development in the past 50 years. It was our great honor to be able to collaborate with Dr. Lee since 2017. We knew Dr. Lee much earlier than that through his productive and continuous publications in the field during the past years, especially his great efforts in pursuit of anti-AIDS candidate drugs. Dr. Lee was a brilliant and dedicated researcher with outstanding personalities, and really helped us a lot. Our intensive collaboration has led to more than 10 publications in only 4 years. We particularly enjoyed receiving his beautiful Chinese calligraphy celebrating New Year's Day every year. We will surely miss him. We will cherish the memories of Dr. Lee forever.
Rest in Peace.

Xinyong Liu and Peng Zhan,
Professors of Medicinal Chemistry
Shandong University


I am so saddened to hear Dr. Lee's sudden passing. I was a visiting scholar in NPRL directed by Dr. Lee during 2015-16.  Here I wish to thank Dr. Lee, whose generous support, kindness, and care have touched the lives of both his students and co-workers. His positive influence has reached not only my research but also my life. Dr. Lee’s outstanding achievement in natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry will be remembered by the community! On behalf of my family, I send the deepest condolences to Dr. Lee's family.

Weishuo Fang
Institute of Materia Medica
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Beijing, China


It has been almost 2 weeks since I learned this sad news.
Still, I am not able to find the right phrases to express my deep sorrow.
I have known Professor Lee almost 20 years; at that time, he was already famous and a reputable renowned scholar. 
In the Autumn of 2005, the tree color started to change from green to natural yellow/orange in New England area, I drove 600 miles from Connecticut to Chapel Hill, just for visiting him. Still remember his warm hospitality and enthusiasm to tour me his huge chemistry laboratory with piles of manuscripts, books, published articles, awards in his office. 
I am wondering how this world would continue without his presence, as it seems all colors turn grey in this Autumn. 
I believe Professor Lee must already find the better place for his life; imaging that he still practices his Tai-Chi every morning. 
We will miss you, my respectful mentor Professor Kuo-Hsiung Lee. 

Du-Shieng Chien, Ph.D.
Humble Scientist and Entrepreneur  

Jan and I were shocked and saddened when we learned of Dr. Lee's passing.  We were neighbors on Gray Bluff Trail since 1977.  He was so warm, friendly and kind.  Jan and I knew his routine because he was like clockwork.  Off to work before 8, back at noon for lunch with Amy, back to the lab and home around 5.  We had no idea that he was a world famous authority on Chinese Herbal Medicine or that his lab at the UNC School of Pharmacy was so highly regarded.  His modesty and grace were remarkable.  
Our neighborhood won't be the same without Dr Lee.  I still expect to see his Lexus SUV coming and going...too sad.  We were blessed to have known him and his wonderful, remarkable family.  Love to Amy, Thomas, Catherine and their families.  

In remembrance of Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee, a mentor and a good friend. 

Dr. Lee was among the first cohort of graduates from the Department of Pharmacy and one of the most outstanding alumni of our alma mater, Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) in Taiwan. He was a world-renowned natural product chemist and was elected as an Academician of the Academia Sinica in Taiwan in 1996, the first among KMU alumni.

In the past 50 years, Dr. Lee’s team at UNC has become arguably the best in their field. Despite his crowded schedule, he consistently made time to travel back to Kaohsiung, Taiwan three or four times a year to visit his parents and family, as well as his beloved alma mater, KMU.

During my tenure as the president of KMU from 2012 to 2018, each time Dr. Lee came back to Taiwan, I always invited him to KMU to consult in pharmaceutical research and academic administration. Dr. Lee presided over our Research Center for Natural Products and Drug Development, one of the university-level research centers (the most funded) I set up in 2014. He also sat in the University Affairs Advisory Committee that I established since 2014 and provided valuable advice on university and health system developments. When I was stepping down in 2018, Dr. Lee wrote an open letter to commemorate our friendship and collaborations, which I still hold dear to my heart.

Dr. Lee was rigorous in research, enthusiastic and dedicated in education, gentle and elegant in person, and had a deep love for Taiwan. He also made the most impressive greeting cards, combing photography, traditional Chinese calligraphy, and chemical formula. We always enjoyed reading his greeting cards every year over and over again to immerse in his academic spirit and his philosophy of life.

May Dr. Lee rest in peace. 
Most heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Lee and Dr. Lee’s family.

Ching-Kuan Liu, MD, PhD
Chair Professor of Neurology and Former President (2012-18) of Kaohsiung Medical University

My family and I are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our beloved Professor Lee. 

I was a graduate student, a postdoc, and later an assistant professor in Prof. Lee's Natural Product Research Laboratory from 2004 - 2013. Prof. Lee was one of the most esteemed natural product chemists, who had produced thousands of publications and hundreds of patents. However, to his hundreds of graduate and postdoc students, he was not only a brilliant scientist, a devoted researcher, and an inspirational figure, he was also just like an elder friend, who loved to share stories and jokes, life experience, and calligraphy.     

Prof. Lee was a great mentor and leader. He has helped so many young Asian scientists to grow and thrive in the medicinal chemistry and natural product world. The experience and opportunities he provided have deeply touched so many lives that he will always be remembered.

Dear Ms. Lee and family, please accept my deepest sympathy and condolences for your loss. 

Dear Prof. Lee, I will miss you forever and pray for your peace.   

Keduo Qian
Senior Review Chemist at FDA

           認識李院士，是在2000-2005年間，協助經濟部推動「中草藥產業技術發展」，當時有七位外聘的顧問，李院士是召集人，每年定期召開會議，協助我們審視三大法人科研單位的執行狀況和方向。
	他治學專精但為人親切，和眾人討論，可以讓大家盡情發言，但又能很快的抽絲剝繭理出頭緒，雖然談的是很專業的東西，又能用很生活化的故事讓眾人了解，不會滔滔不絕，也不會太木訥寡言，一群人中，很快地他就成為大家的重心。他的生命充滿活力，打太極拳，寫書法和他做學問一樣有成就，每次和他在一起好像聽他開示，大家都獲得啟發。
	計畫結束之後，每年聖誕或過年，李院士都會以他特有、自製的賀卡，透過mail與我們聯繫，他的賀卡有植物及化學結構，搭配他充滿意境的草書，堪稱科學與藝術登峰造極之結合。偶爾回台一定和我們相聚問候，一直到今（2021）年中，他退休了都還和我們聯絡。
驟聞李院士仙逝，我們都很難過，他是一位令人尊敬，值得學習的長者，留給我們無限思念…。
	願  李院士安息。
	夫人與家人節哀順變。

		                               經濟部技術處前處長黃重球率尹福秀顧問、
				                              同仁黃麗萍、鄭欣華、王本甯  敬輓
								                                		2021/11/01


	認識李院士，是在2000-2005年間，協助經濟部推動「中草藥產業技術發展」，當時有七位外聘的顧問，李院士是召集人，每年定期召開會議，協助我們審視三大法人科研單位的執行狀況和方向。
	他治學專精但為人親切，和眾人討論，可以讓大家盡情發言，但又能很快的抽絲剝繭理出頭緒，雖然談的是很專業的東西，又能用很生活化的故事讓眾人了解，不會滔滔不絕，也不會太木訥寡言，一群人中，很快地他就成為大家的重心。他的生命充滿活力，打太極拳，寫書法和他做學問一樣有成就，每次和他在一起好像聽他開示，大家都獲得啟發。
	計畫結束之後，每年聖誕或過年，李院士都會以他特有、自製的賀卡，透過mail與我們聯繫，他的賀卡有植物及化學結構，搭配他充滿意境的草書，堪稱科學與藝術登峰造極之結合。偶爾回台一定和我們相聚問候，一直到今（2021）年中，他退休了都還和我們聯絡。
驟聞李院士仙逝，我們都很難過，他是一位令人尊敬，值得學習的長者，留給我們無限思念…。
	願  李院士安息。
	夫人與家人節哀順變。

		                           經濟部技術處前處長黃重球率尹福秀顧問、
				                          同仁黃麗萍、鄭欣華、王本甯  敬輓
									                                	2021/11/01


Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee, an academician of the Academia Sinica, is a world-renowned Chinese herbal medicine scholar, researcher and developer. He won the 1st outstanding alumni award of Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) and received the honorary doctoral degree from KMU in 2019.

Professor Lee had made contributions to the development of his alma mater. He always selflessly shared his insights, and was willing to support young generation. On the 65th anniversary of KMU in 2019, Professor Lee returned to Taiwan from the United States and became the speaker of Presidential Lecture of KMU, sharing "Original Intention & Practice - Scientific Research & Cultivation in Chinese Calligraphy (初衷與實踐-科學研究與書藝陶冶)” with freshman. Also, many scholars and students of Chinese herbal medicine in Taiwan went to his laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for training, and his contribution to the research and development of Chinese herbal medicine all over the world has been widely recognized.

I still remember that when I stepped down as the President of KMU this August, Professor Lee wrote the 『仁者壽 (The benevolent live long)』calligraphy to me, hoping that the KMU will continue to cultivate outstanding talents with benevolence and skill to promote the health and well-being of all mankind. 

Professor Lee is modest , calm and always treats others kindly. He devoted his whole life to the research of Chinese herbal medicine. His enthusiasm, dedication and discipline for research had set a model for us. His passing is a great loss for all of us. We are deeply sorrowed and also would like to extend our sincerest condolences to his beloved family, colleagues and friends.

Yuh-Jyh Jong 
Chair Professor
Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU), Kaohsiung, Taiwan

李院士是中央研究院農生中心的學術咨詢委員. 多年來一直很積極的參與相關的會議並對農生中心及國家科學的發展提出建言.我都會把握機會向李院士展示這些年來的成果.李院士都會很優雅提出他精闢的看法.
作為高雄人,與李院士多了一份鄉親土親的親切.會議之後,有時會送李院士回飯店,常會提到高雄,高醫大的種種.
很難想像李院士已到天堂去作研究了.
在此感謝及思念李院士的教導,請李院士家人多多保重.

崇熙及B101核心實驗室同仁敬悼

I had studied at Professor Lee’s NPRL in 2003; since then, Professor Lee was my great mentor, not only in academic research but also in my life. Every time I met him, he was always energetic and positive, even though he had just flown around half of the planet. He was continually working on the research of natural products and drug discovery for 60 years, but he still kept hungry to do more and better. I think he’d been very happy to do things he loved all his life. 
I am very thankful for having had him, he will always be in my memories.

Chin-Chung Wu
Graduate Institute of Natural Products,
Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan

In 1971, when I went to Kyoto University (Japan) the research laboratory I entered was the same laboratory that Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee was in while he was pursing his Master degree. At the time the professors and students all praised Kuo-Hsiung Lee’s outstanding performance. Kuo-Hsiung and I attended the same Kaohsiung High School which Kuo-Hsiung being in the graduating class before me. When I knew about this, I wrote a letter to him, since Kuo-Hsiung is a very nostalgic individual and from that moment we became friends. 
Later, I returned to China Medical College (CMC) in Taiwan to teach, I started collaborating with Kuo-Hsiung in 1991 and this collaborated continuously over 30 years . Besides letters, FAX, and email, Kuo-Hsiung also frequently calls my laboratory to discuss about the research progress. Regardless of the assignment of work, the support of materials is responsive to each other. We never say no to each other and all of this was really pleasant memory to me.
In 1994, Kuo Hsiung won the first LiFu Chinese Medicine Academic Award and received high praises from our former Chairman Chen LiFu. In the selection of CMC’s University President in 2006, Kuo-Hsiung learned of my interest and took the initiative to write a recommendation letter to Chairman Chen LiFu emphasizing our productive and cooperative partnership over the years. I was deeply moved by the gesture and content. This moment is still fresh in my memory. 
Everyone knows that Kuo-Hsiung has used medicinal chemistry to explore the biologically active ingredients of natural medicines and develop new drug candidates for many years. His outstanding performance is well-known internationally.
From Kao-Hsiung’s four mottos, you can deeply feel his admirable demeanor which will be imprinted in the hearts of relatives and friends. His extraordinary achievements will benefit mankind. 
Sheng-Chu Kuo, Chair Professor, Department of Pharmacy, China Medical University




仁心智性  典範長存

    2019年10月季秋，李院士風采堂堂返回母校高醫進行「校長講座」，讓高醫師生親炙大師雅範，他留下「天道酬勤」的勉勵話語言猶在耳。李院士是高醫藥學系第一屆校友，亦是高醫第一屆傑出校友，並在2019年高雄醫學大學創校65周年的校慶典禮上接受母校頒給名譽博士學位，其學術成就卓著、術德兼備；其一生對高醫母校的回饋、對全球中草藥人才的培育、天然藥物學轉譯應用貢獻卓著，是高醫的榮耀，更是所有高醫人的典範。

    2021年10月，也是在秋天，李院士溘然謝世，學術界折損了一位藥學大家長，更令吾輩高醫人深感不捨、悲慟與遺憾。祝禱李院士安息，祈願家屬節哀! 院士之仁心智性將為世人所景仰與懷念!

                                         
高雄醫學大學 
鐘育志講座教授 誌悼

I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Lee and Dr. Lee’s family. Dr. Lee was a longtime colleague and good friend. The technology developed from his Natural Research Products Lab at UNC helped in founding the AndroScience Corporation in San Diego in 2000.

I still remember, not long ago he told me that although he was planning to retire soon he had applied and was awarded an NIH grant. His dedication to the research of natural products, especially in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, had made him a pioneer and leader in the field that purify, identify and modify the active ingredients from natural products and make them into FDA-approved medicines.  

Dr. Lee was not only a world-renowned scientist, he was an outstanding educator, a kind and passionate mentor to his students and the international scholars visiting his lab.  By his sudden passing he will be missed dearly not only by the people who have been touched by him but also by the scientific community worldwide.  

Dear KH, I will miss our phone discussions and your annual year end seasonal greeting the most.  May you rest in peace and God bless Mrs. Lee and your family.


Charles C-Y Shih, PhD
Co-Founder and Board Director
AndroScience Corporation
San Diego, California


On behalf of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee. He was an internationally renowned leader in the field of medicinal chemistry who leaves behind an indelible legacy. We are very proud that that he as an alumnus of our Department rose to such prominence in the field of medicinal chemistry. We will miss him greatly. - Gunda Georg, Department Head of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy


The sudden passing of Dr. Lee was a great shock to me. I can well appreciate what a great loss this must be to research fields of natural products and pharmaceutical chemistry. He was a fine and brilliant man, and he will not be forgotten by the many who admired and respected him. I sincerely thank him for giving me a chance as a visiting scholar to work at his Natural Products Research Laboratories at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for one year. Every year, I can receive his carefully made greeting card with his personally written Chinese calligraphy drawing and the medicinal plants and natural products he studied. He took great pains to help that my work lead to publications in well-respected journals. He was not only my academic mentor, but also my life mentor. His philosophy of health preservation and life had benefited me a lot. Thank him very much for his great guidance, help and support in many aspects in the past years, again. I will always appreciate and miss him. Please convey my sympathy and my warm personal regards to Dr. Lee’s family.

Jian Zhang 
Soochow University


I am stunned by this news. I was a visiting scholar from 2018 to 2019. During this time, I have so many wonderful memories at UNC. I am pleased to work in NPRL,  though at that time I was a Ph.D. student.  Dr. Lee was always kind to me and remind me of details no matter the experiments or life. Please accept my deepest sympathies on your profound loss and bring my best wishes to your family.

Postdoctoral
Yi-Tzu Lin
Institute of Biological Chemistry
Academia Sinica, Taiwan

First time I knew about Prof. Lee, it was 2005, sixteen years ago, then I read two articles about natural products, with Prof. Lee as corresponding author. I keep them till today, as a memory, for it was the beginning of my studying on natural products. When I was going to graduate, I tried to apply for a position as PhD. In Lee’s Lab. Though I did not get the chance, I still had respect for Prof. Lee, because Lee is a distinguished professor, top level in natural products research field.                        In 2014, I studied in UNC at Chapel Hill, I met Prof. Lee, for the first time. Of course, I was happy and excited, like a student. I liked to go to Lee’s Lab to meet my friends Yuan and Tan, who were visiting scholar, like me. I, and my friend, Zhou went to his office to talke about the medicinal chemistry and study in future, with Prof. Lee. Before leaving UNC, we make a photo with Lee as memory.       After that, I only find Prof. Lee’s news from friends and online. I admire that Yuan, Tan, they could receive emails from Lee, with special natural products characters at the time of Spring Festival. Prof. Lee also is a poetic gentleman.
I miss you, we miss you!        

 I was sorry and grieved to hear that Dr. K.H. Lee passed away last Sunday.  No words can express the deep sadness we feel.  We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear Dr. K.H. Lee's sudden passing.
I 'm very grateful and honored to have stayed Dr. Lee's laboratory of UNC Chapel Hill in the summer of 1988.  At that time, I learned many things from Dr. Lee not only science but also his humanity and philosophy.  We also greatly appreciate that Prof. Lee has received many Japanese scientists and students in his laboratory of UNC .  As another memory, I still remember that Dr. Lee gave the stimulating  invited lecture in 9th Max Tishler Memorial Symposium (dedicated to Professor Satoshi Omura) held by the Kitasato Institute in 2005.  Dr. Lee was outstanding calligrapher and I have looked forward to his Christmas card every year.  Two years ago, I met Dr. K.H. Lee when he gave a special lecture in 70 year's Anniversary of Tokiwa Phytochemical Symposium held in Tokyo.  Therefore, it is unbelievable that he passed away.
Please accept our deepest condolences from my family and we hope and pray that Mrs. Lee and Dr. Lee's family will soon find comfort  in this time of sorrow. 
Best regards,                                   
                                                                                         Haruki Yamada


I was so sad and couldn’t believe that Prof. Lee left us. As a visiting scholar, I worked with Prof. Lee from July 2014 to August 2015 in his Natural Products Research Laboratories (NPRL).  I still remember the scene of discussing research progress with Prof. Lee. Prof Lee helped me a lot in my research. I was so impressed with his preciseness, earnestness, efficiency, and organization.  He often shares with us his amazing Chinese calligraphy works. Every year he made Near Year greeting cards by himself and sent them to us. Prof. Lee is an outstanding scientist,  a terrific supervisor, a wise elder.

Prof. Lee, I will greatly miss you. 

Dr. Qiong Gu
School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sun Yat-sen University

It is a great shock to me upon learning of Academician Professor K. H. Lee’s passing away. Professor Lee had always encouraged the young researchers for professional advancements and helped a number of the researchers by actually mentoring them in his laboratory and/or during the publication of research articles. I have been grateful and would express my deep gratitude for your professional encouragements and helps during my career development.

Thank You, Professor Lee!!!

Chiung-Tong Chen, Ph.D.

I am very saddened to hear about Dr. K. H. Lee’s passing and can hardly believe it is true. Just two weeks ago, Dr Lee and I had an email communication about resubmission of a revised manuscript. I also clearly remember the scene on the evening of the last workday at UNC, Dr Lee and I were standing beside his SUV-car in the parking lot behind Beard Hall, talking for a while, and said goodbye to each other as usual. At that moment, I certainly believed that I could see Dr Lee and his wife later on somewhere in Chapel Hill, like Sam’s club or grocery stores.

I first worked with Dr K. H. Lee in 1993 as a visiting scholar in his lab at the UNC Pharmacy School, then successively became his PhD student and postdoctoral researcher through the end of 2000. Since becoming an independent researcher in 2002, I have cooperated with Dr Lee and worked closely on the discovery of novel anti-HIV and anticancer drugs. Meanwhile I also served as an Adjunct Professor in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and could work with Dr Lee in his labs for some time yearly until his retirement. It is my luck and honor to have been Dr K. H. Lee’s student and worked with him over many years, which greatly benefited me for both my career growth and my family. I really appreciated Dr Lee for his significant help and support to me.

In addition to being a distinguished professor and wise advisor, Dr. Lee tried to create a comfortable and pleasant environment in his labs. He would always talk with lab members about broad topics and often showed his kind care of others, such as asking if my son has a girlfriend or not, and then said with a smile to me: you must be the last one to know that. 

I will miss Dr Lee forever and with deepest sympathy to Mrs. Lee and family.

Dr Lan Xie
Chapel Hill, North Carolina



Yi Xia & Zhengyu Yang

We are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Dr. Lee’s sudden passing. Please accept our greatest condolences from my family.
 
Both of us are very grateful and honored to have been graduate students in the Natural Products Research Laboratories directed by Dr. Lee from 1994 – 1998 and 1995 – 1999. Dr. Lee has always been a great mentor to us throughout the years. His optimism, hard-working attitude, and dedication to science have greatly influenced us to be good scientists working in drug discovery research in pharmaceutical companies. We are impressed and inspired by the continuous pioneer research work and significant scientific accomplishments he has achieved throughout the years.
 
Dr. Lee’s mentorship and kindness towards us have never been forgotten. The reunion of our whole family with Dr. Lee last year in January 2020 after we left Chapel Hill for 20 years was an unforgettable moment that we will always appreciate.  In addition to science, we learned so much from Dr. Lee about Chinese culture, Tai Chi, calligraphy and how to raise kids with encouragement. Every year we would also look forward to receiving his annual greeting card with his own beautiful Chinese calligraphy. Dr. Lee’s sprit, passion, and dedication to science not only had a great impact on our career but also passed to our sons, generation by generation.
 
Dr. Lee, your sound voices, laugh, humor, kindness, sprit, vision have had a deep impression to everyone. You will be long remembered!

Yi Xia & Zhengyu Yang

Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee said, “Tai-Chi master, Mr. Man-Ching Cheng, and Cursive calligraphy master, Mr. Yu-Jen Yu are two masters you admired and looking for talking them someday." 
I believe that you can have a long, long, long talk with them. Even I reluctantly say goodbye, glad that your dream has come true.
 
Dr. Lee told me, “Nothing we bring to and take away in our whole lives. The greatest gift you left to the world is what you had dedicated and shared." Today, I have seen and learned that.
 
"Writing good poetry and learn from masters.", said by a poet, Dr. Lee. Today, this poem is for you, Dr. Lee.

The Star
 
The Star had dedicated its whole life to lighting up space.
The falling Star brings light to the night again.
People look up and appreciate the light it brought.
The warmth stays in their hearts now and forever.
 
Yung-Yi Cheng

We are saddened to hear that professor K.H. Lee passed away, it's a great loss in the world of plant chemistry. His impactful  legend will constantlylive in our memories. Let's extend our deepest condokences on his family. 
Hsin-Lung Wu

I am writing on behalf of all Japanese who have studied in Dr Lee's lab from 1971 to 2021.
We all are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee’s passing.  As listed below, 81 Japanese have joined Dr. Lee’s research group either as scholars or students. The time we spent with him was a great memory and an honor for us. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Dr. Lee’s family for their terrible loss. 
We pray for the soul of Dr. Lee.

All Japanese scholars/students of Dr. Lee


Dr. Lee’s greeting “Hello Liqiu, is everything OK with you” still echo in my ears. Dr. Lee is my best PI.
His spirits and great achievements in Medicinal Chemistry affect me deeply. Can’t believe he leave us forever. I will never receive his email anymore. 
I will always remember Dr. Lee and the time we worked together!

Liqiu Quan
Dr. Lee’s student


There are no words to tell how sad and sorry I am. I still can't believe you are gone.

I have stayed and worked in natural products research laboratories (NPRL) for five years. Those days I spent in NPRL are my treasure.  No words can fully express my gratitude and appreciation to Prof. Lee.  Huge thanks for your mentor, huge thanks for your guidance, huge thanks for your support, huge thanks for your generous help,  and huge thanks for everything you did for us.  

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.  You often said "Nature is the best guide" and "The law of nature is to reward hard work". I will keep your words in mind and continue to do my loved research in natural products based drug discovery. 

Prof. Lee, you will be in our hearts forever. 

Dr. Yu Zhao 
School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Guangdong University of Technology

河 南 师 范 大 学

唁         电
 
李国雄教授治丧委员会并转其亲属：

惊悉李国雄教授与世长辞，万分悲痛！
李国雄教授一生热爱科学事业，坚持以中草药为资源，结合天然产物与医药化学及尖端生命技术开展科学研究，在新一代治疗癌症、艾滋病和其它疾病的药物研发方面做出卓越贡献，培养了一大批医药化学领域的杰出人才，在医疗化学和天然产物化学研究领域产生深远影响。李国雄教授的逝世是化学研究领域的重大损失！
在此悲痛之际，河南师范大学校长常俊标谨代表学校向李国雄教授的仙逝表示沉痛悼念！并请李国雄教授家属节哀！李国雄教授千古！
 

河南师范大学校长，
常俊标教授

2021年10月29日

It is a shockingly sad news.  To me and my wife, Wendy, Prof & Mrs Lee always appeared much younger than their age, makes his sudden departure seems even more premature and unbelievable.
Since I started to set up a botanical drug program at US FDA in early 2000s, I have learned a great deal of pharmacognosy from Prof Lee over the years.  He kindly invited me to join him and a small group of experts advising the Taiwanese government on how to develop a modern new drug industry based on Chinese medicinal plants, a wonderful opportunity to serve but also educational for myself.  Despite his seniority and high statue in the academia, Prof Lee had a humble respect for regulatory science in new drug development and always treated me as his equal.
We also became good personal friends.  He and Mrs Lee were gracious to come from N. Carolina to my daughter’s wedding in DC, and we had the privilege of sharing his happiness in his daughter’s wedding later on.  We enjoy very much every year the beautiful greeting cards with his elegant calligraphy and the poems he composed.  Most importantly, Dr. Lee also told me about the healthy morning diet he developed, which I have been following diligently for the last 13 year.
Professor Lee was a well respected advisor in his field and an amiable personal friend, we will miss him dearly.
Our most sincere condolences for Mrs Lee and the family.

Shaw T. Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

I worked with Dr. K.H. Lee for over 25 years in his Natural Products Research Laboratories (NPRL) at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.  He was an impressive scientist and his drive and dedication led to numerous significant scientific accomplishments as expressed by many others in their memorials to him.  He will have a long legacy in the field of natural products and medicinal chemistry.

In addition to being an outstanding scientist, Dr. Lee was a poet and philosopher as evident in his calligraphy.  He was supportive and helpful to his students, colleagues, and associates and always ready with a story or recollection of people and events.  The NPRL group always knew that he would return from his trips to Taiwan with the best pineapple cakes (or cranberry, which were harder to find)  to share.  His efficiency, organization, and industry were spiced with humor at times as well.  

I can hardly believe that I will never again hear his voice on the phone saying “This is K.H. Lee”.  I will miss him greatly.

Dr. Susan L. Morris-Natschke


It is with great shock and sadness to learn of Academician Professor KH Lee’s passing. I did not believe what I had heard. We just had a telephone conversation a few months ago talking about his retirement. 
Our friendship goes back 40+ years. Professor Lee was one of the first faculty I visited when I moved to UNC Chapel Hill in 1979. Since that time, we built a friendship and fruitful collaboration which lasted until today. He has established himself as one of the leading natural product chemists for traditional Chinese herbal medicine. He not only isolated chemicals and determined the structure but modified the compound to have more desired activity. He has identified several modified natural products that moved into clinic trials as well. We attended many meetings and served on the advisory panels for different institutes together.
During his career he has trained many scholars. He has published numerous manuscripts, made major contributions in the scientific field, and received many awards. It is a major scientific loss in the field of natural product and Chinese pharmaceuticals. He is a humble and honest person with great integrity.
KH Lee is the one who introduced me to explore traditional Chinese medicine. He also tried to teach me Taichi exercise to strengthen my health. He is also superb at calligraphy. I always looked forward to his Christmas cards. He is a true scholar of Chinese art and a great role model as well as a wonderful husband and father. 
Our families got together quite often. We loved KH deeply. We were not only great scientific collaborators, but also very close friends. 
My wife Elaine and I, as well as the Cheng family send our deepest sympathy to Amy and their family. 
If there is anything we can do, please let us know. I will miss KH dearly.

Yung-Chi Cheng, PhD
Yale University Henry Bronson Professor of Pharmacology, Academician of Academia Sinica, Chairman of Consortium for the Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM)
Elaine and Family

Six years ago today, I came to the United States to join your team. From you, I feel the rigorous work of scientists, the profound knowledge, the approachability, and meticulousness in dealing with people, and I have learned from you the values that benefit me for life. In my future scientific research road, I will take you as an example, work harder and behave harder, hoping to do something valuable for the pharmacy career, and pass your quality to more people.

Professor Lee: Your smile, voice, and spirit will be in our memories forever!

Guang Xin
West China Hospital of Sichuan University

My family and I are saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dr. Lee. I convey my sincere condolences to Dr Lee’s family.

From 1999 to 2008, I was a graduate student, a postdoc and an assistant professor in Dr. Lee's Natural Product Research Laboratory. To me, he was not only my advisor, but also like a father to me.  Like many students from China, it was my first time to a totally new environment, far away from home. Dr. Lee told me his stories when he was a graduate student in Kyoto and in Minnesota, and his life in Chapel Hill. Little by little, I fell in love with this quiet university town. The following years at UNC, I got married, graduated with my Ph.D., bought my first house, gave birth to my child… Dr. Lee and Mrs. Lee were always there. He was my family! 

I miss the days he helped me to solve problems and discussed research plans. I miss the life lessons he taught me through humorous stories. I miss his pride for the master pieces of calligraphy and his passion for Tachi… So many memories. It was just like yesterday. 

Four months ago, Dr. Lee retired after 51 years teaching in UNC School of Pharmacy. Many of his graduate students hold a virtual retirement party for him. The picture was taken during the meeting. We thought he would have more free time to travel after retiring, and we would have chances to meet him all over in the States.

His sudden passing is a great loss to his family, friends, students, the university, and the scientific community as well. His legacy of scientific achievement and excellence will continue to live long. 

Dr. Lee, I’m using all I learned from you to serve the public health! Rest in peace!

Donglei Yu
Senior Review Chemist at FDA


It was a great shock and deep sorrow to me when I heard about Dr. Lee’s sudden passing. I wish to extend my sincerest condolences to Mrs. Lee and the family at this time of grief.

I received a Retirement Announcement from Dr. Lee in June. After serving UNC for 51 years, he was about to move to a new phase, and was anticipating further contribution to the scientific community in alternative ways. I had expected a marvelous after-retiring life for him and looked forward to another unique New Year card from him in the coming holiday season.

Dr. Lee has always been a super role model for me. He is undoubtably admired for his outstanding achievements and tremendous contributions in the field of natural product chemistry. As a noble gentleman cultivated in traditional Chinese culture, he is also esteemed for his amiable character. He had always been gentle and considerate, and ready to support, to help and to guide with his unmatchable vision, wisdom and humor. As a former graduate student in Dr. Lee’s group, I greatly appreciate his incredible support and guidance during both my years at UNC and the years beyond graduation. Besides a distinguished scientist, Dr. Lee is also a versatile talent with a great renown in Chinese calligraphy and Tai-Chi.

As we grieve at our loss of Dr. Lee, we should also be grateful for the fabulous legacy he left behind, and pass on his enthusiasm for research, kindness to others and passion for life.

We will cherish the memory of Dr. Lee forever.

Dr. Zhiyan Xiao
Institute of Materia Medica
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College

I am exceedingly sorry to hear that my esteemed supervisor Dr Lee passed away. His death is a great loss to the scientific community. He was a very nice and generous man, and he was a towering figure in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry. Please convey my warm personal regards and sincere condolence to Dr Lee’s family. 

Affectionately，
 
Ying-Qian Liu
School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China

I am writing on behalf of my family and my Ph.D. supervisor Prof. Rensheng Xu from Shanghai Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and also on behalf of all Chinese visiting scholars who can’t come for Prof. Kuo-Hsiung Lee’s funeral and memorial service on Nov. 6, 2021 in Raleigh. 

It’s terrible to hear about the passing of Prof. Kuo-Hsiung Lee, a world renowned medicinal/natural product chemist. Our sincerest condolences! The world has lost an incredible scientist and professor! I have lost one of my best supervisors! This loss has left a vacuum in all our lives.

Dear Prof. Lee: I am thankful and honored to be your former postdoctoral research associate. I have learned a lot from you over the past two and a half decades. You had always helped me in my career and encouraged me to become an outstanding scientist in future. Those precious memories will always be cherished and held deep inside my heart. 深切缅怀恩师，李教授一路走好！

Dear Professor Lee’s family: 陈老师和家人节哀顺变！There are no words in the world to express our heartfelt sorrow. You have our strong support during this difficult time of great grief, and you have our deepest sympathy and unending love. 

Zhihong Xu, School of Pharmacy at South College

转: 来自中国科学院上海药物研究所的唁电. 

Hui-Kang Wang, Ph.D, Retired Scientist, San Diego, California

I am shocked to learn of the sudden passing of Dr. Lee. Sincere condolences to his family at this difficult moment.
It’s my honor to work in Professor Lee’s Lab (NPRL) between 1989 and 2002 as Visiting Associate Professor, Research Associate Professor, and Research Professor. In 2002, I left Dr. Lee's NPL Lab and joined his spin-off start up company, Plantaceutica. In Plantaceutica, we focused on the development of new anti-tumor drug candidates based on the research achievement  innovated in his NPRL. In 2004 Plantaceutica was merged with a San Diego based biotech company AndroScience, a start up company which Dr. Lee is a co-founder. In AndroScience, ASC-J9, a compound licensed from Dr. Lee’s NPRL was developed and pushed to clinical II trials for treatment of acne. Today ASC-J9 is continuously developing by a Taiwanese biotech company. ASC-J9 along with other drug candidates such as Bevirimet, is a showcase to exhibit Dr. Lee’s NPRL great contribution to the pharmaceutic industry and new drug development. 
	My wife and I send our thoughts and prayers to Professor Lee ’s family. we will miss him forever.

I am extremely saddened by the passing of Professor Kuo-Hsiung Lee. Please accept my deepest condolences!

I am very honored to be a graduate student from 2006 to 2010 in the Natural Products Research Laboratories directed by Prof. Lee. When I first met Prof. Lee, I was so impressed by his passion, optimism, and persistence. His pioneering work had led to the discovery of thousands of active small molecules, many of which successfully entered clinical trials for treating cancer, AIDS, acne, and other indications. Prof. Lee had constructed an exceptionally supportive environment for the research and career development of graduate students and research scientists, which enable us to perform first-class research and promote our growth. He is an outstanding mentor– instructing, guiding, and taking care of each trainee. He is always there when we need help. I truly appreciate and cherish all I have learned from Prof. Lee. This mentorship has been and will forever be a major contributor to my achievements, which I will continue to pass to the trainees in my lab.

Professor Lee: Your vision is unmatched, and your legacy continues to soar! Your smile, voice, and spirit will be in our memories forever!

Yizhou Dong, Ohio State University


My dearest Mrs Lee and your lovely family, 
I am Prof. Dr. Yoshinori Asakawa (徳島文理大学生薬研究所). Today, my dearest Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn (Ohio State University) informed me that your husband  and my dearest Taiwanese elder brother, 李　国雄教授 passed away.  What a sad and incredible news it is.   I met Lee sensei many times in Taiwan, US and Japan, and I met Lee sensei in 高雄 last time in the international conference which was held in 中山大学. Lee sensei had been interested in 蘚苔類植物化学which I am still working  here and gave me many valuable comments. I still strongly remember that both of us discussed our further strategy of natural products and collaboration with me to work such non-flower plants in future after dinner time for a long time.   Lee sensei asked me to visit eastern part of Taiwan and 阿里山where so many endemic liverworts grow.   Lee sensei and you invited my daughter and me to have taken so nice dinner in the wonderful restaurant in 高雄cisty. I listened to Lee sensei conversation in Japanese very carefully, His humorous story knocked my heart very much. 
Lee sensei is the professional of Chinese calligraphy and poet and sent me his super excellent new years' card and message with a wonderful calligraphy !  I can not believe that we lost our so important natural product chemist and gentleman, Lee sensei.  
We miss Lee Sensei, you are one year older than I.   Why you left me and went to paradise,  I will see you soon and let's discuss our natural products story again in the paradise.  
Your younger JP brother, Yoshi、浅川義範

Shocked with unbelievable to hear Dr. Lee’s passing. As one of Dr. Lee’s PhD students, I went to UNC-CH in 2008 and returned back to Taiwan in 2012. In my memory, Dr. Lee is always full of energy. He enjoys doing researches as well as practicing calligraphy. I was impressed by one calligraphy hanging in his office with 鬆(relax) and 柔(tender) on it. Dr. Lee as an always-going-forward researcher in my eyes wants to remind himself of relax and tender like Tai-Chi with Yin and Yang. Another piece of memory with Dr. Lee also keeps in my mind. Dr. Lee travels back to Taiwan at least four times a year and he always comes to the office the next day back to US. He claims he doesn’t have jet lag. One day I asked him: “Dr. Lee, do you really have no jet lag ?”He said:”Hsin-Yi, it’s not because I don’t have jet lag. It’s because I have a will.” Dr. Lee has a strong mind so that he can accomplish amazing achievements in his research career. Now I am also a teacher in Taiwan. I think I would pass on this spirit in memory of my teacher, Dr. Lee.


憶昨影，盡是感念；
別時易，再見時難；
流水花，春冬去也；
念恩師，天上人間。

永远铭记李教授的谆谆教诲。

河南省科学院，王强研究员

We were shocked by the news of the passing of our dear friend, Dr. Lee, last Sunday. Dr. Lee was an amazing friend to us; we enjoyed his hand-drawn Christmas and New Year cards from him in addition to all the fond memories we have of him. Through these memories, Dr. Lee will be remembered. 

李院士國雄教授，不僅是醫學藥學科學家，也是文學家，飽讀詩書禮樂，每當演講完最後的slide 就是令人羨慕與感動的親筆書法文學作品⋯與我相知相惜，相交，以文會友，剛剛email 給我十一月回台相聚，如今突然仙逝，令我甚為難過，一代宗師，文學大家，他的傑出貢獻與成就，是台灣之光，日本很多著名教授都是他的學生，在國際學術界享有盛名，最近他幫國家中醫藥研究所博物館題字，我準備好開幕儀式的相片送他⋯人生無常，祝吾好友一路好走，家屬及関心他的親朋好友敬請節哀。
昭庚敬上

Chien-Zie Chen
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Kaohsiung Medical University
 
Chun-Yuh Yang
President
Kaohsiung Medical University

October 28, 2021

Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee was a graduate of the first matriculated class of Kaohsiung Medical University’s Department of Pharmacy. He was also a member of the Academia Sinica, the preeminent academic and research institution of Taiwan. Academician Lee’s area of research is on new drug development, with a special focus on medicinal chemistry of natural products. He published nearly 1000 scientific papers and was awarded more than 100 patents over his illustrious career. Dr. Lee also had many international collaborations with scientists around the globe. During his lifetime, Dr. Lee has made significant contributions in the field of biotechnology. Due to his scientific achievements, Dr. Lee received the KMU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1992 and an honorary doctorate degree from the College of Pharmacy, KMU in 2019, as well as numerous other awards.

Although Academician Lee spent most of his time in North Carolina, US, he was constantly in touch with the development of his alma mater. He expended a great amount of energy cultivating the young faculty and students from KMU. It is with great sadness for the faculty and students at KMU to learn of the passing of Academician Lee. All of us at KMU share the grief with his family. We are proud of Academician Lee’s outstanding achievements, and his tremendous contributions to our university and to the world will be long remembered.


I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dr. Lee. My thoughts are with his family during this time of sorrow following the loss of Dr. Lee. I would like to wish those who cared about him comfort during this difficult time, and my deepest sympathies go to his family. When we were on the way back to Dr. lee’s home in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, he was still in good health and full of vigor.  He said goodbye to me happily. I didn't expect that would be the last goodbye we said to each other. 
When I was a graduate student, he always came to discuss academic research with my instructor at CMU every year. At 2017 year, I had an opportunity to work on the Natural Products Research Laboratories (NPRL) project at UNC in the U.S, I had learned Dr. Lee’s professional positive attitude towards academic research. His planning and implementation of the overall plan was one step at a time, solidly and steadily. In the face of failures and setbacks, he dealt with a smile and then resolved them calmly. Thank Dr. Lee for taking great care of me during my stay in the U.S., and thank him for leaving me nice and beautiful memories. 
Dr. Lee was dedicated to natural products research and had great contributions to this world. Not only was he a valuable research leader in his field, but a cherished colleague and mentor to me personally. He is remembered for carrying his research forward with his endless energy and vision. 
I extend my deepest condolences to Dr. Lee’s family, students, and colleagues at the University of North Carolina. Even though he has left us, he will always live in our hearts.

Research Fellow
Dr. Jai-Sing Yang 
China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan. 
October 28, 2021

I have known professor Kuo-Hsiung Lee through serving with him on a review committee at Academia Sinica in Taiwan  for several years, and later as our advisor for the Chinese Medicine Research Center, for which I am the director, at China Medical University. I have knowm him not only as an esteemed scientist with extraordinary contribution in the research of natural compounds and drug  development especially in cancer and AIDS, but also a visionary, kind and warm person deeply liked by his colleagues. In his every lecture, I  was always  looking forward to seeing his last few PPTs of Chinese writing choreography, which were so enlightlening, visual stimulating  and inspiring. He was a great scientist with enoumous intellectual and art talents. His legacy will be remembered forever by us as his friends, and he will be deeply missed!

My deepest condolences to Dr. Lee's family and friends.
 
I was Dr. Lee's first graduate student coming from Japan, from 1999 to 2005. He gave me the great opportunity to study natural product at his renowned lab, collaborate with other laboratories and bio-ventures, and make many friends and memories to last a lifetime. He was always supportive of the students and colleagues, and we shared many fun (and yummy) memories. Even after leaving UNC, he sent me a Holiday card every year, with beautiful photo and calligraphy.

We will miss him greatly. 
I will always cherish the memories from Chapel Hill and remember his kind support.

敬愛的李院士~非常懷念您！
您是高醫藥學系第一屆校友，本校第一屆傑出校友，以及本校第一位中研院院士，不僅有崇高的學術成就，也對母校的發展貢獻不遺餘力！於2019年10月15日您回到母校的多場演講， 您是我們在＂藥學的傳承與永續＂最佳典範，不僅在學術上引領學院的發展，更對母校師生國際視野之拓展提供了實質之指導與協助，由衷感佩~您對藥學的熱忱與為人師表的精神，將永存在我們心中 ！
謹代表高雄醫學大學藥學院全體師生 敬表悼念與感恩~

                                            Your memory lives on
Dear Prof. Lee, 
It is very difficult for us to accept that you have left us forever.

I will never be able to receive your exquisite Christmas card again, one plant, one natural product, one calligraphy about philosophical saying on the card per year, telling us you and your group (NPRL) are still trying to find more and more potential active natural products and derivatives. You are always vigorous because of the spirit of exploration and innovation. 

You are not simply a distinguished scientist, but also a respectable teacher and  senior for us. “Are you OK?” your kind voice and smile seem to be in front of me. Thank you for giving me a chance to study in NPRL, all the time I have got a lot. Being treated kindly by you, I also want to be a kind person like you.

Dear Prof. Lee, we miss you forever.


Wei-Hua Yuan


Dear Mrs. Lee and families,

I am very sorry to hear that Professor Kuo-Hsiung Lee passed away.

Dr. Lee facilitated the improvement of  Kaohsiung Medical University‘s technological standards over 20 years.  We are very grateful for his great contribution.

Please know that I and my wife share your sorrow at this sad time.

余幸司

I am so lucky to join research team of Dr. Lee at UNC in 2017 as a visiting scholar from mainland of China. During my stay, I learned that much from Dr. Lee about not only specialty in the field of natural product chemistry but also the way of dealing with the world in particular people with different cultural background. Dr. Lee’s laboratory is like a great family where keeps a lot of my best memory. Dr. lee will be forever remembered by my family. 

Haifeng Wu

惊悉尊敬的李国雄教授不幸离世，十分悲痛！

李教授是世界著名的天然药物学家和权威，他从事天然药物和新药研究，取得了卓越的学术成就，培养了大批的优秀人才，是我辈学习的楷模！
李教授曾既是我博士后导师楼之岑教授的好友，也是我的硕士博士导师难波恒雄教授的好友，由于这种缘分我结识了李教授。多少年来，李教授一直待我十分和蔼，并在学术上给予我很多的指导！

沉痛哀悼李国雄教授！
愿李教授一路走好！

北京大学药学院教授 
蔡少青

Dear Dr. Lee,

You were a great role model for all your students. You never stopped leaning. I still remember that you called me many years after I graduated and tried to learn how to use a touch pad computer. Having you as a mentor has changed my life for the better. 
Forever remembered , forever missed!

Your student 
Ting Zhou

恩師李教授 安息！

祈願恩師 業障消除 智慧增長 
離苦得樂 超生凈土
阿彌陀佛！

師母及家屬節哀

Ji-Zhen Li
October 28, 2021

It's hard to believe this fact when I heard the bad news. It is unforgettable beautiful day when I stayed in Prof Lee’s lab as a visiting scholar from 2014.04 to 2015.04 at Chapel Hill. He is nice, wise, knowledgeable, and with smile forever. He usually helps each of us and was respected. I appreciate so much for his consideration and help to me. I remember those greeting cards with his good calligraphy in it from 2016 to 2020, which encouraged me. As one great pharmacist, his left is the loss in the world. At this moment, a thousand words could not express my grief. 
Prof Lee, I will miss you forever!
 
Prof Ji-Zhen Li
College of Chemistry
Jilin University, P. R. China

憶昨影，盡是感念；
別時易，再見時難；
流水花，春冬去也；
念恩師，天上人間。

永远铭记李教授的谆谆教诲。

河南省科学院，王强研究员


As a collaborator of Dr. Lee's for almost 30 years, I wish to offer my deep condolences to his family, students, and colleagues at the University of North Carolina.  It seems like only yesterday that he wrote me that he was retiring!  He will be greatly missed.  He provided my research group with many interesting molecules, and our work together led to 35 publications and interesting discussions of mechanisms of action.  I particularly enjoyed receiving his beautiful calligraphy celebrating New Year's Day.

Sincerely,
Ernest Hamel, MD, PhD
Molecular Pharmacology Branch
National Cancer Institute

My deepest condolences to Dr. Lee's family, and his friends, colleagues, and extended family at the Carolina ESOP.  While his impact on natural products chemistry and drug development will certainty reflect a brilliant legacy, his impact on all of the students and trainees that have come across his path is even bigger.  A truly remarkable mentor, teacher, and scientist. 

I am very saddened to learn the passing of Professor Lee. I am so shocked that I could not at first realize the fact.Please accept my condolences.
Professor Lee was an honorable man,everybody who has known him must feel a great loss caused by his death. It is my luck to be his student, I will never forget his help. He is a teacher loved by all the students. He had worked hard and selflessly throughout his life. He is rigorous in his studies and strives for perfection.He made outstanding contributions in  Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, his noble character and charisma will always remain in my hearts. I will always cherish the memory of this kind teacher.
I send my thoughts and prayers to Professor Lee ’s family.I will miss him forever.
 

My husband (Dr. Chin-Ho Chen) and I are greatly saddened by Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee’s passing. Dr. Lee was a renowned natural product and medicinal chemistry scientist who accomplished significantly in natural product drug development. He was a great mentor to me. I had learned so much from him as his student 30 years ago at School of Pharmacy, UNC-CH, and continued through my career later on at Duke University Medical Center, where my husband and I serve as faculty members. We are proud and grateful to be teamed up with his lab for novel drug development against HIV/AIDS and influenza viruses, which lasted more than two decades. One significant accomplishment of Dr. Lee was the development of Bevirimet, a natural product-derived drug candidate and a first-in-class HIV maturation inhibitor. We will forever cherish the memory of Dr. Lee, his loud laugh, kind smile, and his proud introduction of new lab members at joined lab meetings and numerous lunches at UNC Faculty Club he invited us to join with his lab members, ……. 

I was very saddened yesterday to hear about Kuo-Hsiung's passing. As the Editor of the Journal of Natural Products for over a quarter of a century, I received for publication many outstanding manuscripts from his group at the University of North Carolina. He was such a productive natural products chemist!

Sincere condolences to his family at this time. 

Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University

My sincere condolences to Dr. Lee's family at his passing. He was an incredibly productive colleague at UNC and his contributions will be remembered by all.

On behalf of the Fellows of the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) I wish to extend our deepest sympathy to Mrs. Lee and her family on their great loss. Dr. K-H Lee was an esteemed colleague and friend, and he was recognized worldwide as a leader in the discovery of novel compounds from plant sources which served as leads to new drugs for the treatment of serious human diseases. At this time of great sorrow, may you be comforted by the knowledge that he will long be remembered for his amazing scientific legacy, and his contributions to improving the lives of patients worldwide.
Gordon Cragg, Chair, ASP Fellows (https://www.pharmacognosy.us/what-is-pharmacognosy/the-asp-fellows/)


I am exceedingly sorry to hear that my esteemed supervisor Dr Lee passed away. His death is a great loss to the scientific community. He was a very nice and generous man, and he was a towering figure in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry. Please convey my warm personal regards and sincere condolence to Dr Lee’s family. 
 
Affectionately，
 
Ying-Qian Liu

I convey my deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the esteemed Dr. Kuo-Hsiung. Lee. His sudden passing is a great loss to his loved ones and also to the scientific community. It was my honor to be able to collaborate with Dr. Lee during the later part of his career at UNC. Dr. Lee was a gifted, brilliant and dedicated researcher but also a gentle, generous and caring person. His legacy of scientific excellence will continue to live long after his passing in the bodies and minds of his many students and colleagues who will carry his love of chemistry and natural products, and his dedication to helping address significant public health challenges, into the future. 

Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss.

Barry O'Keefe Ph.D.
Chief, Natural Products Branch, NCI, NIH

I was deeply saddened to hear the sad news of Professor Kuo-Hsiung Lee passed away yesterday. Professor Lee was a respectful scientist, mentor, and friend within natural products research field. It’s my honor to work in Professor Lee’s Lab (NPRL) between June 2015 and June 2016. Professor Lee was a sagacious principal investigator and gave us too much valuable guide and knowledge of the philosophy of life. The natural products research field lost a noble and outstanding leader and Professor Lee will be remembered as a significant pillar within the scientific and natural products communities worldwide—We mourn his passing deeply.
Yu Zhang
Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

I am very shock and sad to hear that Dr. Lee had passed away. 
 
As a visiting scholar, I spent a great academic time in Dr. Lee’s Lab from 2016 to 2017. On academic research, Dr. Lee was a respectful professor; In private lives, Dr. Lee was very nice to me and my family, just like an old friend. 
 
Dr. Lee, I will miss you forever.
 
Zhong Chen
 Soochow University, Suzhou, RPC
October 27, 2021

My family and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Lee. The world has lost a scientist. I will always be THANKFUL that the time in UNC. My family and I send our thoughts and prayers to his family and all those who loved him.
 
Guo-Kai Wang 
Associate Professor
School of Pharmacy
Anhui University of Chinese Medicine


My family and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Prof. Lee. Through our tears, let us know the blessings of knowing and loving you-a great and noble man, the best teacher a student could have. And in our grief, let us smile knowing that we're going to miss you. Your decency, sincerity and kind soul will stay with us forever. 

Prof. Yun-Song Wang, 
Yunnan University, PR China

Even before coming to Carolina, I knew of Dr. Lee's wonderful scientific accomplishments through his many contributions to the chemical literature. Once we moved to Chapel Hill, I was delighted to learn that KH was a kind and generous friend as well as an inspirational scientist. It was always a pleasure to see him on campus, decked out in his traditional lab coat and tie, because it was evident that he was doing what he loved.

Janet and I send our deepest sympathies to Dr. Lee's family and many friends.

The sudden passing of Dr. Lee was a great shock to me. I can well appreciate what a great loss this must be to scientific circles. He was a fine and brilliant man，and he will not be forgotten by the many who admired and respected him. Please convey my sympathy and my warm personal regards to Dr. Lee’s family.
 
Jian Zhang 

精神不朽,风范长存！深切悼念恩师著名药物化学家Kuo-Hsiung Lee教授
 
      
兰州大学药学院   刘映前  

October 27， 2021
    先生虚怀若谷，清气若兰，精神永存！万语千言诉不尽绵绵追思！深切悼念恩师著名药物化学家Kuo-Hsiung Lee教授！

I was very, very sorry to learn earlier today that our esteemed colleague Dr. Kuo-Hsiung Lee passed away yesterday. I have known KH as a senior colleague and collaborator since I joined the School and the Division in 1991, and for me (and many of us who worked with KH side by side for decades) his name has been inseparable from the name of our School where he served for more than 50 years. Dr. Lee was a very special person in my professional life not only because we have published 7 collaborative papers but also because since 2008, I have been the recipient of the KH Lee endowed professorship.  I have developed a strong admiration for Dr. Lee’s expertise, productivity, and excellent contributions to the field of medicinal chemistry of natural products. With nearly 1000 research publications, 120 patents, several clinical candidates, more than 200 postdoctoral researchers and nearly 50 graduate students that he mentored, and as the former CBMC (in the past, MCNP) Division Chair, KH leaves behind an enormous and diverse legacy as one of our most distinguished colleagues.  He also leaves behind his masterful calligraphy (he once told me that he is more known for his calligraphy than for his research) and his passion for Tai Chi that he developed later in life.

Only recently, less than a year ago, I have written a note about KH’s retirement that went into effect in June of this year. As I have never been on the School’s faculty without KH, I remember feeling that his retirement was unimaginable and that we would continue to run into KH here and there forever.  As it sadly turned out, KH also could not live long without coming to the office and working on new compounds daily. As we mourn Prof. Kuo-Hsiung Lee’s passing, we should remain inspired to work toward achieving and maintaining the same level of dedication to research and professionalism as was embodied by KH.  


KH was a mentor and a dear friend. Shilling and I were planning to get together with him and Mrs. Lee when he retired last summer. The plan was delayed because of the resurging of covid. Dr. Lee and his lab have been so nice and generous to us that many of my lab members used his LCMS to do PK studies. When he retired, many good pieces of equipment were moved to our lab. We were very grateful for his kindness and generosity. 

KH, we will miss you forever. 

Leaf Huang
Fred Eshelman Distinguished Professor
Eshelman School of Pharmacy
UNC-Chapel Hill


I am currently Department Chair and Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Southern California. My family in Taiwan and Dr. Lee have been family friends for decades. I remember visiting Dr. Lee's lab at UNC with my parents when I was in high school. As someone who works in the field of natural products, Dr. Lee has always been a towering figure in the field. I still remember going to an NIH conference to present data on my first RO1. I met Dr. Lee at the conference, and he provided valuable insights that helped me build my research career. I also enjoyed the Chinese food we had during the trip. It was a privilege to learn from such a  great scientist.

Clay Chia Chun Wang Ph.D.

I am writing on behalf of Professor Lee’s colleagues in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. The Division was Professor Lee’s scientific home for 50 years, where he worked on the discovery of new anti-cancer and anti-AIDS drugs. During this time, he was awarded more than 100 patents, wrote nearly 1000 scientific publications on his discoveries, and gave approximately 500 lectures at conferences and academic institutions worldwide. He won dozens of honors, mentored more than 200 young scientists, and his laboratory was continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 40 years. Amazing accomplishments! I hope that, in this time of sorrow, his family is comforted by the knowledge that Professor Lee leaves behind an incredible scientific legacy. I know that, in my conversations with him, he was immensely proud of his students and his family. 

David S. Lawrence, Chair, Division of Chemical Biology & Medicinal Chemistry, The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

On behalf of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy family, I send our deepest condolences to Dr. Lee's family.  We will always remember Dr. Lee with great fondness and admiration.   He has left a legacy of relentlessly pursuing science for discoveries that improve people's lives.  We are better for knowing him.  Prayers for peace during this difficult time.    

Dean Angela Kashuba, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC  

OBITUARY

Dr. Kuo-Hsiung "K.H." Lee

January 4, 1940 – October 24, 2021

Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services