William Yue-Len Lee

Dr. William “Bill” Lee passed on September 5, 2025, just weeks after his beloved wife of 62 years, Virginia (Ginny) Lee. Born in Portland, OR, in 1936, he was the youngest of four children of Dr. Ting D. Lee and Mary Lau Lee, originally from Canton, China. Bill is survived by his children David Lee (Vicky) and Donna McMaster (Mark), seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and his brother T. David Lee, Jr. of Portland, OR. He was predeceased by siblings Thora Haynes and Glenn Lee. Bill shaped his family’s future; his birth during the Great Depression helped persuade his parents to remain in the United States with a newborn baby rather than return to China. A standout student and athlete at Washington High School, he earned a full academic scholarship to Columbia University, where he led the diving team, cheered for the Columbia Lions, and drew praise from The New York Times in the article “Dynamic Little Lee Keeps Columbia on High Pitch.” After earning his undergraduate degree, he attended Boston University School of Medicine, completing his internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and his surgical residency at Boston City Hospital. While in Boston, Bill met Ginny on a train returning from New York City; their chance meeting sparked a lifelong partnership. They married in 1963 and later moved to White Sands Missile Range, NM, where Bill served as an Army surgeon during the Vietnam War. In 1970, they settled in Atherton, CA, where Bill worked as a general surgeon for Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City until his retirement. Driven by compassion and faith, Bill devoted his life to serving others both inside and outside the operating room. In 1989, he co-founded Bread of Life in East Palo Alto to provide food, clothing and dignity to those in need, later expanding his outreach through Project Sharing and Operation Bread Basket. His humanitarian work extended globally, organizing donations of medical supplies to aid the impoverished in the former Soviet Union. In retirement, Bill poured his energy into chess—playing daily at the library or Avenidas Senior Center, teaching his grandchildren, and organizing community matches and online tournaments. Ever active, even after he could no longer play tennis, he walked an hour a day and kept his competitive nature and gentle humor until the end. Bill will be remembered for his quick wit, generous spirit, and unwavering belief in helping others. His legacy of compassion and service continues through the many lives he touched.

William Yue-Len Lee

October 4, 1936 - September 5, 2025