Arnold Lee

1937 - 2017

April 1937 - June 2017

Arnold C. Lee (Lee Chew Nam) born April 8, 1937. Arnold peacefully passed away on June 23, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Arnold was 80 years old.

Arnold was born in Taishan County, in the village of Mah Mei Woo in 1937.  He lived through the Japanese occupation and then immigrated to the US in 1950.  Arnold served in the U.S. Army from 1961 until retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant in 1997.  Arnold worked 34 years for the Federal Aviation Administration retiring in 2002.  Following retirement, Arnold volunteered at the Lee Family Association Credit Union Board of Directors and eventually went on to become the President, National Grand President, then Elder of the Lee On Dong Association. Arnold also became the President and an Elder of the Lee Sing Yee Association, President of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, President of the Hoy Sun Ning Yung Benevolent Association, Chairman of the Board of the Charity Cultural Services Center, Director on the Board of Chinese High School and active member of the Cathay Post, the Chinese American US armed forces Veterans Organization of San Francisco.

Arnold believed in helping others for the betterment of the community.  Arnold fought for San Francisco City College extension in Chinatown and increased services for Chinatown residents. He also supported Chinese communities in Houston, Portland, Washington DC and other US cities.  Arnold felt the Chinese needed more representation and encouraged his son, Wayne, to run for city council in the City of Millbrae.  He also supported many Asian and non-Asian pubic officials who shared his values.  Arnold also supported the HepB Free to save lives and eliminate liver cancer and Chinese Railroad Monument projects to memorialize Chinese contributions to the Transcontinental Railroad.

Arnold is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mimi Lee, his sons Wayne J. Lee, Winston Lee and his wife Lyzette, his daughter Leta Lee and her husband Rudy Labson, his grandsons Ethan Labson, Nicholas Lee, Ryan Lee and, and his granddaughter Rylee Labson.  Arnold is also survived by his brother Neal Lee and his wife Cynthia, sister Anne Lee-Dobell and her husband James Dobell, nephew Michael Lee and his wife Rowena and nephew Christopher Lee and his wife Pauline, niece Melinda Lee and her husband Rex Reade and niece Catherine Lee and her husband Brian Kenny, and grandniece Makena Lee.

Services for Arnold Lee will be held on July 16, 2017 at 11am, Victoria Hall, 827 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA

California State Senate tribute to Arnold Lee https://youtu.be/MFngM5vnHrM

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following:

Charity Cultural Services Center, 731-747 Commercial Street, San Francisco, CA  94108
On Lok Lifeways, 1333 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA  94109
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN  38148-0142
CARE, P.O. Box 7039, Merrifield, VA  22116-9753