Dr. Kwangil Koh

Dr. Kwangil Koh died on Monday, January 26, 2009.
Dr. Koh was born in Seoul Korea, the eldest son of Dr. Moonyoung Koh and Onsoon Koh. At the outbreak of the Korean Conflict, he interrupted his education at Seoul National University to volunteer for duty in the South Korean armed forces. He served three years and was honorably discharged with the rank of captain at the end of hostilities.
Dr. Koh earned his undergraduate degrees from Auburn University, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in 1959 and a Master's of Science in 1960. He then completed his doctoral research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving his Ph.D. in 1964. Dr. Koh joined the faculty in the Department of Mathematics at North Carolina State University later that year and rose to the position of full professor in 1968.
Dr. Koh enjoyed a long and distinguished career at N.C. State University. He authored over 70 research publications, published a book, and served as mentor for 11 Ph.D. students. His numerous awards and professional honors included elected memberships in the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, the Pi Mu Epsilon and Phi Kappa Phi Mathematical Honor Societies, the Mathematical Association of America, and the American Mathematical Society.
Dr. Koh's lifelong commitment to education was a cardinal feature of his tenure at N.C. State University. For many years he served as an examiner in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition conducted by the Mathematical Association of America. He taught thousands of students over the course of his career until his retirement in 2004, continuing to teach part time and actively participate in the research and educational activities of the university until the time of his death.
Dr. Koh is survived by his wife Toni; daughters, Debra Koh Cardon, Esq. and her husband, Steve Cardon, Patricia Koh Friedman, Esq. and her husband, Eric Friedman, Esq. all of Washington, DC; son, Dr. James Koh and his wife, Dr. Nathalie Maitre of Durham; and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by five siblings: brothers, Kwongsun Koh and his wife, Keumja of Seattle, and Youngil Koh of Los Angeles; and his sisters, Youngsook Lee of Raleigh, Youngja Kim of Mahwah, New Jersey, and Younghe Koh and her husband, Bongki Richards of Raleigh; and many nephews and nieces.
A memorial service in honor of Dr. Koh will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2009 at the N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh.