Hugo LEE

LEE, Hugo

Hugo Lee was born in Shanghai, China, on September 24, 1921. He attended schools in Shanghai and graduated from Shanghai's St. John's University with a B.A. in English literature in 1944. He married his wife and lifelong partner, Willi Lee, in 1946. He died peacefully in Sacramento on Saturday October 31, 2009. He was preceded in death by his son Robert Lee. Robert died tragically five years earlier to the day on October 31, 2004. Hugo Lee leaves behind his loving wife Willi Lee and his two daughters Frances Nakamura and Barbara Lee, Frances's husband Gary Nakamura, and their children Kurtis Nakamura and Damon Nakamura, as well as the children of Robert Lee, Jonah Lee and Ari Lee. Hugo Lee is survived by his brother William Lee and his wife Catherine, his sisters Priscilla Lieu and Wendy Wu and numerous nieces and nephews and several grandnephews and nieces.

Mr. Lee and his wife and their daughter left Shanghai in 1948 before the communist takeover, first moving to Taipei and then to Hong Kong. Initially, Hugo and Willi Lee left their first born, Frances, behind in China with Mr Lee's parents and grandparents - a Chinese custom. Hugo and Willi and their infant daughter Barbara arrived in San Francisco in early January 1950. Mr. Lee first attended Louisiana State University, where he earned an MBA degree in anticipation of returning to China to assist in the family business. At LSU, Mr. Lee was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. When the Korean War broke out, Mr Lee's father decided that Hugo and his brother should remain in the United States. In about 1954, after much effort, his parents, daughter Frances, and sisters Priscilla and Wendy were able to obtain passports from the Chinese government and U.S. visas, and they then immigrated to the United States.

In 1952, Mr. Lee and his family moved to San Francisco, and he began to attend U.C. Berkeley. Their only son, Robert, was born in San Francisco on November 3, 1956. After beginning his graduate education at Berkeley, Mr. Lee decided to change his major to physics. This required him to take many undergraduate science courses not previously required for his masters degree from LSU. Both Hugo and Willi worked more or less continuously while in San Francisco. In 1961, Mr. Lee received his advanced degree in physics from U.C. Berkeley. At that time, it was the policy of many companies - with the encouragement of the United States government - to not hire, for security purposes, new employees who were not United States citizens. Under these circumstances, Mr. Lee had to consider other employment opportunities to support his wife and three children. In 1961, Mr. Lee started teaching physics at Sacramento City College where he remained until his retirement in 1986. He and his wife and children became United States citizens in 1963. Throughout his academic career, Mr. Lee remained very popular with students, who were attracted by his erudition, wry sense of humor, and his open and supportive manner.

Beginning in the 1960s, Mr. Lee developed an ardent interest in duplicate bridge, a passion that he carried with him through the rest of his life. Until his cessation of bridge activities in early 2009, he and his wife Willi served the Sacramento Bridge Center as players, instructors, directors, and owners. Mr. Lee directed his first Sunday afternoon game in 1972 at the Center. After Mr. Lee retired in 1986 from Sacramento City College, he was free to devote even more attention to the game. The Lees took on several more games. By the end of 1986, the Lees were operating five games at the Center. The games hosted by the Lees were considered by many to be the most popular games at the Center. Attendance grew as regular and new players responded positively to the Lees' dedication and enthusiasm. Their charm, hospitality, and hard work were rewarded. The Lees were also innovative. Over the years, attendance rose dramatically for the Lees' games and exceeded 20 tables (80 players) on many occasions. Many bridge players were smokers. When the indoor ''no smoking'' ban took affect at the Center, the Lees worked tirelessly to update the Center to provide a clean environment including replacing the acoustical ceiling, upgrading the carpet, installing new ceramic tile in the bathrooms, purchasing new kitchen appliances, and replacing bridge tables and chairs. Many bridge players have commented that Hugo and Willi held the Center together by being personally responsible for many of the repairs and upgrades over a 20-year period. In 2004, one of the well-known Center players, Lucille Patterson, died and left a portion of her estate to Hugo and Willi to manage. Substantial sums of money were invested in the Center for the benefit of the players and the other club owners. The Center is now a warm, comfortable, and modern facility that is open and available to all in the greater Sacramento community.

Hugo and Willi Lee have attended many national, regional, and sectional tournaments in such places as Canada, Mexico and Alaska, Utah, Oregon, Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Washington, and California in the United States. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Lee directed and taught bridge on many ocean going cruise ships in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Caribbean and have ventured, by ship, as far as Europe, China, Japan, and Russia.

A primary reason for the Lees' decision to retire from the Center in early 2009 was the declining health of Hugo Lee. His health continued to deteriorate over the summer months. Hugo Lee died peacefully in late October. He was 88 years old. A plaque has been created to commemorate the Lees many years of hard work and dedication to the Center. The plaque was presented to Willi and Hugo Lee shortly before his death. With the retirement of the Lees, a memorable and cherished era has ended at the Sacramento Bridge Center.

Mr. Lee had an keen interest in education and remained fascinated throughout his life with the world around him. He was a gentle intellectual with sense of humor that he readily shared with family, friends, students, and colleagues. In addition to his many public accomplishments, Hugo Lee will be remembered as a patient and kind man, a loving husband, a friend to many, a man of strong intellect, and a person of even temperament and broad compassion. As some bridge patrons have recently stated about Mr. Lee:

''Hugo's death is a great loss to our community...
He was such a special person, and we were all so lucky to have him in our lives.
I have many warm memories of Hugo his wonderful smile even when he was very frail...''

He will be missed by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Sacramento City College Foundation, 3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822, in memory of Hugo Lee, Physics Professor Emeritus, for academic excellence, integrity, quiet dignity, and the very best in the human spirit.