Sung

Betty Lee Sung

Betty Lee Sung, esteemed educator, activist, and pioneer of Chinese American studies, passed away on January 19, 2023 at the age of 98. Born in Baltimore to Chinese immigrants, she grew up in Washington, DC where her parents operated a laundry. Defying her father's traditional values of a woman's place in the home, Betty attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a full scholarship, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in sociology and economics (1948), the first college graduate from DC's Chinatown. She married a U. Illinois classmate and moved to New York City but struggled to find non-secretarial work. Sung eventually landed a job with the Voice of America writing radio scripts for the show "Chinese Activities" about Chinese living in America. Mortified by the demeaning portrayals of her people as she sought material for her scripts, even in the Library of Congress, Sung vowed to rectify this situation and began collecting source material and writing her first book "Mountain of Gold" (1967), which was received with critical acclaim. In 1970, Sung established the first department of Asian American Studies outside California at the City College of New York and taught as its founding professor for 22 years. She furthered her scholarly research with seven additional books on such subjects as Chinese American socio-economic profiles, immigrant children and intermarriage. In 1972, she married her second husband, Charles Chia Mou Chung (1918-2015) and raised their blended family in Douglaston, Queens, NY. She moved to Manhattan in 1983, and became even more active in the Chinatown community. After retirement, she co-founded the City University of New York (CUNY) Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI, 2001) to support research on Asian Americans and Asians. Other details of her life may be found at the New York Times obituary, AAARI (aaari.info/betty-lee-sung/), and the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). Prof. Sung is survived by four children, Tina, Victor, Cynthia and Alan Sung and six granddaughters. Donations may be made in honor of Prof. Sung's memory to Princeton University or MOCA. The Betty Lee Sung Fund for Asian American Studies at Princeton was established to further research on Asian Americans (check payable to Princeton Univ. with Betty Lee Sung Fund in the memo line; mail to P.O. Box 5357, Princeton Univ., Princeton NJ 08543). The Betty Lee Sung Fellowship at MOCA will support graduate students to conduct research for the opening exhibit of MOCA's new museum building in 2026, featuring Prof. Sung and many other Chinese-American luminaries (link to donate on-line at mocanyc.org/mojo/dr-sung/). A funeral service will be held February 18, 2023 at the Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home in Silver Spring, 10 a.m. visitation, 1 p.m. service. Interment at the Pinelawn Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY will take place on February 21, 1 p.m. A memorial service will be held October 15, 2023 in New York City at the Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street. Please add a memory to the Legacy.com guest book for posterity.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 29, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Betty Sung

10 Entries

Anna Rossini

February 27, 2023

On behalf of the Administration, Faculty and Staff of Queens College, we would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Betty Lee Sung.

May she Rest in Peace,

Michelle Marie Esteva

February 18, 2023

Michelle Marie Esteva

February 18, 2023

Gloria Reyes

February 18, 2023

Betty and I had great connections. It was so pleasant to work for her. I remember when we used to go to pick up her meals downstairs and wait in long lines. During activities, it was amazing how she was able to follow the instructions. We used to have unique talk times in the Gazebo. My favorite part was driving to her Drs. Appointments especially going to Old Dr. Lomky. Her being my GPS was very impressive!
I'm keeping with me her favorite expression: it is easier said than done!
She'll stay in my heart forever.

How you can show support

Send flowers

Consider sending flowers.

Add photos

Share their life with photo memories.

Plant trees

Honor them by planting trees in their memory.

Donate in Memory

Make a donation in memory of your loved one.

Share this page

Invite other friends and family to visit the page.

Lauren Chu

February 5, 2023

I met Dr. Sung when I was about 12 years old. My family and I went to her apartment for dinner, and she talked to me about her experiences as an AAPI civil rights activist. She further encouraged me and instilled that I remain proud of my heritage. I feel grateful and honored to have known her and even met her at a young age. Ten years later, at 22 years old, I am finishing my senior year of college and her words of encouragement and strength still remain within me. Rest in power, Dr. Sung. My parents, Sharon & Henry, as well as my younger sister, Olivia, will miss you dearly.

Ted Gong

February 3, 2023

Betty had a big impact on me when I began studying Asian American Studies many years ago. Later, when I began teaching and later after that when I started working for the State Department, we infrequently exchanged notes about different topics and issues. It could be for the smallest topic, but Betty would always and kindly respond. Still even later after starting the 1882 Foundation, I was very honored that she accepted our first award for a scholar whose lifetime's work made and continues to make a difference. I feel very blessed to have had a chance to learn directly from her.

Jana Murphy

January 30, 2023

Rarely in my life have I met anyone with such a bold, beautiful, unsinkable personality as Betty. During the short time I had the privilege of working with her, she made me laugh, made me cry, made me finish the dinner on my plate, made me desperately miss my sisters as I watched her laugh and bicker with Rose, and made me feel as if I was sitting in a front-row seat for some of the most historic moments of the 20th century as she shared her stories. She had a brand of bravery and wit and energy that was all her own, and I'll always remember her with great fondness and deep respect.

My sincerest condolences to the Sung family for your loss.

Linda and Jim Lacy

January 30, 2023

Dear Cynthia and Allen, I am very for your loss. I hope you will be comforted by the happiest memories of your time with your mother. She was an impressive and accomplished person.

Catherine Ma

January 30, 2023

To the Sung family:

I am so sorry for your great loss. I remember seeing Dr. Sung at the Asian/Asian American Research Institute, The City University of New York (AAARI) fundraisers but I was too shy to introduce myself to her. I do regret that but I was happy to learn that she was a 2nd daughter like I am and that we are both quite the spitfires in our families. We also share family roots from Toishan, which is where my dad was born. When I first immigrated to the U.S. from Kowloon, Hong Kong, we lived in a small tenement building on Manhattan´s lower east side, and my first friend was the grandson of the family who owned a laundromat that was the storefront of that tenement building. In reading her obituary, I laughed when I read that she was fired from a short-lived secretary job for her deficient shorthand because I remember trying to learn shorthand in high school and also falling short. It seemed like the jobs we didn´t get (I still couldn´t believe Citibank didn´t hire me when I excelled on all their tests) led us to bigger and better careers. Little did I know that I would proudly stand on her shoulders when I became the first Chinese full professor of psychology in my department and my college. She lived her life being the "master of her own destiny," and her words still ring true today, nearly a century later, as increasingly more Asians are using their voices to stand up against injustices and becoming the "firsts but not the lasts" in their life goals. Her understanding that "the Chinese will never be fully assimilated as long as there is physical identity or physical differentiation" was revolutionary during her time and planted the seeds of the detriment of the model minority and the value of embracing one´s Asian identity. The passing of Dr. Sung is a sad day for many because we lost one of the most prominent pioneers at CUNY, but I want her family to know that she has inspired so many Asian academics who proudly stepped through the doors she opened for us, and we will continue to follow in her footsteps being the first but not the last. Thank you for all your service and for being such an inspiration to us all, Dr. Sung. May you rest in power.

Sincerely, Dr. Catherine () Ma
Professor of Psychology at CUNY
Proud board member of AAARI

Donald Dea

January 26, 2023

Tina,
Cathy & I will always treasure our time with you and your mom. Our thoughts and prayers are with your mom and your family.

Showing 1 - 10 of 10 results