JOHN HONG

HONG--Dr. John S. Dr. John S. Hong passed away on September 4, 2022, at the age of 91. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he received his M.D. from Severance Medical School at Yonsei University and his MPH from University of Pittsburgh. Upon return to Seoul, he became the vice superintendent of Severance Hospital at Yonsei University. In 1965, Dr. Hong and his family immigrated to the United States. He was the founder and chairman of Family Practice and Community Medicine at the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, which was one of the first inner city primary care programs in New York City. He also served as a member of the NYC Human Rights Committee, established by Mayor Ed Koch. After retirement, he remained an active volunteer, serving as CEO and president of the Philip Jaisohn Foundation and co-founding the Korean American Community Foundation. He was loved and respected for his kindness and desire to help others. He read his beloved New York Times cover to cover every day. He delighted in sharing meals and conversation. He kept in almost daily touch with family and friends in Korea and the U.S., offering his friendship, stories, and guidance. To the very end, his mind remained sharp, relentlessly curious, and keenly interested in family milestones, as well as in local, national, and international news. He will be missed by all who knew him. Dr. Hong is predeceased by In Sook, his wife of 62 years. He is survived by his children, Jane and Roy, and their families: Andrea, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Cydney, Kurt, Erin, and Jennifer, and his beloved companion, Yobo the Dog. A memorial service will be held in New York City later this year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Korean American Community Foundation or the Severance Alumni Association.