Song Yea Lee

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Song Yea Lee on May 24, 2024.  He died peacefully at home with his loving wife, 月華 Yueh Hwa (Karla) of 59 years, and his daughter by his side at the age of 83. 

He was born in 1940, in Tsaotuen, Taiwan, the son of Tsong Long Lee and Zhi Ying (Chien) Lee.  

Song Yea studied Biochemistry at Taichung University, where he met Karla.  He obtained a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from Yang Ming University.  In 1968, Song Yea moved to the United States to attend Florida State University where he earned a second Master’s in Chemistry.

Song Yea had a distinguished career as a Biochemist for over 45 years.  He was listed as a contributor on a US patent for a testing kit for HIV using antibodies in 1985.

Song Yea was an active member in the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) for 35 years (1989-2024).  From 1992-2002 he served as the South Florida Chapter president.  In 1994, he worked with Congressman Peter Deutsch and Coen Blaauw to get Taiwan listed as a place of birth on US Passports, instead of Taiwan, China, and met with President Clinton, as part of this effort.  Song Yea continued to serve on the Board of Directors until the time of his death.

Song Yea retired in 2018.  In his retirement, he enjoyed playing tennis with his friends and traveling with Karla and their friends to various places around the world.  They traversed the Panama Canal 3 times, visited Japan, the Mediterranean, Croatia, and cruised the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and the Danube.

He is survived by his wife, Karla, his three children: Helen (Larry), Wayne (Victoria), and Howard (Sarah), and their five grandchildren: Jacqueline, Michael, Rachel, Danielle and Astrid. He is also survived by his brothers 李嵩柏 Song Pai Lee, 李嵩道 Song Dow Lee, 李嵩堯 Song Yau Lee, and 李嵩舜 Song Shun Lee and his sister, 李麗美 Li Mei Lee.  李嵩義 Song-Yea was preceded in death by: His sister: 李俊惠 Li Jun Hui, and brothers: 李嵩斌 Song Ping, 李嵩仁 Song Ren, and 李嵩傑 Song Jie.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to FAPA at https://fapa.org/donate-fapa/