Dr. Robert Chung-tao (C.T.) Lee

Dr. Robert Chung-tao (C.T.) Lee passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at the age of 92. His daughter Jean was at his side at Magnified Nursing and Rehabilitation in College Station, TX. Though he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's over five years ago and had moved to The Waterford assisted living facility to reside, he always recognized and remembered his loved ones, even in his last moments.

Robert was born in Shanghai, China and had seven siblings - five brothers and two sisters. He lived a complete life that was full of scholarly endeavors, athleticism and travel. Growing up, he was trained, along with his brothers, in boxing and German, and played soccer and swam. During World War II, he served with the U.S. military in China as paratrooper support, which became today's Pararescue operations. After the war, he graduated from Guangxi University and married his high school sweetheart Laura Shu. Robert earned a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine from Cornell University and became a professor in that field at National Taiwan University in Taipei. One of his major contributions was a swine vaccine for hog cholera. As a recipient of the Eisenhower Fellowship, he traveled across the US. It was during this trip that he first came to College Station. He then served as Secretary of Agriculture for Taiwan in the 1970s under President Chiang Ching-kuo, son of Chiang Kai-shek, and went on to hold the office of President of National Chung Hsing University in Taichung. His colleagues and peers considered him to be the Father of Veterinary Pathology in Taiwan. He traveled extensively for work and pleasure, and among his favorite places were the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and Zermatt in Switzerland. After his wife Laura's death in 1974, he married Winnie Chi in 1975.

He and Winnie moved to College Station, TX in 1994 after retiring. Soon after the move, he suffered a stroke but recovered well. Robert spent most of his time studying the sciences, history, anthropology, and religion. His family will always fondly remember him poring over his books in his study and his love of sashimi.

He is survived by his oldest brother in China, his younger brother Dr. Tsung-Dao (T.D.) Lee -- a Nobel Prize laureate in physics -- his youngest brother in Sweden, his younger sister in Connecticut, his two daughters Fei Tang and Jean Lee Lin, and six grandchildren (Laurinda Lin, Joy Tang, Melodie Tang, Allen Tang and his wife Sally, Lisa Lin and Alexa Tang). He is also survived by 2 nieces, 2 nephews, and 4 godchildren (Roy Kung, Kelly Kung, Bobby Chi, and Hong Ling Chou). His numerous students will also carry his memory with them.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, one brother, his son-in-law Alex Tang, and his two beloved wives Laura and Winnie.

A private service will be held at College Station Cemetery on Friday, May 27, where his ashes will be buried between his wives. To honor his memory, a scholarship fund has been established at National Chung Hsing University in the Department of Veterinary Medicine under the College of Agriculture. All memorial gifts and donations should be directed to this scholarship.

Thanks to Dr. Tom Yu in Taiwan for helping set up and manage this scholarship. Special thanks to Rhonda Reagan and Linda Jones and her family. And thanks to all those who have loved and cared for Robert and to the staff at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station for helping Robert's family coordinate his final farewell.