InJu Lee Sturgeon

InJu Lee Sturgeon has passed away peacefully on August 27 at Scripps Select Hospital. A celebration of life service will take place at El Camino Mortuary - Sorrento Valley, Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11:30 am.

Born in Korea on January 28, 1941, InJu was the first woman in her family to attain an advanced college degree and went on to work for the Consul in Hong Kong, where she participated in the diplomatic mission to normalize relations with China. After moving to the United States, she was the Creative Director at UCLA Extension for three decades. In 2004, AIGA (the American Institute of Graphic Arts) partnered with UCLA Extension to publish “Masters of Graphic Design,” a catalog of her UCLA Extension Master of Graphic Design 1990-2004, cover series. In 2005 she won the prestigious AIGA Fellows Award for her career of design excellence. She was a loving wife, partner and mother and cherished her grandchildren. Inju was preceded in death by her husband, John. She is survived by his son, Arron Sturgeon, her partner Dr. Alex Mercendetti, two grandchildren, Chloe and Theodore and her sisters, HaeJu, ChanJu and Lina Oggi Kim. Inju will be remembered for her courage, brilliance, compassion, unwavering integrity and love for her friends and family. She touched and uplifted all that knew her.