Bucks County Courier Times
February 17, 2010 3:21 AM
Soon Woo Lee of Lower Makefield Township died at home, surrounded by his family, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, after a challenging, but also rewarding, two-year struggle with lung cancer. He was 75.
Soon was born into a multi-generational family in Changdan, Korea (now within the Demilitarized Zone) on a ginseng plantation owned and operated by his family.
He began his education in Seoul, Korea, and when the Korean War began, the family was forced to leave their home and travel on foot south to Pusan, Korea.
In 1955 after the Korean War ended, Soon emigrated to the United States to continue his education. During the course of the next 10 years, he attended three universities and earned three degrees of higher learning: Ohio Northern University, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (1958), Boston University School of Theology, graduating with a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1961, and New York University School of Business Administration, earning an Master of Business Administration in Accounting in 1965.
Although he was licensed as a certified public accountant, most of his career was spent in healthcare administration, working initially for Brooklyn Methodist Hospital as controller, then, The Bryn Mawr Hospital, where he was the vice president-finance for 21 years, retiring in 1993.
Concurrently, he taught courses and presented seminars in healthcare administration and reimbursement at Temple University's Fox School of Business and Healthcare Management.
In 1993, he retired from Bryn Mawr Hospital and established his own teaching company, Healthcare Finance Institute, and specialized in presenting seminars on topics of healthcare reimbursement and payment around the United States, until becoming ill in 2008.
Soon was active in the Healthcare Financial Management Association, both nationally and within the Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter, serving on various committees and lecturing at educational workshops. He received the Chapter's Benjamin Franklin Award for outstanding achievement and contributions to the field of healthcare financial management. And, in 2009, the Philadelphia Chapter established the Soon Lee Education Award, to be awarded each year to a Chapter member who demonstrates outstanding achievement and contributions in the area of healthcare education.
Soon was an active member of Yardley United Methodist Church for 42 years, assisting with youth programs, serving as a trustee and as treasurer.
Soon is survived by his wife of 48 years, Joyce White Lee; his beloved son, David; and four cherished nieces, So Hyung Lee, Bo Hyung Lee, Hyung Jin Song, and Ji Young Lee, who came from South Korea in 1987 to live with him and attend high school and college. He also is survived by his brother, Yeung Woo Lee and sister-in-law, Oh Kee, of Bensalem; and a sister, Yoon Ja Shin and brother-in-law, Dr. Dong Wook Shin, of Bucyrus, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews in Korea, California, Chicago, Rochester, and Phoenix.
Relatives and friends will be received from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home, 17 S. Delaware Ave. (River Road), Yardley. His funeral service will be Saturday at Yardley United Methodist Church, 300 Langhorne-Yardley Road, Yardley. Calling hours will be from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11a.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Soon Lee's name may be made to Yardley United Methodist Church's Missions Fund, the Chandler Hall Hospice or the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Philadelphia Chapter, Soon Lee Education Fund. FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home, Yardley
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