Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee, 78, beloved husband of Young Hee (Kim) Lee, passed away in peace on December 16, 2016. Moo Yong was born in South Korea on May 20, 1938 to the late Byung Il Lee and Chang Gil (Kwon) Lee.

He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Hanyang in Korea and received his MBA at Korea University in 1968.  Moo Yong came to the United States in 1972 with the dream of making a good life for his family.  With his engineering education, he worked at Wang Labs until he started his own Taekwondo school.

Mr. Lee was a highly-respected leader in the worldwide Taekwondo community. He was a pioneer in promoting Taekwondo and was pivotal in introducing it as an official Olympic Medal Sport. One of his proudest moments was being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition in 2013. He was inducted into the US Taekwondo Grandmasters Society Hall of Fame, receiving the Grandmaster of the Year Award in April 2016. In addition to tireless dedication to his work, Mr. Lee was an active leader in the Korean-American community. He enjoyed golfing, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. He will be remembered for his integrity, service and kindness.

Moo Yong Lee is survived by his wife Young Hee; his three children from a previous marriage to the late Hea Joo (Kang) Lee – son Jason Lee and his wife Ji-Eun of Newton, MA, daughter Jennifer Torr and her husband Peter of Seattle, WA, son James Lee of Los Angeles, CA – and his dear grandchildren Averie, Noelle, Christian, Leaha and Leo.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road, South Windsor, CT from 3 to 6 pm followed by a service at the funeral home at 6pm. A funeral Mass will take place at Sacred Heart Church in Wethersfield at 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 20, 2016. Burial will be private at the request of his family. For details and condolences, please visit mooyonglee.forevermissed.com