Wai Kit Lee

Wai Kit (Kitty) Lee was born on July 24, 1952 in Guangzhou, China and passed away in Riverside, California on September 20, 2019 at the age of 67 of cardiac arrest.

Wai Kit was the youngest of nine children and was much adored by her family. Growing up, she strived to help support her family and overcame much economic hardship, illness, and famine.

As a young woman, Wai Kit escaped communist China with her brother to Hong Kong in 1973, as a refugee of the Cultural Revolution. She married her husband, Chi Chin, in 1978 and emigrated to the United States in 1979 where they started a new life together.

Wai Kit had three sons, Gilbert, Patrick and Harold, and worked hard raising them while managing a restaurant in Riverside. She was a devoted wife and mother who struggled to ensure the success of her family.

In 2005, Wai Kit suffered from a brain aneurysm but recovered thanks to the quality care received from UCLA Medical Center. After this episode, Wai Kit slowed down to enjoy life by traveling around the world and by tending to her fruitful and abundant vegetable garden, fruit orchard, and chickens.

Wai Kit befriended many people in her life and was well loved. She had a generous spirit and enthusiastically shared the things she made.

Wai Kit is survived by her husband Chi Chin, sons Gilbert, Patrick, and Harold, daughters-in-law Kathleen and Lillian, granddaughter Juliana, and many brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, and nieces.

May she rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Cardiovascular Research (63664O) at UCLA. Please make checks payable to "The UCLA Foundation", indicate the gift is in memory of Wai Kit Lee in the memo line, and send the check to UCLA Health Sciences Development, Attn: Sasha Wadman, 10889 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Feel free to contact Sasha Wadman at (310) 206-6227 or swadman@support.ucla.edu with any questions.