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Post by NZBC on Jun 5, 2007 18:19:34 GMT 12
LEE Gam. Dearly beloved brother and brotherinlaw of Mark and Liz, loving uncle of Robert, Christine and Sandra. You will always be in our hearts. May you rest in peace.
• Published Thursday, May 31 2007
• First Published Thursday, May 31 2007
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Post by NZBC on Jun 5, 2007 18:22:10 GMT 12
LEE Gam. Condolences to Hane and Family at the passing of Gam. Sadly missed. Brother to Harry and Yeng, and uncle to Michael and Lynette, Scott and Sandra, Caroline and Gary, Michelle and Illias and Families.
• Published Thursday, May 31 2007
• First Published Thursday, May 31 2007
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Post by NZBC on Jun 5, 2007 18:23:39 GMT 12
LEE Gam Poy. On Monday 28 May, 2007, dearly loved father and fatherinlaw of Pauline and Steve, passed away peacefully after a long illness. Your courage and tenacity were incredible. So many happy memories; playing 500 will never be the same! You were an inspiration to us all, and will always be so.
• Published Thursday, May 31 2007
• First Published Thursday, May 31 2007
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Post by NZBC on Jun 5, 2007 18:27:29 GMT 12
LEE Gam Poy. Peacefully at home. Loved second son of the late Yung Jong and Lay She Lee. Much loved brother of Doris and Sherman Lowe, and Peter and Pat Lee (Toronto). Caring and fun loving uncle and greatuncle to his many nephews and nieces. Rest peacefully.
?Published Friday, June 01 2007
?First Published Friday, June 01 2007
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Post by NZBC on Jun 5, 2007 18:28:33 GMT 12
LEE Gam Poy. Loved brother of Poy and brotherinlaw of the late Choy Kee, uncle of Kevin and Gloria, David and Jenny, and Pam and their families. We have many treasured memories. Thank you for playing a large part in our lives. Rest now in peace.
• Published Tuesday, June 05 2007
• First Published Saturday, June 02 2007
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Post by NZBC on Jun 5, 2007 18:29:50 GMT 12
LEE Gam Poy Dr. (MBE). Respected and valued chartered member and Past President of Rotary Club of Auckland Harbourside, Inc. Our sincere condolences to Hane and family.
• Published Tuesday, June 05 2007
• First Published Tuesday, June 05 2007
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Post by NZBC on Jun 5, 2007 18:30:45 GMT 12
LEE
Gam Poy Dr (MBE). On May 28, 2007, peacefully at home; in his 74th year. Dearly loved husband of Hane and loved father and fatherinlaw of Denis and Donna, Bernard and Helen, Pauline and Steve and Stephanie and the late Colin. Loved Yeh Yeh of Jeremy, Brendan, Jonathan; Natalie, Lexi; Hannah, and Nicholas. The service for Gam will be held at St Columba Presbyterian Church, 480 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs on Wednesday June 6, 2007 at 1 pm followed by private cremation. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Stroke Foundation, PO Box 31237, Milford, Auckland 1309 would be appreciated.
• Published Monday, June 04 2007
• First Published Thursday, May 31 2007
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Post by NZBC on Jun 5, 2007 18:33:49 GMT 12
LEE
Gam Poy Passed away on 28 May 2007. Resting in peace now. Hardworking, unconventional, dictatorial, generous, kind - you are an inspiration to us all. Passionate about your family, your work and helping others (especially if you got your own way!). Your legacy lives on in your family and in the community. We miss you dearly Dad and will forever cherish the memories of our time together. Much loved father and fatherinlaw of Denis, Donna, Bernard, Helen, Pauline, Steve, Stephanie and the late Colin; and yeh yeh of Jeremy, Brendan, Jonathan, Natalie, Lexi, Hannah and Nicholas.
• Published Saturday, June 02 2007
• First Published Thursday, May 31 2007
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Post by NZBC on Jun 23, 2007 8:21:23 GMT 12
Obituary: Gam Lee
5:00AM Saturday June 23, 2007 By Arnold Pickmere
Gam Lee worked tirelessly to repay what he felt was his debt to New Zealand. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Gam Lee, MBE. Doctor, community leader. Died aged 74.
Gam Lee said on being made an MBE for services to medicine and the community that all he was doing was repaying his "debt" to NZ.
But the 1995 award followed decades of hectic work both for medicine and the communities in which he lived. During his life he became accustomed to rushing from his medical surgery to local body or medical administration meetings and to fundraising committees.
It was a work habit he started as a schoolboy, after his family had settled in Mangere Bridge, South Auckland. They had a 2ha market garden growing seasonal vegetables. Part of the land is now the site of the Chinese Community Centre that Dr Lee had a key role in building.
Young Gam Lee's days while at Otahuhu College included helping his parents in the market garden before school and again when he came home, then finding time to do his homework.
That was the way it was in those days, for the family were war refugees from the Japanese attacks on China in which millions died.
As a young boy Dr Lee walked 100km with his mother and an uncle from their little village in the Xin Tang province in what is now Guangzhou (formerly Canton) to the safety of Hong Kong. He made it to NZ in 1940, his family coming on a temporary visa. The Japanese attacked Hong Kong in late 1941, only hours after their attack on Pearl Harbour.
The family's visa included a ?00 bond (the male New Zealand average wage was then ? a week). And they entered on the understanding they would eventually return to China, although the policy was later changed and they stayed.
Gam Lee went to Otago University and qualified as a doctor in 1959, the same year he became a naturalised New Zealander. His family describe his approach to life as "sheer determination". He was a psychiatric registrar in Otago for a time and helped his younger brother Peter through medical school.
Dr Lee started a general practice in sparsely settled Waiheke Island in the early 1960s. In three years there he was involved in setting up a Lions Club and being a member of the Waiheke County Council. After that his practice moved first to Mangere and later to Pakuranga. Apart from orthodox general practice and obstetrics he also got involved in acupuncture, manipulation, chelation therapy and other treatments and gave time to their organisations. He spent two terms on the Manukau City Council and one on the Auckland Hospital Board.
Apart from his numerous efforts in the Chinese community he was also a Rotarian for more than 20 years and helped establish the multicultural Harbourside Rotary Club.
He believed it was important for Chinese people in New Zealand to be involved in the community. "New Zealand adopted me and gave me an excellent education," he said in 1995. "I owe this country so much that I will never be able to repay my debt."
Dr Lee is survived by Hane, his wife of 50 years, two sons and a daughter.
NZ Herald 23/6/07
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