A spirit of giving

Commitment to philanthropy was taught to Sue Lee at a young age. 

“My father lived a life of giving,” she says. “He built a school and a temple in a small town.  I learned at a young age to be charitable.” 

Born in a small town in Taiwan, Sue Lee received her pharmacy degree from the prestigious National Taiwan University.  Together with her future husband, Dr. J. C. Lee, they came to America to pursue a dream. Sue received her master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota, while her husband, J.C., did his internship and residency in pathology and also received his doctorate in genetics.

After stops in New Jersey, Ohio, and San Antonio, the couple was attracted to the growing community of Bryan/College Station where they raised three children and where quality medical care was seen as essential to the region’s continued growth. 

“Our family is very blessed to live in this wonderful community,” Sue notes. “We like to give back to the community to help others in need and support the initiatives that enhance and change people’s lives.”  

J.C. Lee served as chief pathologist for the then St. Joseph Regional Hospital from 1976 to 1999 and Sue became a registered medical technologist and was a lab director managing three outpatient laboratories. 

So when Sue’s husband was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, he chose to have his treatment at St. Joseph Regional Cancer Center, where they were grateful to have quality care close to home. He lived a fairly normal life during the treatment – starting at the Cancer Center at 8 a.m. and on the golf course by 10.

After his passing and inspired by the importance of good medical care close to home and the need for state-of-the-art cancer treatments in the growing Brazos Valley community, Sue made the cornerstone donation to the St. Joseph Regional Cancer Center, creating the J.C. Lee, M.D. Pavilion. In 2015, she supported the Ronald McDonald House by underwriting the lounge. She has also served on the boards of the St. Joseph Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Arts Council (two years as president), and is past president of the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History. She also recently served on the steering committee for the grand opening of the Fun For All Playground. 

Sue has passed the lessons her father taught her on to her children “so that they can make positive changes in the world.” 

“Giving is rewarding,” she continues. “It adds purpose to life. Giving to others puts a bigger smile on my face than spending on myself. As Mother Teresa stated ‘It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.’ Charity and love are the same. With charity you give love.”