Seung Tae Lee's Obituary
Seung Tae Lee
March 5, 1949 – May 21, 2025
Seung Tae Lee was born on March 5, 1949, in Seoul, Korea, to Suh Mi Ja and Bong Sahn. He was the fifth of seven children. Over the years, he held many roles—including taxi driver, construction worker, and police officer—each reflecting his hardworking and resilient spirit.
In 1973, Seung Tae met Young Ae Park, and the two were married in 1977. Shortly after, they immigrated to the United States with the help of Seung Tae’s older sister, Eun Sook Lee.
Upon arriving in the U.S., the couple settled in San Francisco, California. Seung Tae worked as a mechanic at Automotive Engineering, a well-known auto shop chain in the 1980s, and later at Seoul Body Shop. In 1980, they welcomed their first son, James—named after Seung Tae’s fondness for James Bond movies. In 1983, Seung Tae opened his own shop, German Autocraft, in San Leandro, California, and moved the family there. In 1989, their second son, Tom, was born—named after one of Seung Tae’s closest friends.
Seung Tae had a lifelong passion for fixing cars. He frequently helped friends and even strangers with automotive problems. Outside of work, he enjoyed fishing and golfing whenever he had the chance.
In 2023, Seung Tae suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed and facing numerous health challenges, including muscle atrophy, pneumonia, and lung infections. Despite these difficulties, he showed incredible strength and resilience. On May 21, 2025, at 3:59 a.m., Seung Tae Lee passed away peacefully in his sleep.
He is survived by his ex-wife, Young Ae; his sons, James and Tom; and his siblings 이시지, 이만지, 이은숙, 이준태, 이영숙.
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