Dec. 8, 1936 – Nov. 14, 2024
Northborough – David Tun-Cheow Yee, 87, of Northborough, MA passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, November 14, 2024, at his home, surrounded by family and friends.
David was born in a Toishan village in Guangdong (Canton), China, and immigrated to the United States in 1949 at the age of 13. He attended Brookline High School, Tufts University, and Northeastern University before earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. During his studies, he completed co-op placements at the Sanborn Company and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Following his graduation, David embarked on a distinguished career of over 30 years as a principal engineer at GTE Corporation, where he contributed to significant projects, including instrumentation for the Apollo spacecraft.
In his retirement, David remained active, disciplined, and curious. Inspired by one of his sons, he worked in IT support for Microsoft applications in the 1990s. Later, he became a photography technician at CVS in Northborough, developing digital photos and film for the community.
David was first married to Lana Wong Yee, with whom he had three children: Amy Yee, Michael Yee, and Joseph Yee. He later married Lisa Dung-My Yee, who survives him, along with their son, Andrew Yee. David was the eldest son of Ngut Ling Yee and Thlet Ning Yee, and is also survived by his siblings, Edward Yee and Judy Yee Connolly.
David had a wide array of interests and hobbies that showcased his discipline, curiosity, and passion for life and family. He was an avid solitaire player – having spent countless hours playing at night, a dedicated photographer with his Nikon camera, and a tropical fish hobbyist. He took pride in his gardening, becoming well-known in his neighborhood for cultivating the largest garden and generously sharing its abundant harvest, particularly his Asian squash.
David also enjoyed watching action and martial arts films, often accompanied by his family at the local theatre. Deeply spiritual, he achieved the fifth level in divine dharma meditation science, demonstrating wisdom and patience throughout his life. He loved hamburgers and drinking black coffee, especially from Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds.
David will be remembered for his intellectual curiosity, love of family, and generous spirit.
A burial service will take place on Friday, November 22nd at 1:30pm in Forest Hills Cemetery – 95 Forest Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02130. Please meet by 1:15pm at the front gate, and we will depart at 1:30pm for the burial.
Those who would like to donate and/or send flowers in David’s memory, please contact Andrew Yee at 508-523-6646 or via Venmo (@yeeandrew).
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Sakya Institute for Buddhist Studies (https://sakya.net/#Support).
Hays Funeral Home of Northborough assisted with arrangements.
