- Date Of Birth: January 30, 1954
- Date Of Death: November 14, 2012
- State: Connecticut
Beloved husband, father, and friend, Sam died on November 14, 2012 at home in Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut. Sam was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma after a series of medical crises beginning in early 2012. Throughout his illness, he and his family focused on seeking information and counsel from many sources and sharing their learning, information, wisdom, and grace online and individually with family, friends, and colleagues around the country and around the globe. After his diagnosis, Sam spent much of his time chronicling the articles, books, and experiences that had shaped his philosophy about life, business, and management so that others could benefit from this wisdom. These focused conversations highlighted Sam’s talent for building deep, lasting friendships, and his skill at providing meaningful coaching, mentoring, and guidance to many grateful recipients over the years.
Sam was born on January 30, 1954 in Wichita, KS, the third of five sons born to Chin Wee and Yim Ngo (Wong) Wee in a tightly knit immigrant family. He spent much of his childhood working in the family business, a Chinese-American restaurant called the Silver Dragon. Starting in the 6th grade Sam spent the next seven years working in the restaurant, learning how to plan, prepare, and serve delicious meals (as well as becoming familiar with running a small business). Later, his ability to provide wonderful home-cooked food for family and friends became a lifelong gift of sustenance and love.
Sam attended Wichita West High School, where his quest for knowledge and pursuit of academic excellence made him one of the state’s finest students. In 1972 he was named a Presidential Scholar, one of two students from each state in the U.S. honored for their academic and community achievements. Sam served for two years as President of his Student Council during a turbulent time that included tear gas in the school hallways and racial discord in the broader community. This high school leadership experience, along with his participation in Model UNs, helped formulate his lifelong interest in change management and exploring what causes groups to act differently than individuals.
Sam began learning to play the violin in 3rd grade, igniting a lifelong love of music. Unable to afford private lessons like his classmates, he worked long and hard to move up from 28th chair to 3rd chair in his junior high orchestra. By high school Sam took a second job, working at the local post office before his daily shift at the Silver Dragon, earning enough money by 10th grade to buy his own violin.
In 1972 Sam entered Harvard College, where his understanding of organizational dynamics was further deepened by his coursework in Government and his extra-curricular involvement running Model UNs, as well as his decision to take a summer job selling books for the Southwestern Company. Sam worked for Southwestern for the next 10 years, first selling books during the summer; then recruiting and managing his own award-winning sales team; then working full-time for the company as a Sales Manager.
In 1975 Sam met Elizabeth Krentz, then a Harvard freshman, at a Model UN meeting.
After Sam graduated from Harvard, he continued his career with the Southwestern Company. Elizabeth also worked summers for Southwestern, before attending Yale Divinity School and becoming ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in 1984. Over the next several decades the couple lived in Amherst, MA; New Haven, CT; Chelmsford, Stoughton, and Attleboro, MA; Beaconsfield, UK; Lexington, MA; and New Canaan and Cornwall Bridge, CT; as Sam’s business career progressed and Elizabeth was called to serve new congregations.
Sam and Elizabeth raised two delightful children, Adam (born in 1987) and Rebecca (born in 1990).
Sam is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Krentz-Wee of Cornwall Bridge; their children Adam M. Wee of St. Louis, MO and Rebecca Krentz-Wee of Cornwall Bridge; their granddaughter Charlotte (Charlie) Wee; daughter-in-law Sarah Wee; brothers Gene Wee of Lawrence, KS, Ken Wee of Boulder, CO, Kim Wee of Garland, TX, sister-in-law Siobhan Galvin Wee of Evanston, IL, many extended family members; and a lifetime of good friends. He was predeceased by his younger brother, Don M. Wee of Evanston, IL.
Sam will be remembered for his keen intelligence and passion for knowledge; his extraordinary work ethic; his lifelong commitment to helping others identify and meet their goals; his joy in books, music, good food, and a good drink; his love and generous care for his family; and his trademark raised eyebrow and broad smile. Sam changed the lives of everyone who knew him for the better.
ELCA Attn: Rev. Franklin Ishida P.O. Box 71764 Chicago IL 60694. For the hospital, memo line: “Sam M. Wee” and mail to Smilow Cancer Hospital, Office of Development P.O. Box 1849 New Haven, CT 06508
