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Percival Hon Yin Chee, 87, of Honolulu, Hawaii, passed away early 3 May, 2024. Percy was born on 29 August, 1936. He grew up in Kaimuki, the youngest of 7 children. He had a happy childhood, reveling in long bike rides across Honolulu with his best friends, Tom, Melvin, and Milton, playing baseball with his brother Bingo, and traveling to visit his uncle in Waialua for big hukilaus. At home he helped his mother make the puffed rice she was famous for. Later, like so many others, he worked at the pineapple cannery with older brother Bingo. He excelled in academics and attended the University of Hawaii. There, he became a school photographer, and despite finishing his degree in three years, stayed an extra year because of a beautiful photographer named Carolyn. Percy went on to earn a medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1962. He subsequently served his country as a United States Air Force Flight Surgeon, earning his Aerospace Medicine Diploma in 1963 and spending much time in international air space with the Air Force. He continued on to do his residency at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami. In 1966 Percy married college sweetheart Carolyn and went on to have two daughters, Lara and Shera. At the urging of his new wife, he moved his young family back home to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1968. There he continued his career as an ophthalmologist at Straub Clinic, moving into private practice 5 years later. As a much sought after ophthalmologist, he touched the lives of many thousands of people. He performed the first intraocular lens implant surgery in Hawaii and served as Associate Professor of Surgery at the John A Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. He was a long time Fellow of the American College of Surgeons where he served as a board examiner and was published a number of times in his career. For a short time, he hosted a medical question and answer program on the radio. He was always generous with his gifts and his time, giving free care and medical advice to family, friends, and people in need. After a long and successful career Percy retired in April 2023. In gratitude, Senator Mike Gabbard presented him with a commendation from the Hawaii State Senate on his retirement for "decades of dedicated and conscientious service to the people of O’ahu". Percy was a devoted friend and kept in touch with close friends from elementary through medical school. With a quick smile and faster wit, he loved to host dinners, play bridge, golf and poker with friends, and most of all loved spending time with family. He delighted in sharing a delicious mango or juicy sweet lychee with Carolyn, and tolerated evenings at the symphony because he loved his wife. He was a deeply loved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother and friend. Percy was predeceased by brothers Hon Chung, Hon Hoong, Hon Ting and sisters Mew Lan Young and Mew Heong Goo. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Tong Chee, daughter Lara Chee Cordeiro and husband James, daughter Shera Chee Mercer and husband Joe, grandchildren Ian and Kathryn Cordeiro and brother Hon Ping "Bingo" Chee. Services will be held at Diamond Head Mortuary on 15 June, 2024 at 10 am, viewing at 9:15 am. Arrangements Provided By: Diamond Head Mortuary Chapel |
