Dominic Shi-Fong Lee

Apr 21, 1942 -

Jul 3, 2020

Anchorage, Alaska, resident Dominic Shi-Fong Lee, 78, unexpectedly but peacefully died at home on July 3, 2020. Mr. Lee was born in Hong Kong during the Sino-Japanese War to Thomas Tung Hai Lee and Theresa Kin Mo Ho Lee. He grew up in Macau and Hong Kong, attending Tang King Po High School, a Catholic high school, where he excelled in Chinese literature and history. With only 30 dollars to his name, he came to America at age 18. Mr. Lee received a B.S. electrical engineering degree and three other graduate degrees in electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Missouri. He married Freddie Sue on Sept. 15, 1968, in Princeton, Mo., and he and his family moved to Anchorage in July 1977. A licensed professional engineer in several states, for more than 40 years, Mr. Lee owned and operated Little Susitna Construction Company, one of the most respected construction and engineering firms in Alaska. He is responsible for building or engineering over a thousand projects spanning every village, town and borough throughout Alaska. Mr. Lee developed the Turnagain Arm Tidal Project for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, intended to provide low-cost renewable energy powered by the massive bore tides of Turnagain Arm. The turbines would provide enough electricity to power the entire Alaska rail belt region in perpetuity, as well as create a causeway to Kenai cutting travel time in half. He ran for Mayor of Anchorage to promote the project. Mr. Lee was a Confucian scholar and author of The American Missionaries, The Mandarins, and the Opium War Canton China (Circa 1839); a stamp collector and expert with the American Philatelic Society; an art collector; and a student of the great impressionists, painting over 90 oil paintings, of which 70 were completed in three months last year. Full of life, generous and resilient, Mr. Lee was not only a loving father and provider, but a visionary who dreamed big and trusted in God. He is survived by his wife, Freddie Sue; four children and their spouses, and six grandchildren: Chris and Sean Lee of New Orleans, La.; Amy and Zach Story, and daughter Louisa of Atlanta, Ga.; Benji and Laura Lee, and their sons Zeke, Rufus and Monty of New Orleans; and Julie and Darren Hojnacki, and their children Willa and Rylan of Anchorage. He is also survived by his brother, John Lee and his wife Echo, and sons Jonathan Lee of San Francisco, Calif., and Jordan Lee and wife Heather with grandson Grayson of Pacifica, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Samaritan's Purse: https://sampur.se/3faupqX.

A private service was held on July 8, 2020, and may be viewed on replay at: https://www.legacyalaska.com/live-streaming/legacy-heritage-chapel-at-angelus.