John Yee – A Life Well Lived

Denver Sister Cities is saddened to announce the passing of John H. Yee, Honorary Chair and a Founder of the Denver Kunming Sister Cities Relationship.  John passed away on Tuesday, March 26.   Upon hearing this we know that many of you will have the sadness of losing a friend and yet pride for his long life of 97 years so well lived and a life which was so impactful.  And any of us who are involved with the relationship between Denver and Kunming or any of our Sister City relationships have had our lives touched by John.  His life personified the advocacy of Citizen Diplomacy and people to people friendships.

The service for John will be on Sunday, April 14, 2:00 at the Crown Hill Pavilion at 29^th and Wadsworth.  All are welcome to join in the remembrance of his life. 

John Yee was an extraordinary man who promoted friendship between East and West throughout his life.  John was instrumental in the establishment of Kunming Sister City in 1985 and played a major leadership role in developing the relationship between the two cities for over two decades as Chair and as an active Honorary Chair. John led periodic groups to Kunming and worked to organize numerous cultural, educational and medical exchanges.

John was also an active member of the Board of Denver Sister Cities International, supporting activities of each of our ten Sister Cities and advocating for open exchanges between each Sister City. This exchange of culture and educational opportunities has increased opportunities for Denver Metro residents to understand China.  John was driven by a conviction that “the world would be a better place if we could combine the science of the West with the wisdom of the East, that in these very troubled times, it is imperative that we search for meaning to create a better world, with less violence, with peace and less selfishness and more caring for our fellow man”. (Voices from Colorado, 2008 by Mercado Information and Business Services)

John spent his early years in Kunming, China.  In 1940, he was recruited to be an interpreter for the Flying Tigers, an American Volunteer Group stationed in Kunming.  After Pearl Harbor the AVG was replaced by the U.S. 14^th Air Force under the command of General Claire Chennault.   In 1944, John was sent to the U.S. for help with the training of Chinese Air Force Cadets.  In 1947 he became ill and was confined to Fitzsimmons Military Hospital just as he was to be shipped back to China.  A fateful phone call gave him permission to remain.  As John often said  “In life people’s lives are determined by time and chance.”

Eventually. John was able to obtain letters from Air Force leaders, including General Chennault requesting he be allowed to stay in the United States on a permanent basis.  It was Senator Edward Johnson of Colorado who sponsored legislation so that John Yee could become a permanent resident.  When he became a citizen in 1961, he was given the Citizen by Choice Award sponsored by the Denver Post.  His efforts to help the American soldiers in China and the Chinese cadets in the United States benefited both countries.

We are so fortunate that John Yee chose Colorado to be his home because his understanding of Asia has benefited so many.  He received a scholarship to the University of Denver where he earned his B.A. in Social Science.  He later earned his M.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  John taught in the Aurora Public Schools and spent 20 years as Department Head of Social Science at Central High School.  He also taught at both the University of Denver and Metropolitan State College.  In addition to his many contributions to Denver Sister Cities he volunteered countless hours to many Asian Pacific Organizations over a 50 year span.

Over the years, state and local leaders have recognized John by appointments such as Mayor Wellington Webb’s Asian Advisory Council and the Governor’s Asian Advisory Council.  He was also awarded the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award; which honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the City and County of Denver and their community through volunteerism.  Denver Sister Cities recognized John in 2010 with the Friendship Award as a community and international humanitarian.  John viewed his work in the volunteer sector as “people to people” bringing about understanding.  John often said that governments may be problematic and/or change but friendships between people are enduring.

In 2015 the Central Government of the People’s Republic of China, Military Affairs, presented John with a medal that is the equivalent to the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor, for his service as a Flying Tiger in Kunming during the early 1940’s.  It very rare for this medal to be presented to someone not living in China.

During a visit with John in the spring of 2016 he was reflecting on the importance of the Flying Tigers he said that he thought Winston Churchill’s quote about the fight for the Battle of Britain is applicable:  “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

Two of John’s most tangible efforts were working to designate the City of Kunming Park at Grant and Vasser which showcases Kunming’s gift of stones from the “Stone Forest” and facilitating Kunming’s gift of the bronze peacock sculpture by Chinese artist Yuan Xiao-chen.  The sculpture was a gift from the people of Kunming to Denver and is entitled “Good Fortune is Here to Stay.  The sculpture can be seen at the Denver Zoo.

John is survived by his wife Nai-Li Yee who has been a leader in the Asian Community and an important member of the Sister City Community.