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 Sams 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 states 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. Sam played in the Wichita West High School Orchestra, consistently attaining 2nd or 3rd chair; served as Concertmaster in the Wichita Youth Symphony; and performed in numerous community musical theater productions, an interest he continued into college and throughout his adult life. 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. Their relationship blossomed and deepened over the following years, and they were married on December 22, 1978 at Bethel Lutheran Church in University City (St. Louis) MO, with Elizabeths father, the Rev. Edgar Krentz presiding. 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 Sams business career progressed and Elizabeth was called to serve new congregations. Sams long business career after Southwestern included stints as a sales and marketing executive with Control Data Corporation, CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation), BGS Systems, Prime Computer/Computervision, and Benchmarking Partners, where he honed his skills in management and marketing, focusing on pricing and customer value/experience. In 2002 he joined SAP, a global enterprise software firm headquartered in Germany, where he spent the next ten years commuting to the companys New York City offices from Connecticut. Originally hired by the Chairman of the Board to revise the companys pricing strategy, Sam worked on a variety of increasingly significant marketing projects until he was promoted to Vice President of Marketing to focus on the firms customer experience. Sam and Elizabeth raised two delightful children, Adam (born in 1987) and Rebecca (born in 1990). The family shared many common interests, including a love of reading and involvement with church activities on a local and national level. Sam and Elizabeth passed on their love of music and musical theater to Adam and Rebecca, and the family enjoyed both performing and attending live musical events as often as possible. 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. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 8, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 837 Charles St., Torrington, CT. There will be a luncheon at the church immediately following the service. Contributions in Sams memory may be sent to ELCA Global Mission or Smilow Cancer Hospital. For Global Mission gifts to the "Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," please include on the memo line: "Global Mission-China projects in memory of Sam M. Wee" and mail to 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

Service Information Service Saturday November 17, 2012 11:00 AM St. Paul's Lutheran Church 134 Main St. Terryville, CT --> Visitation Saturday November 17, 2012 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Our Savior Lutheran Church 505 South main Street Thomaston, CT 06787 -->