Pong Hyon Paek

    Dr. Pong Hyon Paek of Cambridge, MA passed away on March 14, 2025, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, two weeks after a stroke. He was 92 years young.
    Pong was born to Korean laborers in Kobe, Japan on August 17, 1932, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Rising from extreme hardship and only an elementary school education in Japan, he willed his way through school, completing middle school at the age of 20, and obtaining a high school diploma three years later despite only attending one semester due to the Korean War. During the war, Pong served as a houseboy to an American army chaplain (Rev. James O. Mattox). After the war, Pong served for six years in the military, during which time he obtained a BA in Spanish from Hankuk University and served as the KMAG Aide-de- Camp to two US Army generals (Maj Gen Sidney C. Wooten and Maj Gen T.R. Yancey) from 1961-1964.
    Pong arrived in the US in December of 1964, sponsored by the Wilson family of Alvin, Texas (Kyle E. Wilson Jr, Mabel Todd Wilson and Kyle E. Wilson, Sr) whom he met during his time with the US Army in Korea. He studied the paths of Korean immigrants in Mexico at the University of Texas, Austin, where he dared to dream of the possibility of Harvard. After obtaining his Masters in Latin American Studies from UT in 1968, Pong was Cambridge-bound, securing his Harvard tuition through a bet with a local business owner who never believed Pong would be accepted. Pong earned his PhD from Harvard in 1981 in East Asian Studies. Along the way he married Seunghi Hahn and had two daughters, who were his everything. He was an Associate in Research at Harvard’s Fairbank Center and Korea Institute from 1983-1993. Pong became gravely ill with liver disease before his second daughter was born and given weeks to live in 1978; he would proudly recall that a priest delivered last rites while he was in the hospital. Nevertheless, Pong continued to defy all odds, a persistent theme throughout his life.
    Pong was faithful to two beliefs–the power of education and the gospel of his many doctors, which he was quick to preach. Debilitated by illness, Pong transferred his aspirations to his daughters, focusing on their education and setting them up for success, which you would quickly learn if you even paused a moment on his path. He also served as an educational consultant to many Korean families with his wealth of knowledge. As for his health, Pong was a true warrior, surviving a triple bypass, triple A surgery, and lung cancer, to name a few, and diligently followed his doctors’ advice. His dream was to see his grandchildren go to college; we know he will be with them when that time comes.
    Pong’s larger than life personality and booming voice resounded all over the Cambridge and Boston area, the only town worth living in, from his perspective. He walked everywhere (with help from the T) and struck up conversations with everyone. His favorite haunts included the original Filene’s Basement, the Harvard Co-op, and Star Market. Pong’s garden was a community landmark, as if his zest for life was transformed into his vegetables, which he gave away by the armful to anyone who would stop and admire.
    Pong is survived by his wife, Seunghi, daughters Sumi DeBenedittis (Michael DeBenedittis) of Brooklyn, NY and Romi Paek (Jonathan Tuczynski) of Tarrytown, NY, four grandchildren Max, Luca, Raeya and Mari, and extended family. Pong’s ashes will live at Mount Auburn Cemetery. A memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite scholarship fund in Pong’s name. For his guest book please visit www.lehmanreen.com.

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