June 5th, 1934 - April 30, 2022

When Hills Lee was born, his father named him after his favorite San Francisco brand of coffee – Hills Brothers. The coffee was known for its rich, unique flavor memorable to fans not just in the Bay Area but across the country.

Lee’s life was brewed the same way. As a young boy, his world centered around a few blocks in San Francisco’s Chinatown, where he spent hours watching cowboy movies about faraway places at the local theater on Broadway Street (it cost 25 cents for a double feature and a short film). But after he grew up, he traveled the country, serving the U.S. Army in Hawaii and working as an engineer in Arizona and Washington.

He died on April 30 in Denver, Colorado from senile degeneration of the brain, just a few weeks before his birthday on June 5. He was 87.

Hills was born in 1934 at San Francisco Hospital. He was one out of ten children raised by cook Coon Tai and Hui Shee Lee, who took on jobs such as peeling shrimp skins for local businesses. His parents, who moved from China to the U.S. in search of economic opportunity, lived in a one-bedroom apartment on Broadway Street. The kids occupied the bedroom and living room on bunk beds, while his parents slept on a pull out couch in the living room. When his father became ill, he wished to return to China. Hui Shee chose to stay in California, raising the children with Hills’ older brothers Mun King and Frank.

Shortly after leaving high school, Hills enlisted into the U.S. Army, serving some of his time in Hawaii in the medical unit. He served for three years and received a good conduct medal before his honorable discharge.

Hills attended City College of San Francisco and then graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in math.

In the 1960s, Hills’ younger brother David purchased a home in Santa Clara. Hills stayed there for a few years when he was working as a programmer in Sunnyvale. He later moved to Palo Alto, working at Stanford University as a programmer in their linear accelerator lab. There, he fell in love with his wife, Brenda Slater, who worked at the lab. They married on March 21, 1974 in Washington. The two had a church ceremony in Macon, Georgia a few months later. In 1988, his daughter, Hillicia, was born. In 1996 Brenda and Hills became foster parents for Lexus Wright-Ball for several years.

As his career grew in the aerospace industry, Hills decided to leave his full-time job at Boeing in Seattle and become a contractor that generated an even higher salary. His work took him all over the United States and outside the country on occasion.

In addition to being a talented engineer, Hills greatly enjoyed playing chess, earning the ranking of “expert” by the United States Chess Federation and participating in tournaments. He used to play chess online for hours. He also played card games like Pinochle and Bridge, and loved fixing up his yellow MG, a British sports car.

Hills had a kind smile and thought life was beautiful. He loved his family and his younger brother David says he will always remember how his brother helped guide him through life. Just two years apart in age, Hills would tutor David in school, preparing him for future lessons in math or English.

“While growing up, he would often correct me when I was wrong, and encourage me when he felt I was doing right,” said David Lee. “I guess, looking back now from all our past years together, that will be the way I shall always remember Hills, as being my big brother.”

Outside of his family, Hills enjoyed bringing light to others too. He had a collection of small flashlights that he would give to random children, brightening their paths in the dark and helping them find their way home.

Hills was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Rev. Brenda Lee in 2017, as well as his siblings Mun King Lee, Lora Chin, June Fong, Frank Lee and William “Bill” Lee. He is survived by his daughter Hillicia Peachey (Jesse), foster daughter Lexus Wright-Ball, and siblings David Lee (Julie), Moon Quan, Dora Ung (Russell) and Patricia Gee (Harry) and a large host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and other relatives.