Accounting professor Lee Yao died of cancer related issues on Nov. 14.

Lee Yao was a recipient of the Rev. J.A. Butt Distinguished Professorship. He originally taught at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia before transferring to Loyola University New Orleans, said management professor Wing Fok.

Yao loved what he did and will be greatly missed, said College of Business Dean William B. Locander.

“It’s never easy dealing with a loss. He was undergoing chemotherapy and wanted to continue

teaching this

semester. He was always dedicated and hard working, and it’s very sad to lose him. I know we will all miss him,”

Locander said.

Fok became great friends with Yao, teaming up with one another on the golf course as well as taking trips to China together for their summer program.

“I was, in fact, the one who picked him up from the airport and from then on, we developed a very close friendship. We shared a lot of common interests, we would talk about the good old days in Hong Kong and we both loved to play golf. I also would eat lunch with him quite a bit, almost three to four days a week,” Fok said.

Yao received treatment at MD Anderson in Houston before his passing, said Dr. Fok.

“I actually visited him several days before he passed. He was in Houston receiving treatment. The Saturday before he passed I was able to see him for the last time. The school lost a great professor,” Fok said.

Memorial services will be held Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Fortbend Community Church in Missouri City, Tx.

Connor McCullar can be reached at [email protected]