Obituary of Ji D Kim

On Monday, December 31st, 2018, Ji Do Kim, devoted husband and loving father of two sons and three grandchildren, passed away at the age of 75.

Ji Do was born on May 28, 1943 in Pyongyang, North Korea to Kyu Whan and Shin Yul Kim. When Ji Do was two years old, Kyu Whan and his family emigrated to Seoul, South Korea.  Ji Do attended Daekwang High School and in 1966 received his undergraduate degree from Hanyang University. During his college years, Ji Do served his compulsory military service with the Korean Air Force as a medic for three years.

In 1966, Ji Do emigrated to the United States and married June Hee Chung at the Korean Methodist Church in Manhattan, New York. It was full speed ahead for Ji Do as he worked as an electronic data processing analyst and balanced marriage, his first born ,Dennis, in 1969, and a Masters in Management Science degree from Stevens Institute of Technology, in 1971.  Ji Do and June Hee were blessed to have a second child, Daniel, in 1972.

Ji Do and his family lived in Jersey City, New Jersey until 1977 and then he sought out better educational opportunities for his sons and a calmer lifestyle in the suburbs of Ridgewood, New Jersey.  In 1998, Ji Do and June Hee downsized their home and moved to Paramus, New Jersey.

During his days off, Ji Do enjoyed singing in the choir, gardening and home improvement projects.  He was very handy and once when asked how he learned his skillset, he said, “When you can’t afford to do something, you do it yourself.” During his retirement, Ji Do cherished his role as grandparent to Chloe, Donna and Oliver.  Although he never played, he enjoyed watching golf.  Ji Do was a devout servant of the Lord. He was ordained as a Presbyterian Elder in 1984 and was a member of the New Jersey Chodae Community Church for over 20 years.

In 2011, Ji Do was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia and for seven years endured with courage the slow and steady challenges that arise from the neurological condition. He is survived by his loving wife, June; his two sons, Dennis (m. Daphne Smith) and Daniel (m. Jeannie Kim); three grandchildren Chloe, Donna and Oliver; brother, Ji Young Kim and sisters, Young Sook Lee and Young Shil Chang.

A service and viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 2nd at the New Jersey Chodae Community Church in Norwood, NJ at 8:00 pm. Funeral and burial services will be held on Thursday, January 3rd at 10:00 am beginning at the church and continuing at the George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ.