Dr. Charles CL Zee MD

Charles L. Zee was born on May 25th, 1934 in Shanghai, China to Mr. and Mrs. Shao Zhing Xu. With optimism, courage, and deep faith, he battled cancer for 4 years and passed away peacefully on August 15th, 2017.  In 1959, Charles met his future wife Dorothy in Shanghai.  The 7 year courtship led to their wedding in May 1966.  Charles and Dottie, with their shared sense of humor and mutual love of people and food, remained soul mates for 51 years.  Charles graduated from The First Medical School in Shanghai in 1960 and did his surgical internship and residency at Zhong Shan Hospital from 1960 to 1965. During the following 13 years, he was an attending surgeon at Pu Dong Hospital. Charles and Dottie welcomed the birth of a son Edward, their pride and joy, in 1967.   At the end of 1978, Charles and his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Massachusetts where Dottie's mother and eldest sister lived.  Charles did animal surgical research and later his anesthesia internship and residency at U. Mass Medical Center. He went on to do his fellowship in 1984 and 4 years later became an attending anesthesiologist at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA. Because of his personable nature and responsible work ethic, Charles was very well liked and respected among his colleagues and hospital personnel. Even as an anesthesiologist, his surgical training did not go to waste. Dottie was especially delighted that he could tackle any challenging sewing chore there was.   In 2008, when Charles contemplated retirement so he and Dottie could travel to Shanghai more often to visit their son, his wife Jenny, and grandson Andrew. The surgical team that Charles was affiliated with was so reluctant to see Charles leave the practice that they negotiated for him to not go into full retirement but to work part time instead. With more leisure time, Charles and Dottie stayed in Shanghai for longer visits and cherished the time they had watching their grandson grow up. While in Shanghai, Charles was able to take Andrew to kindergarten daily. At drop off, grandfather and grandson devised a routine where Andrew would have a running start towards Charles as Charles swooped him up in the air. Andrew would plant a kiss on Charles' cheek before heading into his classroom. In the summer, Eddie and family would often summer in Massachusetts where Andrew attended summer school or camp. During his years with cancer, Charles was especially grateful to daughter-in-law Jenny for her loving kindness and care taking.   Charles leaves behind his wife Dorothy, son Edward, daughter-in-law Jenny, grandson Andrew, an elder brother George and his wife Vida Xu, sister JIa Yu and her husband  Gong Wu, sister JIa Li and her husband Tai Chen , brother in law Dong and nephews and nieces. Charles Zee, may he rest in God's embrace until we meet again in our heavenly home Funeral services for Charles will be held Saturday, August 19th 2017 at 10:30 am in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St.  A period of calling hours will be held from 9:30 am to 10:30 am prior to the service. Memorial remembrances in Charles name can be made to the  Development Office, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 116 Huntington Avenue, Third Floor, Boston, MA  02116, BWHgiving.org