(Editor’s Note: This post has been updated with more comments)
An 87-year-old college professor mugged in New York City on Sunday has died of his injuries, reports Gothamist.
Police say Young Kun Kim was at an ATM on Broadway and 96th Street when a man beat him on the head and ran off with his cash.
Kim was left in critical condition and placed on life support.
The former professor of political philosophy had recently celebrated fifty years at Lehman College, and was beloved by students and colleagues, according to a statement made by the college and published by NY Post.
Students and former colleagues alike remembered Kim on social media. Lehman Interim Provost Harriet Fayne wrote, “We hope that one day his hope for peace will become a reality, and that love will prevail throughout our world. His expertise in political thought was unparalleled; his kindness was renowned throughout the campus and beyond.”
Police arrested Matthew Lee, 50, Wednesday and charged him with robbery and assault-charges which are now likely to be elevated to murder.
One student told the Post Kim, who has also taught political science and Asian Studies at Columbia, Hunter College and CUNY, loved what he did despite obviously physically slowing down.
“He was definitely sweet. I would say toward the end, it would honestly take him like five minutes to walk down the hall [because of his age]. But he came in, he did what he loved every single day… He was very understanding and willing to meet with any of the students if they needed too.”
“Dear God,” Lehman College Associate Dean Christopher Malone tweeted earlier this week, according to the NY Post “This is Lehman professor Young Kun Kim. His son tells me is in a coma and in palliative care. Our hearts weep. He is the most peaceful person on this planet.”
“This is the most vulnerable person on the planet. And you’re attacking him for what? For money. It’s just beyond. So I hope they find somebody,” Gothamist reported a neighbor said.
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