Corky Lee receives award from the Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Assoc. Photo by Raymond Chong
Corky Lee, the famed photographer who dedicated decades photographing the Asian American community, will be honored with a procession down the streets of New York Chinatown, his brother announced in a Facebook post Monday morning.
Details of the route have yet to be finalized, but John Lee says it will reflect locations in the community that were special to his brother.
A short private service will follow before Corky is buried at Kensico Cemetary in Valhalla, NY to be reunited with his wife who died of cancer 20 years ago.
Donors gave more than $45,000 to a Facebook fundraiser meant to be spent on Corky’s recovery. He spent three weeks in the hospital, some of that in intensive care, before dying of COVID-19.
John Lee says none of that money has been spent. Organizer Samantha Cheng arranged for the money to be put in a trust fund. Monday morning she announced that anyone who would like a refund can receive one by going to the fundraising page and hitting the request refund button.
The money will be refunded by Facebook. She says any money left over will cover medical expenses and funeral costs.
UPDATE: However, if you donated more than five days ago, Facebook cannot process the refund. You may still get a refund by messaging Samantha Cheng on Facebook. Refunds will be processed after February 11 when Facebook releases the donor list to the organizers and after Lee’s funeral.
“I have complete confidence in the matter of the fund distribution,” John Lee said in this morning’s post. He says he is one of the signatories for the account.
“I will continue to be active in the administration of the Corky’s estate in the manner that will ensure the reinforcement and expansion of the legacy that he has bestowed upon the communities he championed.”
“Corky often spoke of his camera as a sword, to uncover, challenge and vanguish injustices.” Lee pledged that his brothers work will be retained and used to assist in the elimination of all injustices that Corky opposed.
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Details of the route have yet to be finalized, but John Lee says
A good man Corky. We will all miss him.
No mention of his significant other Karen Zhou…
Please read the article again. Karen Zhou is quoted.