
Obituary: Thomas Lee, EA alum and strategic e-book, has died
Thomas Lee, a director of business development and executive producer at several studios, sadly passed away from cancer not long ago. He was 59 years old.
According to his Facebook, Lee initially began as an advanced graphics specialist on Hover Commander III at EA, then worked as a digital artist on Square Enix’s Parasite Eve and Final Fantasy IX. He later transitioned into business roles at Nexon America (as a business development manager), Gamma Interactive (strategic advisor), and Stealth CrossMedia (executive producer).
Lee was commemorated by Digital Native founder Michael Pole as a “incredibly intelligent and genuinely kind friend and colleague. […] Thomas Lee was a friend who was always present with a warm smile and a kind word. I am heartbroken by our loss. Thank you to everyone who stood by Thomas during his fight. Godspeed, dear friend.”
Park Sangho, an investor at the Korean company Atinum Investment, expressed that he would “never forget [Lee’s] generosity and enthusiasm, and we will miss him greatly. His funeral is being conducted in Korea, and I know many of his closest friends are abroad.”
Lee’s latest update was on his GoFundMe page on February 7, where he shared that his chemotherapy treatments were concluding and that his “lymphoma seems to be under control for now.” He had been seeking financial support to find a matching donor for bone marrow and stem cell transplants.
“I am immensely thankful for your kindness, generosity, support, and prayers throughout this journey. I truly appreciate each and every one of you,” he wrote.
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has contributed articles to numerous websites, including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can also be found at io9 on Gizmodo. Do not inquire about how much gum he’s consumed, as the answer will be more than he’s willing to confess.