Yong Ku Kim, 76, of Dartmouth, passed away at home on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. He was the husband of the late Sekyung (Choi) Kim.
Dr. Kim was born in Seoul, S. Korea, son of the late Sang Y. and Mak N. (Baek) Kim and had been a longtime resident of Dartmouth. Dr. Kim originally emigrated to the United States to study at North Carolina State University, where he obtained a Ph. D. in Fiber and Polymer Science in 1981, and started as an assistant professor at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the Fall of 1981 in the Materials and Textiles department, was promoted to Professor in 1993, and in 2003, became a Chancellor Professor. Dr. Kim’s true passion was teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers, and also contributing to scientific research projects. He was known to care deeply for his students and colleagues and would often check on their well being. He enjoyed being outdoors and went on frequent meditation walks. His greatest joy was spending time with his family.
With 14 U.S. patents to his name, Dr. Kim's research focused on textile manufacturing and the applications of advanced composite materials. Notably, he was part of a research team that developed an energy-absorbing technology in football helmets and body armor. Dr. Kim’s patent on sea-island bi-component fibers was utilized by Puritan Medical Products during the COVID-19 pandemic to manufacture nasopharyngeal swabs with enhanced sample collection efficacy. While at UMass Dartmouth, Dr. Kim was instrumental in the evolution of the Materials and Textiles Department into the Bioengineering Department and was the recipient of the UMass Dartmouth Scholar of the Year award in 2017.
Survivors include his 2 sons: Stephen H. Kim of Dartmouth and Fredrick J. Kim of Sudbury, MA; his eldest sister Il Sook Kim, his elder brother Dr. Soo Shin Kim and his wife Jung Young Suk; his elder sister Dr. Hee Ja Kim, his younger sister Dr. Dal Sook Kim and her husband Dr. Whan Song Chon, and his younger brother Yong Pal Kim and his wife Moo Jin Lee.
Funeral service to which relatives and friends are invited will be Thursday, July 18, 2024 at the Potter Funeral Home at 11:00 A.M.
Calling hours will be at the Potter Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 from 4-7 P.M.
Interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Dartmouth.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the UMass Dartmouth Foundation. Information can be found at giving.umassd.edu