Friends and loved ones of Sue Kint will honor the prominent Orange County businesswoman and respected civic leader at a memorial service tomorrow, July 19, at 2 p.m. at the Grace Ministries International Church in Fullerton, Calif.
Kint, the founder and CEO of international consulting and trading firm Kint and Associates, as well as an active board member of numerous civic organizations, passed away June 19, after courageously battling lung cancer for two years, her family said. She was 73.
Born to Korean parents in Japan, Kint moved to South Korea as a young girl and later, during her college years, immigrated to the United States. The former Ewha Women’s University student in Seoul completed her bachelor’s degree at the California State University at Los Angeles, majoring in finance and law.
Despite some difficult early years learning a new language and facing culture shock, Kint would ultimately thrive in her adopted homeland. The American Biographical Institute listed her as one of 2,000 Notable American Women. Her company, Kint and Associates, represented American companies and promoted their business interests abroad for export of process technologies, functional ingredients and specialized production equipment in the food industry. Kint also owned and was president of Kintech USA, which distributes and markets Enspri Skincare items.
Her dedication to the community was evident in the long list of boards on which she served. They included the Board of Trustees of the Orange County World Affairs Council, the Advisory Commission for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and Chapman University’s Board of Governors. Kint was especially active with Chapman’s initiatives and valued education strongly, and for such efforts, the university recently conferred her an Honorary Doctor of the University Degree. Unfortunately, due to her illness, Kint could not attend the commencement ceremony this past May, but her brother Kevin Lee accepted the diploma on her behalf and addressed the young graduates. He relayed a message from his sister, who urged them to live their lives with integrity, compassion and honesty, to act with “wholesome, long-term self-interest” but not in selfish interest.
Kint was a member of the Asian Pacific Community Advisory Council (APCAC) for U.S. Representative Ed Royce, who memorialized her on the House floor last month:
As an appointee of South Korea’s former President Lee Myung-bak and current President Park Geun-hye, Kint also served on the National Unification Advisory Council, Orange County Chapter.
Despite Kint’s diagnosis with fourth-stage lung cancer in recent years, she maintained a positive attitude and conducted herself with courage, integrity and grace until the end, her family said. She passed away peacefully at her home, with her sister Mimi and brother Kevin at her bedside. Per her wishes, her ashes were scattered in the ocean, where Kevin—an award-winning underwater photographer—can be close to her on his dives.
Her legacy of determination seemed to be captured in these words from her message to the Chapman University graduates, as read by her brother: “Dawn is breaking on your adult life, while I am facing the sunset. But I don’t say this to make you pensive or melancholy; rather, I say this to energize and spur you on to dream big and pursue your goals in the wonderful but brief time we have here on earth.”
The July 19 memorial service will be held in the Miracle Center Main Sanctuary of the Grace Ministries International Church, at 1645 W. Valencia Dr. in Fullerton.
