Song, John Young age 55, passed away on Wednesday, February 27 at home in Minneapolis. From his birth on March 19, 1963 in Seoul, South Korea to his death in Minnesota, he blessed those around him with his deep compassion, gentle smile, and zest for life.  John moved to the U.S. when he was three years old where he primarily grew up in the Philadelphia area.  John had a passion for learning and spent his high school years attending Exeter Academy in Massachusetts.  He went on to study English and Film at Brown University and taught high school English for one year in Providence.  He began medical school in 1986 at the University of Pennsylvania and upon completion traveled as a locum tenens physicians serving several small communities around the country and on the Apache reservation in San Carlos, Arizona.  In 1991, John moved to Minneapolis to begin his residency where he specialized in internal medicine.  Upon completion of medical school, he began a bioethics fellowship as well as studies in public health at John's Hopkins University in Baltimore.  He met his wife of 19 years, Jennifer, at the Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore while collaborating on writing and art therapy groups.  They married on July 31, 1999 and embarked on a seven month honeymoon adventure to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Nepal, Thailand, New Zealand and South Korea.  Since 2000, he has lived in Minneapolis dedicating his time and love to his students and patients at the University of Minnesota. John's life work was devoted to improving the health of people experiencing homelessness, compassionate end of life care for all, and bringing humanism into medical education. John loved to run, bike, camp, travel, eat good food, and spend time with his girls. He shared his adventurous spirit and sense of humor with all who knew him. In 2012, he packed up the family and took a year long sabbatical, homeschooling his children, and exploring Europe, Morocco, and the UK together. John's life philosophy was never to put off a project, opportunity or adventure for another day and to share love in all you do.  He is survived by his father, Dr. Sang Won Song, his sister, Kat, his wife, Jennifer, and his daughters, Lily and Ruby. John will always be remembered for his incredible kindness, his devotion to his family, and his pursuit to serve vulnerable populations.

Funeral services will be held at St. Joan of Arc Church in Minneapolis at 11:00 on Saturday, March 16, with luncheon to follow and visitation starting at 10:00. Memorials preferred to Arm and Arm in Africa, aiaia.info or the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic, phillipsneighborhoodclinic.com

To read more about John's life work please go the In Memoriam written by the Center for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota: bioethics.umn.edu/…

Published on March 1, 2019