In Tae Yu

YU

In Tae Yu, age 88, of Philadelphia, PA, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died March 10, 2025.

In Tae was born on Sept. 17, 1936, in Seoul, Korea, to Yoon Soh Tak and Bong Young Yu, a prominent figure in Korean journalism and politics. The fourth of five brothers, he graduated from Hanyang University in 1961 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

In Tae worked on three significant power plant projects, which were priorities for the redevelopment of the country post-war. The latter project, the Dong-ha Electric Power Company, was built in partnership with a German power company. As such, he was part of a contingent that traveled to Germany to learn to set up and operate electric turbines.

He emigrated to the United States in 1972, and his family followed a year later. With the help of friends, In Tae and his wife, Gertrude, established a retail wig business and served as president of the Korean Wig Business Association of Philadelphia. His longest-running retail business was K&S Children’s Clothing with two locations.

In 1988, In Tae joined the Roman Catholic Church, receiving the sacrament of baptism, and became deeply involved with the Korean Catholic community. There was only one Korean Catholic Church in Philadelphia at the time, so as the number of congregants moving outside the city grew, so did the need for a church closer to suburban residents. In Tae was one of the founders of the new congregation in 1995, named St. Augustine Lee Kwang Heon Catholic Community, and served as its first president. The congregation shared space with two different existing churches before finding a permanent home in Newtown Square, Holy Mary Korean Catholic Church.

He and Gertrude also organized several group trips, including pilgrimages to religious sites around the world. They also led fundraising efforts for the building of the Myeongdong Cathedral, the national cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul.

In Tae was an avid photographer who was always seen with a camera in his hand. For a publication commemorating St. Augustine’s 10th anniversary, he personally photographed every family in the church.

He is predeceased by his son, Thomas, and his three older brothers, In San, In Ha and In Hong.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gertrude, his daughter, Rosemarie (Larry), his two grandchildren, Natalie and Charles, and his younger brother, In Gul (Gee Sun), in Korea.

Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing, Friday, March 14, 8:30 a.m. – 8:55 a.m. followed by his Funeral Mass 9:00 a.m. (ALL IN CHURCH) at Holy Mary Korean Catholic Church, 100 Media Line Rd, Newtown Square, PA 19073. Interment Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery.

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