Abdul Hakim

Lys

Abdul Hakim Lys ("Kim")

Abdul Hakim Lys, affectionately known as Kim, passed away on September 10, 2026, leaving a legacy defined by determination, generosity, and deep devotion to his family and community.

Kim was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 17, 1937 — a date that would later become Indonesia's Independence Day — a proud historical connection he recalled every year on his birthday. As a young boy, he survived the severe shortages and hardships of the Japanese occupation during World War II.

Raised in Jakarta, Kim later attended a Methodist high school in Medan, Sumatra. Driven to pursue a college education abroad, he engaged in a friendly, intense academic rivalry for top grades. While his classmate aimed for the Soviet Union, Kim was determined to reach the United States. He visited the U.S. Embassy every day for two weeks until a mentor recognized his perseverance, advised him to apply to schools in the American Northeast, and provided the twenty-five dollars needed for application fees. Accepting a full scholarship to Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, Kim traveled on a freighter ship through the Suez Canal to Halifax, Canada, before sailing into New York Harbor with just two suitcases.

He graduated in 1962 with a degree in economics and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration in retailing from New York University, supporting his studies by working at the iconic New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. Upon graduating, Kim joined Stern Brothers (part of Allied Department Stores) to head their new department, "The Foreign Market." In 1964, Sterns selected Kim to manage a new boutique store in East Hampton, New York. Kim quickly put down deep roots in the community, hiring local residents who became lifelong friends, joining the Rotary Club, and purchasing his very first land parcel in Springs for $600.

Before moving to East Hampton, Kim met the love of his life, Edith Joyce Bethard, through his college roommate. When Kim asked her father for permission to marry, Joyce's father asked them to wait while the landmark Loving v. Virginia case was pending in the U.S. Supreme Court, wanting to ensure their marriage would be fully protected under the law. Following the landmark 1967 ruling, Kim and Joyce married in 1969, embarking on a devoted 57-year partnership built on love and shared enterprise.

Together, Kim and Joyce became fixture local entrepreneurs. In the 1970s, they opened "Fleur de Lys Fashions" on Main Street in East Hampton and later expanded to Southampton. Creative and hands-on, they built or remodeled 13 homes across East Hampton, providing rental and homeownership opportunities to many local families. In his later years, Kim worked as a trusted bookkeeper for Wainscott Windows and Walls. Their final building project transformed a ranch house at the corner of Conklin Terrace and Newtown Lane in East Hampton Village into a beautiful two-story home. It became the prime location for Village Halloween trick-or-treating and the ultimate family gathering place where children and grandchildren came to visit Grammie and "Bapak" — the Indonesian word for a respected elder.

Kim was universally respected for his courtesy, honesty, and creative problem-solving. An avid sports fan, he loyally followed Penn State football, Carolina basketball, and the New York Yankees — win or lose — but his favorite games were always those played by his children and grandchildren. Kim and Joyce also cherished traveling the world together, taking photographs, and trying their luck at casinos wherever their adventures took them.

Kim is survived by his beloved wife, Edith Joyce Bethard Lys; his daughter, Diana Lys, son-in-law, Neil Morrison, and their children, Ian David and Eva Caroline, who live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; his son, David Lys, daughter-in-law, Rachel Lys, and their children, Brighton Jean, Brynley Katherine, Brie Elizabeth, and Brooke Joy, who live in East Hampton; his nieces, Donna Aisha Lubis, and Diana Fariza Lubis with her husband, Rheza Mahardhika, and their children, Eymar and Emyr; who live in Jakarta, Indonesia; along with a wide circle of cherished friends near and far.

Service Information

A memorial wake will be held at Yardley & Pino Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 15, from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. A funeral service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton on Wednesday, September 16 at 11am, with a reception to follow at the Session House. A private graveside ceremony will be held later that day.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to contribute to your local PBS station to continue their wonderful programming. Kim enjoyed PBS immensely, watching the  "animal shows" with the dulcet tones of Sir Richard Attenborough and concerts of all musical genres.