Sybil Woo

Sybil Woo, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and pioneering anesthesiologist, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by her loving family. 

Dr. Woo was born on March 9, 1937, in Honolulu, Hawaii. She graduated from the Punahou School before attending Reed College where she earned her degree in chemistry in 1959. She then earned her medical degree at Boston University School of Medicine. A trailblazer in her field, Dr. Woo was among the first Chinese-American women to become a board-certified anesthesiologist at a time when few women, and even fewer women of Asian descent, entered the medical profession. She started her clinical career at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and played a significant role in establishing one of the first surgical ambulatory operating centers in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Woo spent the majority of her distinguished career in the Albany area, practicing at Albany Children’s Hospital, Albany Medical Center, and Memorial Hospital from 1980 until her retirement in 2005. 

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Woo was a devoted wife, mother, and “Popo.” She married James Woo, a nuclear scientist, in 1961, and together, they built a loving family and cherished their children and grandchildren. Popo shared a special bond with her grandchildren, delighting in their talents and activities, from gymnastics and piano to painting and ice hockey. 

She is survived by her husband James; her children Jason, Damon, and Rima; her daughters-in-law Danielle and Laryssa; her grandchildren Jordan, Alexis, and Charlotte; and her granddogs Bella and Mushu. 

Dr. Sybil Wong Woo’s legacy as a dedicated physician, a loving family matriarch, and an inspiration to future generations will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.