Byoung In Suh, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and a visionary scientist, educator, and entrepreneur, passed away on Monday, April 13, surrounded with love and comfort by his family. He leaves behind a legacy that reshaped dentistry – and a reputation for generosity, curiosity and commitment to helping others learn.

Byoung was born in Taegu, South Korea, and pursued his education at Sung Kyun Kwan University in Seoul, San Francisco State University, and later, Tsurumi University in Japan, where he earned his PhD in Dental Medicine. 

Although he began his career as a research chemist, Byoung founded BISCO, Inc. in 1981 - a company that would become known for innovation in dental materials. Over his career, he secured more than twenty patents and authored over 150 scientific research publications. His book, Principles of Adhesion Dentistry, stands as a testament to his deep understanding and desire to share his knowledge with everyone in the industry. He was also a passionate educator and global ambassador for dentistry, delivering hundreds of lectures to clinicians and researchers around the world for over three decades. 

Byoung’s contributions were widely recognized throughout his lifetime. He received the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s Presidential Award in 2003, the prestigious Eugene W. Skinner Award for Innovation in 2006, and a Life-time Achievement Award from the American Society for Dental Aesthetics in 2022. In 2025, Byoung was honored by the government of South Korea with the Moran Medal in recognition of his lifelong contributions to industry and his efforts to foster international collaboration.

Beyond his professional achievements, Byoung was deeply generous - supporting students through scholarships and contributing meaningfully to universities and organizations he believed in. Locally, he was deeply active in and supported the Chicagoland Korean Rotary Club of Northbrook, the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association, and the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago.

Byoung loved his work and often said he would never retire, continuing at BISCO until the very end. But one of his true joys in life was the game of golf. He never stopped trying to improve his game – as his many golf coaches will happily attest. His golf achievements include 3 holes-in-one and shooting his age at 80. Another great joy in his life was ice cream —in a waffle cone, with cereal and milk, à la mode, or in a milkshake—something he especially loved sharing with his grandkids.

At his core, Byoung was a teacher – guiding others with genuine warmth, humility, and a welcoming smile. He treated everyone with respect and kindness, values that continue to shape the culture of BISCO today. He leaves behind a global community of colleagues, employees, students, and friends with whom he shared deep respect and genuine affection. His impact will be felt not only in the field he helped shape, but in the many lives he touched along the way.

He is lovingly survived by his wife Minsook, his three daughters Julie, Carolyn and Colleen, his son-in-law, Ryan, and his grandchildren, Everett and Alana. He is also survived by his brothers Paul and Ron and sister June, along with beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and cousins across the globe. 

Visitation services will be held at Adolf & Powell Funeral Home (7000 S. Madison St, Willowbrook, IL) on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 12:00 to 4:00 PM. The funeral service (in Korean, some English) will be held at the First Korean United Methodist Church (655 E. Hintz Rd, Wheeling, IL) on Monday, April 20 at 11:00 AM, followed by a lunch reception (details to be shared at the service). A private family burial will be held on Tuesday, April 21.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family respectfully requests that you make a donation to the BISCO Charitable Foundation, continuing Byoung’s lifelong commitment to education and giving:

https://donorbox.org/biscocharitablefoundation