We honor friends who have departed ahead of us.
Fong Sek Ching, Humphrey, circa late '80s
Humphrey entered WYK the same time I did and we wound up in the same class. His brilliance was obvious from day one, especially in anything mathematics. Our class master, Fr Chan, was also the math teacher that year and he liked to throw out tough questions to challenge the class, but every time Humphrey would come back with the answer. Finally, one day, Fr Chan's challenge was so great that it stayed unmet for several days; no one in class could solve it, not even Humphrey. So we were curious as to what it was, and we asked Fr Chan - well, he didn't it know either. Murmur spread around the classroom - how could a problem be thrown at us that even the teacher himself could not do? Sensing the undercurrent, Fr Chan left the room, moments elapsed, and he came back full of smiles; he had the answer in hand. Of course, it soon became obvious even to us youngsters that the question originated from some sort of a master teacher's handbook that the fathers kept upstairs in their quarters, and Fr Chan just looked up the answer there. Coincidentally, we were not challenged again for the remainder of the year.
Humphrey went on to be a professor of mathematics at Akron University, OH. The next time, and last time, we met was at the Clear Lake CA reunion, our 25 anniversary, in 1985. He passed away a few years later. - Felix
Lo Kin Sing, Albert, circa 1990
Albert and I are about the same age but in our WYK days and beyond he was so much more mature and worldly that he was almost like a big brother to me when I was at WYK and after. I can't say we had the same close-knit group of friends - his was more diverse and multi-talented - but the two groups apparently overlapped some since many of his became mine over the years.
Looking back I can think of two reasons. One, we lived right next to each other on Boundary St, Kowloon, a fact that was uncovered only after my entry to WYK. I could hear his voice on the telephone through the windows. Second, he came over to the States a year ahead of me, to attend UC Berkeley, and when I came to after a sojourn in Indiana, he took on the role of a host family - he was married then, one of the earliest marriages among my friends - and he and his wife Janet were most hospitable. Often during holidays and summers when I had time but no particular places to go, I lived in their apartment. We would drive to Tahoe, Las Vegas, watch Holiday on Ice, and check out weird places such as Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz. The apartment was a fair size but not big, but they always found room for me along with other members of the extended family. The home cooking was always sumptuous.
If there is one regret, if I may call it that, it is Albert passed away in his 50s, and for reasons unknown, I have very few photos of him. An exception is the Northern California 25th anniversary he and his wife organized. The two of them did everything, from selecting the venue to farewell. Through his company, he obtained special trade rates for Knocti Inn of Clear Lake. Programs, activities, etc. were planned to the last details. Imagine making a 10-ft welcome banner with printed computer paper - the rollered kind of the day. We even had the singing of "Our Captain and Our King", complete with lyrics. And imagine each of us receiving a full and complete binder of photos and memorabilia of the event, taken and compiled by hand which I still keep today. - Felix
Mak Wai Kay, Gregory, 2012
Yeung Pui Hang, Patrick, 2013
Yeung Chik Hing, Henderson, 2016
Tsang Yeung, Ambrose, 2017
Fong Wan Lung, Lawrence, Apr 19, 2018
Please see below a very nice write-up by Wong Hin-Shing in memory of Lawrence.
Wong Hin Nang, Dec 4, 2018
Also see below abbreviated Memorial by Nang's brother, Hin-Shing, WYK1961
I couldn't say I knew Nang well while at WYK; he and I ran with very different groups. It was after we joined up again in the Bay Area, that we began to warm up. We had occasions to visit and dine out and that was when I found out one of his favorites was roast duck leg noodles, not your ordinary roast duck but a leg in full. Well, this small eatery in Millbrae wanted to add $1 for the leg request (on top of $5 for the regular), which seemed very reasonable. The bowl of noodles came and Nang was flabbergasted not only because the "leg" was chopped up but also because he recognized right away that the pieces couldn't possibly be the leg whole - meaning the kitchen cheated him a couple of pieces and, at worst, the leg itself. The staff of course had no way of knowing that this particular customer was a gourmet and a surgeon to boot; that he knew his cut-ups. Yet, the waitress was reluctant and afraid to return to the kitchen to face the chef. A long argument ensued and the stalemate couldn't be resolved. So finally being more or less the person who recommended the shop in the first place, I agreed to pay another dollar to have the leg replaced. - Felix
Hu Berkim, John, Aug 28, 2018
As President Cleveland was getting ready to sail, all visitors were asked to leave the ship. As John's mother was leaving, at the last minute she pulled me aside and, in a very serious tone, said: "My son is very naive in worldly things and since you are his more mature friend please watch out for him in America".
I would never forget her serious expression and that somber moment because the irony is that I was actually the babe in the woods at that point in time (honest) compared to John; his dare-devil acts throughout our high school years along with his pig-dog friends like Waijai and Hin-nang were legendary in Wah Yan, but obviously not to his mother. All mothers, of course, think their kids need extra care but Mrs. Hu of all people should know her son could very well take care of himself, anywhere in the world. It is what he could do to other people that should be of concern. I almost said something to that effect but managed to bite my tongue and nodded innocently. Not to worry, I said in my heart. And history has proven me right. - Felix
Chan Kwok Hung, Hilary, Sep 13, 2020
Hilary and I met at Form 4C. He left for the University of St Louis after school-cert while I labored another year in Lower 6 before leaving for the US, and our trails diverged. Fortunately, a year before my graduation from Caltech, he showed up one day on campus, as a post-doctoral research fellow! and our paths merged again. Caltech was a small school with limited social opportunities, so the small group of Chinese students was even more tightly knit than usual, on top of our WYK bond. We had less time to see each other after I had moved to the SF area, but the Bay Area group always included him (and James Chu) whenever we had a function - and he joined in as often as possible.
Hilary was a reticent man but interacted well with a few well-placed words. A superb driver and avid motor tourist, he persuaded us to join him to explore Quebec City on a rental car during the 2015 Fall Foliage reunion trip. It was through his effort that we got to see Ile d'Orleans, Montmorency Falls, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, etc., although with the benefit of hindsight it would have been better to reverse the order because the Ile in the early morning was quite chilly - by the time we finished the southernmost St Anne, the temperature was just right. Hence, we had a few frigid moments on the Ile when we were not moving about, so we sought refuge at a roadside vineyard, stopping for a warm lunch, not realizing it was served outdoors! And most of the chairs near the burners were long taken up. - Felix
Wu Fei, Philip, Feb 2021
Philip Wu Fei was always my role model ever since I entered WYK in 1958 and joined him in Form 4C. He was handsome, tall, smart, friendly, and full of talents be it painting, writing, dancing, and so on. Always had a smile on his face, no matter what.
Tang Ka Yiu, Michael, Oct 2021
Like many of my friends at WYK, I did not know KY at all while moving up the forms, and it was not until 2010 when we had our 50th anniversary that I got to know him as a person. He seemed reserved and, to me, shy and at ease only with people he already knew well. Was an excellent cook on the few occasions that we partook together and on trips we took together. I always remembered that the social functions that he joined, Waijai would be there as well.