Mr. Henry Yan-Hock Ong

Knew Henry back in the 90's when I lived in Los Angeles. It was only back in June of this year I tracked him down on facebook. I just can't believe he passed away. He was a wonderful person and fun to be around.

I will always remember Henry as funny, talented and focused on spreading the love and appreciation of theatre. We used to work together at the Los Angeles Police Department Public Affairs Office. Off-work, we would watch plays all over LA in various types of theatrical settings. He opened my eyes and shared experiences on places and stages that are off-the-beaten path, showing how much he supports performing arts and the common struggles of artistic endeavors. He was inspiring and...

Henry and I worked together at the Department of Water and Power. He brought laughter and fun to our floor! I was lucky enough to see Madame Mao Memoirs with my mom. He is always in my thoughts when I am in an elevator or taking pictures now! I love to laugh and he made me on many occasions! I remember going to his house for a party and meeting "mama" his neighbor Tuesday, and his sister. Love to Henry.

Dear Stella and Matthew and the rest of the Ong family,

I write with a heavy heart, knowing how much you loved Henry and how deep his impact on your lives was and will continue to be.

I consider myself lucky to have gotten to know Henry, via his sister Stella, and to have seen several of his plays and readings over the years. Henry was so warm and so full of life. He was modest and sought to lift others up (for example, he would always introduce me and say "she's a UCLA...

I didn't know Henry well but met him through Shishir Kurup & Elizabeth Wong. The moment of his tenderness that imprinted itself on me was when I was seeing a Playwrights' Arena show a year & a half or so ago alone. As I do many things presently, & it's challenging & can be lonely. I was feeling extra so that night, perhaps b/c it was immersive theatre & you had to walk amongst people a lot, rather than sitting stationery. And Henry was there & insisted on taking a photo of me looking awkward...

I can't believe Henry is gone. He was a brilliant person. Kind, funny in a subtle way, and was wise beyond his years. He was gentle, but was a formidable editor! I worked with Henry as a public relations specialist with the City of Los Angeles' Department of Public Works and LAPD. He was a great boss, and he could be extremely funny. I had to opportunity to see one of his plays at the LA Theater Center. He was an amazing talent. He is gone too soon. The world needs more people like...

Henry Ong was a brilliant light amongst us. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting him through the network of Asian American actors in Los Angeles more than a decade and half ago. While I was pregnant, he asked me to participate in the staged reading of the monologues that he developed through the Chinese American community project. That was Henry, always thinking about how he could do service for others. He was in so many ways generous, humble, endearing and ebullient. Many times I...

Dear Henry, I met you so many years ago in Chicago when I just arrived in the US. I was cast in your play "Madame Mao's memories" as a dancer/young Madame Mao. Ever since then I had a goal that eventually I would play the role all by myself. Later, I saw you again in Los Angeles, and I was lucky to be in your adaptation of the "Dream of the Red Chamber" last year. I never thought that you would leave me like this. I thought we still had a lot of time to have me play the Madame Mao in your...