Alexander LOUIE

LOUIE, Alexander Shukee
1925 - 2012
He thought of himself as a "just a regular guy", but to those who knew and loved him, he was anything but. Alex Louie was the kind of person who had the courage to become a successful businessman and the compassion to be a loyal and kind friend to many. He embraced life with an exuberance that can serve as an example to us all- finding something special in the smallest of pleasures and the greatest of achievements.
Even at 86, Alex Louie's daily routine always began with a brisk walk around Langara golf course, a long (and often loud) coffee with his friends and an earnest perusal of the newspaper's bridge column. He was an ardent tournament bridge player to the end.
He was also an amazing cook. With a casual ease, Alex would throw together multi-course meals that would dazzle anyone lucky enough to be invited to the table. Like many great cooks he was an exacting taskmaster. Few in the family were able to meet his high standards when they served as his sous chef.
Famously fun-loving and generous to a fault, Alex was never shy about laughing uproariously at his own jokes. Of course, once he started to laugh it was hard not to join in. He was dearly loved.
Alex's remarkable life embodied the story of the Chinese community's coming of age in Canada. He was born in 1925 in Calgary and raised in Vancouver's Chinatown.
He was a visionary entrepreneur during a time when the Chinese were forbidden the right to vote and the Chinese Exclusion Act prevented his own mother from returning to Canada. With his brothers, Henry and Victor, Alex co-founded the Le Kiu Asian Foods Importing Company and later opened the Marco Polo Restaurant and night club, a Vancouver landmark.
He lived to see two of his children enter professions previously closed to Chinese. His son, Mark, is a pharmacist. His youngest daughter, Karen Louie, is a corporate lawyer. His oldest daughter is the celebrated composer, Alexina Louie (O.C.) and daughter Jari Osborne is a filmmaker. Her documentary, Unwanted Soldiers, tells the story of his experience as a Canadian WWII veteran. Proudly and without fail, he polished his medals every November 11th and marched in Vancouver's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Despite his many successes Alex Louie's greatest joy remained his family. He was a devoted husband and a proud father. Known affectionately as "Goong" by everyone, perhaps his one flaw was that he never stopped talking about his grandchildren. In turn, he was adored by them and is dearly missed.
Alex Louie died of heart failure February 18th, 2012.
He is survived by his wife, Pat; his children Alexina, Markle (Mark), Jari and Karen; his grandchildren Brea and her husband Veljko Jovanovic; Brodie, Jamie and Tanis Louie, Alexa Osborne and Jasmine and Jade Pauk; his daughter-in-law, Marina Louie; his sons-in-law Alex Pauk, Robert Osborne and Rob Beveridge. He is also survived by his sisters Dorothy, Sharon and Janine.
A visitation will be held between 6 and 8 PM, Thursday, February 23rd at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 3789 Royal Oak Ave. Burnaby British Columbia V5G 3M1.
According to Dad's wishes a private funeral will be attended by his wife, children and grandchildren only. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.