THOMAS D WONG

Thomas D. Wong , 1935 - 2020 (Chinese)

In remembrance of Thomas D. Wong 1935-2020 (English)

Thomas Wong was born into a Chinese merchant family in Burma. They operated three pawnshops and the largest local retail and wholesale business of Chinese herbal medicines. In 1942 during World War II, he and the family took a big bus and left Burma. They passed China-Burma Road, crossed Yunnan Province and Guizhou Province and arrived at their ancestoral home Xin long (New Dragon) Village, Taishan, Guangdong Province. Afterwards, Mr. Wong went to Hong Kong with his elder sister to study, and graduated from Pui Ching Middle School and Canton University / Canton College in Hong Kong (now part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong). By 1958, Thomas Wong had left Hong Kong to study in Toronto, Canada. In 1962, he came to the United States and completed an MBA program at Wagner College on Staten Island.

In 1966, Thomas Wong and Ms.Winnie Wong were married and had three sons, Timothy, Edwin and Christopher. Mr. Wong initially worked at an accounting firm in New York City. In 1968, NYC Human Resources Administration / Department of Social Services (HRA/DSS). In 1977, there were a large number of Chinese immigrants coming to the United States. In order to serve the increasing number of new Chinese immigrants, Thomas Wong was assigned to the Chinatown community and had an office in the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. He was the liaison within the community for General City Services, primarily Home Care in addition to other social services . Due to his proficiency in Mandarin, Cantonese, English, and Taishan dialect he was able to serve the local immigrant community.

In his spare time, Mr. Wong actively promoted the participation of Chinese in politics, and became involved with the Queens County Democratic Party. He served on Manhattan Community Board 2 and and Queens Community Board 2. He volunteered as an Auxiliary Police Officer for Chinatowns 5th police precinct for over 10 years. He served as 5th Precinct Community Council, Deputy Chair, for 10 years, NYPD Asian American Advisory Board Member, 10 Years, and was committed to promoting Chinese-American Voter Registration within the Chinese American community. Thomas D. Wong was also advisor to the New York Wong Family Benevolent Association. He started serving the Association in the early 1960s.

After 29 years as a civil servant, Thomas Wong retired in 1996.

On the passing of Thomas D. Wong, Democratic District-Leader-at-Large ~From The Democratic Organization of Queens County (Queens County Democratic Party aka Queens Dems)

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