John Ho

John Chung Chak Ho, a resident of New York, NY, passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, December 20, 2025. John was born in Canton, China in 1925 to Kim Tong Ho and Lai Kwun (Ng) Ho. John grew up in Guangzhou, China where he began his grade school through junior high school education. His family moved to Macau prior to the start of WWII, where he finished at the top of his junior high school class and graduated at another top high school in 1943. His college education was cut short during the War. John was hired as a junior high school teacher to teach math and science in a private junior high school. After the war, John continued his college education in the evenings at Kwok Min University (Guangzhou), where he studied economics while working during the day as both a clerk and tutor. In 1947, he met the love of his life, Sui Ying (Fok) Ho, while initially being her tutor. They married in 1949. That same year, after the Communist takeover in China, they moved to Hong Kong where John obtained a position working at Pak Kut Milk and Noodle Production Company. He also attended evening courses in electrical engineering at Hong Kong Technical College and completed the course in three years with distinction. His wife was also employed in several different schools as a primary school teacher. In 1953, John applied and passed an examination to work as a clerk for the Supreme Court of Hong Kong. John and Sui Ying had three children and Sui Ying was pregnant with their 4th child when they received sponsorship to immigrate to the United States in November 1956. They arrived in San Francisco via cruise ship, boarded a train from San Francisco to NY, and settled eventually in Chinatown, NY. John worked as a host and waiter at several restaurants over the years. He and his wife later owned and ran one of the oldest established liquor stores in NY. During this time, he was also an interpreter for the 5th Precinct (New York Police Department) in Chinatown, NY. John retired from the 5th Precinct in 2007 after 31 years of service at the young age of 82. He enjoyed traveling in his spare time, as well as activities like drawing, painting, singing, and sudoku. He cared for his body, often walking, doing Tai Chi, and Chi Gung. He loved being a grandfather to his seven grandchildren and was a dedicated partner to his wife until her passing in 2019.

John is survived by his four children, Nina Ho and husband Barry Brodsky of NY, Rose Ho and husband Peter Hicks of Milton, MA, Edward Ho (and late wife Anna Ho) of Parsippany, NJ, and David Ho (and late wife Sandra Ho) of Ridgewood, NJ. John is also survived by his grandchildren, Jessica Ho (and husband Wenbo Shan), Caitlin Ho (and husband John Leadbetter), Megan Ho (and husband Orlando Lopez), Ariel Brodsky (and husband Jon Zalaznick), Samantha Ho, Scott Ho, Lucas Hicks, and his great grandchildren, Leo Leadbetter and Bo Zalaznick. He is also survived by his third brother, Chung Hon Ho, and his extended family