Pershing Wong

Pershing Wong, a master architect and longtime associate partner of I.M. Pei & Partners in New York City, died on Saturday in Laguna Woods, CA. He was 90.

Mr. Wong was born in Rosedale, Mississippi and as a youth attended schools in New York City, Nanjing-China, Mississippi and Tennessee. He served in the U.S. Army as a drill sergeant and then, under the G.I. Bill, enrolled at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned two degrees, his Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Engineering, and was elected president of the student body.

After scholarship study at Fontainebleau, Paris where he earned the Premier Prix Architecture, Wong joined architect I.M Pei at Webb and Knapp. He then became employee #7 at Pei's new architectural firm, I.M. Pei & Partners, where he practiced for over 34 years. Wong's stunning architectural designs contribute to the skylines of major cities in America, Canada and Asia. His design credits include Roosevelt Field Shopping Center (Garden City, NY), U.S. National Bank/Mile High Center (Denver, CO), Royal Bank of Canada/Place Ville Marie (Montreal, CN), Wilmington Tower (Wilmington, DE), National Bank of Commerce (Lincoln, NB), Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation Centre (Singapore), World Trade Center (Baltimore, MD), One and Two Dallas Centre (Dallas, TX), One Galleria Tower (Oklahoma City, OK), ARCO Tower (Dallas, TX), Texas Commerce Tower (Houston, TX), The Gateway (Singapore), Bank of China (Hong Kong) and 499 Park Tower (NYC, NY).

Mr. Wong was a natural teacher and a magnetic personality. Through the years, he mentored countless young designers and architects as well as serving as a Visiting Professor at Georgia Tech from 1973-79. For his outstanding contribution to design, Wong was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects.

Upon retirement from the architectural profession, Wong had a second career in youth athletics, becoming a winning and beloved swimming and diving coach for various organizations in Westchester County, NY. He earned his lifeguard certification while in his 70's and introduced the joy of swimming to students from age 3 to 77.

An athlete and animal lover, Mr. Wong was also passionate about design, the arts, culture, nature and travel. He loved people of all backgrounds, befriending all and touching many with his kindness and selflessness.

Above all, he was devoted to family. Pershing Wong is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary Pang Wong, his four children Curtis, Kenneth, Nina and Maria, his five grandchildren, and his lifelong compatriot, his younger brother Kellogg.

A family-only ceremony is being held this week at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, CA. A celebration of his life is being planned at a later date in New York City. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in his memory and name to local chapters of Meals on Wheels, providing nutritious meals to home-bound elders. See link, including the tribute section at the bottom of the page:
https://www.mowaa.org/donate[mowaa.
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