Harry Wing Tong

1934 - 2015

Harry Wing Tong

Harry W. Tong of Foster City passed away April 28, 2015. He was born February 1934 in Toisan, China, the youngest son of Koon Hai Tong and Ting Lit Tong. He was educated at Von Steuben High School and Wilson City Junior College in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Tong later received his Bachelors in Business Administration and his Masters in Accounting degrees from Roosevelt University. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from De Paul University. He was a licensed CPA, licensed California Real Estate Broker and a former faculty member of West Valley College.

A self-made man and entrepreneur, Mr. Tong was the founder of Tong Associates, Tong Accountancy Corp. and the Up To Date CPA Review Course.

Public service was his passion. Mr. Tong was a proud Past President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Woodside Terrace AM Kiwanis Club, receiving their 2005 Distinguished Service Award for his many hours of service to the community. He was the Founding President and Board of Directors member of the Organization of Chinese Americans San Mateo Chapter. Mr. Tong was the San Mateo County Human Relations Commissioner, a leader in the Chicago Wah Mei Dragons Drum and Bugle Corps, a member of the Asian Senior Club of San Mateo, Foster City Citizens Emergency Response Team and the Foster City Chinese Club. After retiring his law practice, he was an avid volunteer in the Peninsula community, focusing on senior citizen and Asian American issues.

Mr. Tong and his wife have funded college scholarships at Cameron House and Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco's Chinatown, as well as providing scholarships for needy students in China through the SOAR Foundations and Spring Bud. In 2008 Mr. Tong and his wife established the St. Therese Scholarship Fund in association with the St. Therese Chinese Catholic Mission, the Tong family's former church and school in Chicago's Chinatown. The three annual scholarships are awarded in the names of the St. Therese clergy who greatly influenced and inspired Mr. Tong during his formative years.

He leaves his beloved wife, five children, sons-in-law and three grandchildren.

Funeral services are pending. Arrangements are being coordinated by the Sneider, Sullivan and O'Connell's Funeral Home of San Mateo, California.

Memorial gifts can be made to Chinese Benevolent Association/Confucius Church of Stockton in memory of Harry W. Tong.