Salinas

Harry S. Chong

Harry S. Chong, M.D., 102, of Salinas, died peacefully Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, at home. He was born July 30, 1912 in San Rafael, to Soo and Pearl Chong.

He graduated from San Rafael High School where he played football with his brother, Arthur. Harry graduated from UC Berkeley where he was in the Cal Band and met Emma Dong, his future wife. In 1938, he graduated from UCSF as a physician, practiced in Sacramento until WW II, when he served in the Army Air Corps as a Flight Surgeon. He married Emma in Feb. 1942. Returning to San Francisco after the war, he trained as an otorhinolaryngologist, one of the first Chinese specialists. He moved his family to Salinas, practicing for 34 years. He touched innumerable lives, saving many in critical care. He devoted many hours to care of the poor at the County hospital. As a family man, he was devoted to care of his five children, involved with their activities and education and enjoyed taking his children on trips. Harry was active in the First Presbyterian Church, fund raising for the new church and renovations. He loved his wife, life and professional companion, Emma, the first Chinese woman ophthalmologist. They practiced medicine in the same office. In their journey through life, they traveled to nearly every country in the world, visited every state, and saw every football game along the way. Every trip was planned by "Harry's Travel Agency ". As they grew older, needing help, he always said, "Help Emma," concerned more for her. A civic leader, he was President and 62 year member of Salinas Rotary, the chairman of the Salinas American Red Cross, and Chief of Staff of Salinas Valley Memorial hospital. Near the end, he was ready to be with Jesus. He is there now.

Harry was preceded in death by his brothers, Arthur Chong, O. D. of San Francisco, and Edmond Chong, O. D., of Stockton.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Emma; sister, Frances Quon of San Diego; children, Byron (Flora), Donna (Gerald) Quigley, Wesley (Nancy), Gilbert (Diana), and Norman (Jane). Harry was a loving grandfather to Randy, Stephen, Monica, Dennis, Warren, Kathryn Quigley, Orchid, Emily, Jillian and great-granddaughter, Jasmine.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at Struve and Laporte Chapel, 41 W. San Luis St., Salinas, California 93901.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, at the First Presbyterian Church, 830 Padre Dr., Salinas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Cal Band, 72 Cesar Chavez Student Center, MC4280, Berkeley CA 94720; Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 676, Salinas, CA 93902-0676.

Funeral arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.

Online condolences to www.struveandlaporte.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Salinas Californian from Sep. 6 to Sep. 10, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Harry Chong

10 Entries

John Thompson

September 20, 2014

Byron and the Chong family - I am so sorry for your loss. Dr. Harry Chong was a wonderful person and an example of what everybody should strive to be.

When we were in the Boy Scouts, he gave generously of his time by us providing physical examinations before we set off to Camp Pico Blanco each summer and was always there to transport us to our weekend campouts.

He was truly part of the Greatest Generation and made an impact on all who knew him.

My condolences to the Chong family - you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Richard & Roberta Yee

September 17, 2014

Byron, sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. We always remember him as a pleasant and personable person to talk to. Our deepest condolences to you and your family.

Virginia DeLappe

September 15, 2014

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Richard Kidd

September 14, 2014

I had the privilege of knowing Dr.Chong as a patient and a friend. What a great guy he was.A void that cannot be filled. Rest in peace, Harry.

Angie Vios

September 11, 2014

Our deepest condolences to your family, Byron! Arnie and Angie

Leonard Hogan

September 10, 2014

Great Family, Great MAN. Sorry Byron.

Tammy Bradley-Salczynski

September 9, 2014

Dr. Stanley Paine was our family physician. I was in excruciating pain; hit rather suddenly (high threshold), mom made a beeline for the emergency room at Memorial Hospital as she knew something was terribly wrong. No fever (never got them),nurse implied I was trying to get attn., luckily Mom had dr. meeting us there...he looked in my ear and said I would have to be admitted to the hospital or he could call in Dr. Chong! In comes Dr. Chong, having been awakened from a deep sleep, shirt was buttoned crooked, one pant leg tucked into his shoes, one out (pertinent to story). First of all he busted me on my weight, I had lied by 15lbs, and he nailed it to the lb, next he informed us he was going to pry my ear canal open and stick a needle through my eardrum! WHAT!?! This man then proceeded to do just that and followed with a "wick" which dripped medicine. He tried to hide his annoyance (very kind, well-mannered) at the pain-meds my PREVIOUS doctor prescribed for pain, as he gave me the right ones. Yopu see, I then used Dr. Chong for everything. Even tried to talk him into taking my appendix out three years later. I never met a more brilliant man in my life, to this day. I saw him often, before I finally got out of the pool for good, years later. Then I ran into him at a rotary function thirty years after and he said, "Tammy from Creekside...do you still swim?". Awesome, amazing, wonderful, man. Terrific doctor. Oh, by the way, we never met him at the emergency room again. It was $45 back then and he charged $7 for an office visit. Even at 3a.m. he met us at his office... sorry for the loss of this great man, happy he rejoices with our Lord; thrilled I had the privilege of knowing him.....Tammy (Bradley) Salczynski

Bonnie Kellum

September 8, 2014

So very sorry, for your loss.
What a WONDERFUL man and Doctor. I remember Dr. Chong from the time I was a very young girl. When my parents didn't have enough money to take one of their sick kids to a doctor. Dr Chong was always there for us. He would let my parents make payments or at times not even charge them at all. He was always such a kind loving man and a great family man. He was a Boy Scout leader with my father in the 50's. I am now a senior and over my years I have often thought back on what a kind, wonderful man and Doctor he was. My family and I have all of the Chong family in our thoughts and prayers.
Bonnie Kellum
Russell Kellum
Alice Kellum

Jessie Mills

September 6, 2014

I remember when they had their office together. He lived a long loving life. God bless.

PAT KINN

September 6, 2014

WONDERFUL GENTLEMAN

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