Seung Kai Wong

Dr. Seung-Kai Wong, a brilliant physicist, devoted husband, father, and friend, peacefully passed away on July 16, 2023, after a year-long battle with cancer. He will be remembered for his unending curiosity, sense of humor, and convivial spirit as well as his significant contributions to the field of theoretical physics.

Born in Macau in 1942, from an early age, Kai (as he is known) showed great intellectual promise, excelling effortlessly in every subject at school in Hong Kong, and developing a lifelong interest in math, astronomy, and physics. Later, Kai was granted a full scholarship to attend Hong Kong University, from which he graduated with honors, going on to pursue mathematics at NYU’s Courant Institute, only to find his true calling in physics at Columbia University, where he earned his Ph.D. in theoretical physics at age 25. During his time as a graduate student, Kai remained a loving son and brother, as he continued to send checks back to support his family in Hong Kong and China.

Upon receiving his doctoral degree, Kai continued his research and study as a postdoctoral fellow at SUNY Stony Brook, where he studied under the esteemed Nobel Prize laureate, C.N. Yang. It was during this time that Kai published groundbreaking work that would bear his name in the form of a series of equations. As a visiting scholar in Munich, Germany, Kai was delighted to meet some of the most influential figures in twentieth century physics, including Werner Heisenberg and Paul Dirac.

While an Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Calgary, Kai met his future wife, Mimi, through a mutual friend. In 1972, Kai accepted a position conducting research in the areas of nuclear fusion and plasma physics at General Atomics in San Diego, California, where he built his family. Later, he would return to academia, teaching at the City University of Hong Kong from 1995-1998, and at San Diego Mesa College before his retirement. In his retirement, he was still reading and staying abreast of the latest developments and research in his field, and in his final days, he was memorably reading a history of mathematics.

Kai weathered his illness with strength, poise, grace, and radical acceptance from beginning to end. His bravery and humility earned the admiration of many doctors and nurses who cared for him, alongside his wife and daughters, until the end.

Kai is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years, Mimi Wong, his two daughters, Maggie Wong and Amy Wong (Glenn Poppe), and grandchild, Rei. Additionally, he is survived by two siblings, Maria Wong and John Wong, and an extended network of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He will be greatly missed for his brightness, sociability, and enduring wonder for pushing the limits of science to understand the mysteries of the universe. Friends, family, and colleagues alike will remember him fondly and strive to carry on his legacy of brilliance, grace and enthusiasm for knowledge.