Edward Suey-Nam Hong

Edward was born in 1937 in Xinhui (Sunwui region) of China, outside of Hong Kong. He lived his early years in Hong Kong before leaving for Canada at the age of 12. He moved to North Bay, Ontario, where a number of Hong family members had settled beforehand.

After completing high school in Ontario, he went south to pursue a university education. He started his BSc at Northwestern University and subsequently completed a Masters of Science in Chemistry, writing a thesis on the synthesis of 2’-hydroxychalcones (Hong, Edward, "A Study of the Synthesis of 2'-Hydroxychalcones" (1965). Master's Theses. 923. https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/923.

Afterwards, he returned to Canada, initially to Kirkland Lake, Ontario to start a teaching career. In 1969, Malaspina College in Nanaimo was built and was scheduled to open. He was the first member of the Faculty of Science to be hired and he served as the first Chairman of Math and Science. The same year, he married Stella, and they were together for 53 years.

In 1972 he welcomed his only child, a son, who is now a practicing physician.

Ed stayed at Malaspina for his whole career until he unofficially retired in 1997. After retirement, he cruised extensively with Stella and became VIP members of several cruise lines.

In 2006, he was blessed with his first grandchild, a granddaughter and in 2011, he was blessed again with another grandchild, a grandson.

During his life, Ed loved cruising, music, ballroom dancing, fishing and cooking. He particularly loved to cook all his grandchildren’s favorite dishes.

He was very proud of his family, particularly his grandchildren. He had multiple devices full of their photos and videos, which he loved to share with his friends.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Stella, his son, his daughter in law, and his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all of his family, his co-workers, his friends, and all the students that he taught.

A Funeral Service will be held at Glenhaven Memorial Chapel, 1835 East Hastings Street in Vancouver on Friday, March 25, 2022 at 12 noon. Internment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 5455 Fraser Street in Vancouver. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Hong family. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Glenhaven Memorial Chapel, 1835 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. Phone 604-255-5444.