time to honor Michael Ahmon. If you were unable to attend the
Celebration of Life service, please feel free to view videos from the
event by clicking on the following links
Michael's childhood in South Africa
Michael as a father
Michael through the decades
Michael's rest home industry achievements
In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Michael may be made to the
Liver Foundation or the BC Cancer Agency:
http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/MichaelAhmon
Condolences may be offered by clicking on the guest book to the right.
Thank you to everyone for the outpouring of support and kind words.
Michael will be truly missed by a great many people.
Ahmon, Michael.
March 27, 1945 – July 19, 2011
With great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Michael on the early hours of July 19th with family by his side after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Michael is painfully missed, will always be loved and remembered by his beloved wife Zuilan Betty, parents Bo Chim and Allen, son Nicholas (Jane), daughter Jessica and grandsons Matthew and Christopher. Survived by sister Jennifer (Ken), brothers Lawrence, Stephen (Lila) and Kevin (Betty). Family, friends and colleagues are invited to a visitation on Wednesday, July 27th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.at the Chapel of Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, BC. A Private Family Service will be held in the Chapel of Forest Lawn Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday July 30th at the Northview Golf and Country Club, 6857 – 168th Street, Surrey, 1:00 – 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Michael may be made to the Liver Foundation or the BC Cancer Agency. http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/MichaelAhmon. Condolences may be offered at www.forestlawn-burnaby.com
Michael Ahmon, chief executive officer of The Ahmon Group, beloved husband and father, and devoted grandfather, passed away after a sudden and unexpected illness on 19 July 2011 in Surrey, British Columbia.
Michael was the eldest of five children born to Allan and Bo Chim Ahmon on 27 March 1945 in Pretoria, South Africa. He spent his childhood in Pretoria, living behind the family’s grocery shop business. Michael had many fond memories of this time, in particular the happy gatherings with his extended family in the close-knit Chinese community. The importance of family ties and community is something that stayed with him throughout his life and played a pivotal role in how he raised his own family and engaged with the wider community around him.
As a child, Michael excelled at school and served as a role model to his siblings and cousins. After graduating from school in 1963, he went on to study architecture at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg. Architecture was a challenging, yet ideal, fit for him since it was both creative and technically demanding. At the start of his second year at Wits, he met Betty Ho, then a freshman, and they soon began dating.
Tragically, Michael was forced to abandon his studies after being struck by a drunk driver in December 1964. This accident almost cost him his life and it was nearly two years before he fully recovered from his injuries. At that point, he decided to make a fresh start abroad. He resumed his studies at the University of Salford in the UK, married Betty in 1969 and graduated with a BSc in Electronics in 1971.
His son Nicholas was born in 1970 and Michael decided to stay in the UK with his young family to pursue his career. His daughter Jessica was born a couple of years later. By that time he was working as a medical technician in the Radio Isotopes department at the Midland Centre for Neurosurgery and Neurology (MCNN), a hospital in the West Midlands. In 1979 he was awarded an MPhil degree from Aston University in Birmingham based on research work he had carried out at MCNN.
Michael’s parents believed in the importance of education for Michael and this is something he instilled in his own children. Both Nicholas and Jessica graduated from Oxford University and went on to complete postgraduate Masters Degrees. Michael often said how proud he was of them.
What set Michael apart from other electronic engineers was his ability to use his technical skills for inventive practical applications. His work in the public health sector allowed him to combine his technical expertise with his creativity to help people in a tangible way.
Michael was responsible for many innovations which greatly improved patients’ quality of life, such as devices to assist with the rehabilitation of stroke patients or those who suffered from physical or mental impairments. He did much of this work on his own time. In addition to his work at MCNN, he chaired a group of volunteer engineers dedicated to developing such appliances. His professional achievements were significant enough to be reported in the local press and scientific journals, with one newspaper describing him as the “superbrain” behind a “revolutionary operation check.”
Michael’s motivation to improve people’s lives remained a common theme throughout his professional career. His work required not just a technical proficiency, but also an ability to empathise with patients and understand their needs. Michael had an exceptional ability to analyse and solve complex technical problems but he was also a consummate communicator. In particular, he could explain complex technical issues in simple terms and was always able to put people at ease with his kind and ingenuous manner.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Michael quickly rose up through the ranks through a series of promotions. He was not conspicuously ambitious, but was happy to take on more responsibilities and was a natural leader and mentor. By 1987, he was head of the department at MCNN.
Michael went on to develop a deep interest in computing and information technology that was entirely self taught, and after 17 years he left MCNN to project manage the introduction of IT systems for the Oxfordshire Health Authority. This was a colossal challenge involving the development of information management systems across 28 separate sites in the area. He went on to manage a second substantial IT project before briefly working as a freelance consultant.
In 1995, with Nicholas and Jessica recently graduated and settled in their jobs, Michael and Betty decided to move closer to their families. They were granted permanent residence in Canada in 1996 and moved to Vancouver to take over the management of Michael’s father’s business, the 31-bed Belair Rest Home in White Rock, British Columbia. This move was a bold and much deferred decision but it brought many opportunities and new experiences.
For the first time, Michael and Betty became partners in business. From the outset, they strove to provide care services at Belair based on a philosophy of family values. They were profoundly touched by the residents and the special people who cared for them. Their overarching goal was to make a positive difference to people’s lives.
After two years of getting to know the complexities of the health care sector in BC—where care services are delivered through a partnership between the government and private entities—Michael acquired four small care facilities, each with capacities of up to 36 beds. In 1999, Michael’s younger brother Kevin and his wife Betty joined the business.
Together with his family, Michael spearheaded The Ahmon Group’s rapid expansion over the past decade. In 2001, The Ahmon Group won a contract from the Fraser Health Authority to construct a new 141-bed complex care facility in Surrey that combined two smaller facilities–a significant milestone for the business. Morgan Place opened in June that year and was the predecessor for another four new facilities. In 2004, Fleetwood Place, a new 108-bed facility with a children’s daycare center, opened its doors to the community.
In 2006, in partnership with developer and contractor The Lark Group, The Ahmon Group won contracts to build three more facilities. Laurel Place, a 215-bed facility, opened in May 2008, followed in July by Stanford Place in Parksville, a campus of care with 182 complex care beds and 52 assisted living units. In December 2008, Selkirk Place in Victoria, Vancouver Island, opened with 218 complex care beds and 42 assisted living units.
Michael firmly believed that constructing comfortable accommodations was essential to residents’ well-being. His goal was to create a welcoming, homely environment. Michael was actively involved in designing the buildings and provided feedback throughout the construction processes, on everything from the functional structures and interiors to the landscape designs. He even personally selected and decorated the interiors with wall hangings. He also drew on his background in IT to establish electronic information and networking systems for each of the facilities, creating an efficient and effective communication system within and across the five properties.
Michael also passionately believed in providing all aspects of care for residents—from attending to residents’ spiritual and emotional needs to meeting their physical and medical necessities. He and Betty understood that the key to providing exceptional holistic care was their staff. They considered their employees and residents as family.
Michael’s 42-year marriage to Betty was a truly remarkable partnership and they complemented each other beautifully. While Michael was outgoing and ebullient, he had less patience for administration. So Betty, the exemplary organiser, took care of the details. They shared all aspects of their lives together, in business, at home and in their travels. The successes of The Ahmon Group are a testament to the success of their relationship.
In recent years, rather than wind down to retirement, Michael continued to work as hard as ever. He remained actively involved at all levels and travelled to Vancouver Island every week to personally provide technical and moral support to the staff at Stanford Place and Selkirk Place. As the figurehead of The Ahmon Group, he led by example and was unfailing in his commitment to group’s mission, vision and values. His legacy today includes a staff of over 800 people and five accredited facilities across Surrey and Vancouver Island.
Outside of work, Michael was always a keen photographer and also enjoyed making pottery. He designed his home in Surrey in conjunction with Terry, his architect friend from Wits, and developed a keen interest in keeping koi carp after incorporating a fish pond in the design for the house.
Despite his devotion to his work, Michael always made time to see family and friends. In particular he adored his two grandsons, Matthew and Christopher, both of whom he saw as often as he could. He always made an impression on everyone he met and was much loved for his cheerful and outgoing personality, always ready with a good joke or a funny story. He loved a good party and will be remembered as much for his ripe sense of humour as his willingness to help and support others.
Michael’s health had never been a concern and his lifestyle was reasonably healthy. Yet he started to experience pains in May 2011 and clinical investigations revealed a tumour in his liver. His health deteriorated rapidly and he passed away suddenly in the early hours of 19 July.
He is painfully missed and will be loved and fondly remembered by all who knew him.
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