Born August 6, 1939, died peacefully Sunday, April 10, 2022. He was born in Malaysia as the youngest of seven siblings to Wong Tian Kau and Yap Chek Kim. He is remembered by his wife, Kim Heow, sons Denny and James, daughters-in-law Liz and Rebecca, and his grandchildren Kaiden, Rainen, Jaelim, Phoenix, Gryphon, Drake and Qirin. He is survived also by his sister, Sui Cha Wong, in Malaysia.
In 1966, Pak Yau left home as a high school teacher with very little money to find opportunity in Canada. There, he studied for his master's degree at Queens University in Kingston. After graduating, he began a long and accomplished career at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. Pak Yau, initially under the mentorship of Dr. Irwin Brodo, became an internationally recognized expert on lichens and shared his knowledge with colleagues across Canada and around the world. To this day, his work remains a valuable resource to lichenologists everywhere. He remained at the Museum for his entire career, finally retiring in 2010.
Pak Yau married Kim, who had moved with him from Malaysia, on November 6, 1968 while studying at Queens. Through the birth of their two sons, he fiercely cared and provided for his family. This devotion extended naturally through their marriages and the birth of his seven grandchildren. He loved spending time with his family and his generosity and caring will always be remembered. Rest in peace Pak Yau. We love you and will carry your commitment to family with us forever.
Friends can pay respects at an informal celebration of life at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa (866-990-9530) on Monday, May 9, from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. Donations to the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation are appreciated. https://foundation.ottawaheart.ca
Digital Guestbook
Henry Wong
Susan Aiken
I have happy memories of working with Pak Yau Wong at the Museum. Condolences to his family.
Susan
Erich Haber
I have fond memories of Pak Yau as a dedicated Tai Chi practitioner and willing instructor at our coffee breaks at the Museum Botany Department.
Patricia Yong
Fondly remembered as our dear uncle Pak Yau who was gentle in demeanour. We have fond memories of travelling around tropical north and south Malaysia with him to collect sample of tree barks for the study of tree lichen relationship .It was a lot of fun as we ventured /toured many places in dad ‘s old car . Rest in peace uncle ?
My deepest heartfelt condolences to Auntie, Denny, James & family members.