Remembering a Chinese Mensch
...because Charlie was unique, never to be duplicated...a one of a kind...and for those of us who were fortunate enough to know (and love) him, the Almighty did a pretty good job !
The best way to explain Charlie was simply "He's Charlie."
No explanation was needed, additional words were unnecessary, but the mere mention of his name, would bring a smile to even the worst sourpuss.
Charlie Wong left us Thursday, January 14, 2021 as a result of being a victim of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic.
He may be gone, but his legacy of life experiences would rival any person I've ever known.
Charlie's story began on July 20, 1936 in the Philippines. He was of Chinese decent, but he was able to remember a December day in 1941 following Pearl Harbor when the Japanese invaded his homeland.
His father was a local tailor that was taken by the Japanese as a prisoner facing execution until it was learned that knowledge of a "needle & thread" repairing Japanese uniforms would save his life !
As a matter of fact, after the war, Richard Nixon would visit the Philippines in 1968 in need of a shark skin suit, and low and behold, Charlie's dad came to the rescue without even measuring the future president, specially making 2 suits for him.
When Nixon got back the mainland, he wrote Charlie's dad a sincere thank you letter which Charlie proudly displayed for the remainder of his life.
You see, that thank you letter was followed up with granting Charlie a working visa to come to the United States "to make his fortune."
Charlie was a pretty smart guy too. He obtained a Chemistry degree allowing him to be hired by a major firm in New Jersey, spending 35 years prior to his retirement.
He would tell me that the reason he was hired was because his salary demands were much less then others ! (Again, that's Charlie !)
He married, had three sons, and along the path in his new nation, tragedy would follow in addition to his successes. His wife, in her early 40s, passed away in 1993 and a son would perish as a result of liver cancer in his early 20s. That left Charlie a single parent with two sons...
...two sons that would become the pride and joy of his life.
His son, Raymond, would graduate from West Point and his other son, James, would graduate from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. Raymond would go on to be a school superintendent and vice president of a heating and air conditioning company and James would become an international commodities trader.
Over Charlie's life he would personally meet Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, George Herbert Walker Bush, Bill Clinton, and George H. Bush...
...and if that wasn't enough, would actually perform with 4 others at Carnegie Hall !
1995 would be a very special year in Charlie's life. Being a strict Catholic, he would attend a special mass officiated by Pope John Paul II, and as if divine providence would enter the story, at that mass he would meet his beloved Naty Go, the lady who would be at his side for the remainder of his life.
When Charlie and Naty decided to retire, they decided to land in Sun City Anthem in 2001, but the word "retire" was "greatly exaggerated".
Charlie loved Sun City Anthem and its people, and over the next 20 years he would be a founder and President of the I.C.C.C. Club, as well as, a member of the Table Tennis, Performing Arts, and Poker Clubs in addition to his involvement in SCA-TV.
He would also be an integral part of the Foundation Assisting Seniors...and when it was learned that the Foundation was robbed this past Thanksgiving, Charlie stepped up to the plate donating $500.
With the advent of the Covid-19 Pandemic, he would still continue his community involvement by walking the streets of Sun City Anthem as part of the Community Patrol.
There is so much more to the life of Charlie Wong, and when asked what he believed his greatest accomplishment, he didn't hesitate when he said "becoming an American citizen."
Charlie will be cremated, but his final request was to spread his ashes equally between the graves of his wife and son, and Sun City Anthem.
Sympathy cards and wishes may be sent to:
Ms. Naty Go
2871 Hayden Creek Drive
Henderson, NV 89052
As a final thought, for those of us who had the privilege of knowing him over the years, he will always be remembered for his chattering on and on.
And...when asked why he always talked so much, his answer was simply:
"The minute I stop talking, something is wrong."
Well, Charlie was once again right on...
...he's now stopped talking, and without his smiles and love for his fellow man, something really is wrong !
We've lost an SCA--VIP who also happened to be one of the nicest and kindest individuals anyone would have ever known.
Rest in peace, my dear friend.