Walter Wong

Since the late ‘80s, Pierre and I visited Etta and Walt, then Walt, every year during our Spring Break in March for two days. Walt was a man of routine, and we learned how to fit in. When Walt was on his own we knew what time to come, after his table tennis and his shower. We’d chat a bit to catch up then head to the Sundance restaurant for their Early Bird prime rib dinner. In the mornings, he and Pierre would solve the world’s problems as he stirred up his instant coffee, filled to the brim, ate his dry cereal and joked about the 10 – 15 minutes it took to toast a piece of bread in the toaster that Gerry had recommended buying. My mom had one too! His meticulous spreading of butter to every square mm of toast followed by an equally thin layer of peanut butter, was all accompanied by his reading of the local paper from cover to cover, starting with Sports. In the evening we would meet up with Becky and Robi’s families for a big Chinese dinner, always with a double order of the chicken that was Matthew’s favourite. Walt knew everyone’s favourites and they were all ordered. He was on a first name basis with the staff at the Sundance and the Chinese restaurants. At home, his favourite meal was Chinese soup with rice. I remember coming into the kitchen with the heavenly aroma of ox tail and black bean soup wafting down the hall. Pierre was all excited, thinking he’d share in this treat, but we went out for dinner instead! Walt was known for eating bananas at the table tennis club -- was that the secret of his success on the court? Family was everything to Walt. He was quietly supportive of every family member and his/her endeavours and passions. Yearly trips were made to New York to see the dance presentations of his granddaughters, Alyssa and Caitlin, always stopping in Toronto to visit Etta’s family along the way. He spent time with individual family members -- operas and concerts with Becky or Robi or Megan, regular lunches with Matt. He spent hours working with Etta on her family’s history, figuring out the technology of the day to make it happen -- print, photos and Chinese characters. This history book is a treasure. About himself, we learned that he went into Engineering because he was good at numbers and not so good at English. However, as his kids advanced in school, conversations over dinner often centred on the literature that was being studied. Walt was a keen listener and learned to appreciate English literature through his kids and as Etta studied it when she worked on her degree in literature. He was determined! The story was that Walt kept turning up at Etta King’s door at the camp for Chinese youth -- even in the rain! He knew what he wanted and he got it! Once married, he got her to quit smoking by only giving her enough money for groceries! Over 60 years ago Uncle Walt kept Curtis at the breakfast table at Gung Gung’s all day until he ate the porridge set in front of him. As a 5 yr old I would periodically check to see that , yes, indeed, Curtis was still there. I don’t remember the end of that event. Walt was always determined to pay for all meals when we went out. Pierre had to trick him by ‘going to the bathroom’ and paying the waiter. Scrabble and Anagrams were fiercely competitive sports. Someone said that they could hear from down the block Uncle Walt yelling out words while in the midst of an Anagram game -- a blood-sport in this normally quiet-spoken man. Music was a passion for Walt. I remember coming into the house with every corner filled with the sound of Pavarotti, Etta’s favourite. He enjoyed anyone playing the old piano. His children’s love of opera and classical music was a source of pride for him. Uncle Walt, such a humble man, who believed in the strength of family, the benefits of education, the importance of strong personal values. and the spirit of music. He loved and was well loved over a long 90 years. May he rest in peace.