Howard Tom Wong

Howard Tom Wong was born in Sunwui City, Guangdong, China on Feb 10, 1926. He was the first son of his father’s second marriage. As a teenager during WWII, he learned to support himself at the age of 13. He found work in a produce market, and was trained to do the accounting work. His step brother from America eventually found him, and brought him to Hong Kong. After living there for 2 years while waiting for his immigration papers, he finally arrived in San Francisco on October 27, 1948. Once here, he worked his way up in his brother’s restaurant (Paradise Restaurant), starting as a janitor, bus boy and then a server. He worked in the Oakland area for several restaurants and night clubs, often holding down 3 jobs at once. In 1957, he had made enough money to start thinking of starting a family, and he returned to China to find a wife. He met Lui Bik Yerk (Beverly) in a chance meeting in a park. They were married on Feb 14, 1958. Upon his return to the United States, he was caught up in an immigration issue, and was unable to bring his wife for 10 years. During this time, he opened his first restaurant, The Jade Palace in Walnut Creek, in April 1964. Eventually, the immigration issues were resolved, and his bride joined him in 1967. They immediately started a family with their son, Arnold in September 1968, and their daughter Bernice in March 1970.

Over the next couple of decades, he also opened several restaurants. The Mandarin Restaurant in Concord (1969-1989), Mr. Wong’s in Oakley (1990-1996), Walnut Creek (1996-2003), Arroyo Grande (2003-2005) and Pismo Beach (2006-2012). During his career, he developed one of the first frozen food lines for Chinese cuisine, a successful sauce line, and was instrumental in starting the China Express in the deli of Safeway stores. He retired in 2012, and moved to San Rafael to be closer to his daughter and her family. He lived there comfortably with his wife for 10 years before moving to a Novato senior community in 2021. Howard always enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow. He never turned down an opportunity to go to the playground with them, or to have a party for the many birthdays and holidays. He was also always thinking of new business ideas, even until his last days. Howard was a proud participant in the UC Davis Life After 90 program that studied brain cognition in elderly populations to determine causes for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Howard was the epitome of the American Dream. He was always known as a hardworking business man, liked by all, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and creator of the best food.

Howard died peacefully in his sleep on May 31, 2022 at the age of 96. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Wong, their children Arnold Wong and Bernice Wong Brown, his son-in-law, Robert Brown and his grandchildren, Myles and Harrison.

We will gather to celebrate his life on Friday, June 17, 2022. Viewing and services will begin at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, please donate online to the Alzheimer’s Innovation Research Fund –
https://give.ucdavis.edu/Donate/YourGift/ADCRSCH
In the memo line, please note “In memory of Howard Wong, Life After 90 Study”.

For mail in donations, checks should be made out to UC Regents and note in the memo line, “In memory of Howard Wong, Life After 90 Study”.

Please mail check donations to:
UC Davis Advancement Services
202 Cousteau Place, Ste. 185
Davis, CA 95618

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