Harvey Wong, born in 1923, San Francisco Chinatown's unofficial mayor, passed away on August 26, after a short illness. He was 82.
Wong served in the army during World War II supporting the Flying Tigers in China. Later, Wong led efforts to recognize Asian Americans in the military as a founder of the Chinatown U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. In 1997, he became the first Asian American VFW District Commander in California.
Early last month, the Chinese American Citizens Alliance national convention honored Wong in Monterey, Calif., with the "Spirit of America" award for a lifetime of dedicated leadership and service to the community and nation. CACA called him the "Last of the Giants." Wong was also the grand national president of CACA from 1993 to 1997, and member since 1952.
For a half century, Wong led virtually all of Chinatown's top institutions, including the Chinese Six Companies, the national Wong Family Association, San Francisco Chinese Hospital Board of Trustees and the Chinatown Republican Club.
He served for 30 years on the Chinatown Economic Opportunity Council, chairing it for 10, building bridges between the city and Chinatown. In 1973, he joined the S.F. Human Rights Commission.
Harvey Wong is survived by his wife Sulan, three children, Susanna Gunn, Joanna Tom, and Steven Wong, and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. (Source: AsianWeek Sept. 2, 2005).