Denis Wong Obituary

DENIS WONG Denis Wong passed away peacefully at his beloved home August 23, 2023 at the age of 96, with hospice and family around him. He was born in Liliha in 1927 to father Wong Kwai Lun and mother Young Ah Yip and considered himself fortunate to live in Honolulu all of his life. Denis grew up in Chinatown, helping his big brother collect rent at his father's River Street properties, playing basketball at Palama Settlement, and attending Mun Lun Chinese School. A lifelong waterman, Denis learned to fish and dive from his Hawaiian neighbor and often caught the bus home with his nets and fresh catch for his mother and neighbors. One morning in December 1941, when he was 14, he listened to a radio broadcast and ran outside to hear explosions. He saw plumes of smoke rising far into the sky to the west. He brought in a smoking piece of a bomb to show his mother. She made him go to the market and buy as much rice as he could. Denis graduated from Roosevelt in 1944 and was drafted into the US Army as an enlisted man. He remembers waiting in a long line to board a massive troop carrier which took him to California for basic training. As the war was ending, he served in Hawaii, driving an ambulance, and helping to identify those killed in action. Denis attended UH on the GI Bill and swam on UH Swim team under famed coach Shoichi Sakamoto at the Waikiki Natatorium. His professor at UH encouraged him to go to graduate school at Michigan State and Denis agreed because he planned to watch some good football games. After one frigid winter in Lansing, however, he changed his mind and applied for admission to Stanford University but was recalled to serve in the Korean War. Altogether, Denis served in the Hawaii National Guard 298th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, 555th Artillery Battalion, Hawaii Infantry Center, 442nd Infantry, and 332nd CAMG, and discharged into the Retired Reserve as a Major. After two years active duty, Denis returned to California where he graduated from Stanford Business School in 1954. Denis made many lifelong friends on the mainland. He remembers surviving on baloney sandwiches so he could afford to go into San Francisco to hear jazz greats like Dave Brubeck play in the Tenderloin District, and driving across country to deliver cars. After graduate school, Denis worked at Matson Shipping and Kamaka Ukulele where he worked with his good friend Sam Kamaka to help streamline their production line. Sometime in the 1940s, Denis saw a picture of Roberta McFarlane in the newspaper when she was a UH Kapalapala Queen and asked a friend to introduce them. They were married in 1957. He began his long career as a stock broker at Dean Witter and brought the first ticker tape machine to Hawaii in the early 60s. Denis also worked at McDonnell & Co and Bache and taught a night class in investments at UH for many years. In the 1980s, Denis started his own financial advisory business, Denis Wong & Associates, which he operated until he was 96 years old. He served on the board of the YMCA as president and also served on the board of Palama Settlement. Denis loved sports and spent many happy hours golfing, surfing, diving, and swimming. He was a member of Waialae Country Club for over 50 years and kept his surf locker at Waikiki Beach until age 85. He took part in surfing contests, golf tournaments, and swimming races. He loved Maui and purchased a condo at Ka'anapali in 1964 where he could dive and lay net. He also served on the board of the owners at Maui Ka'anapali Villas. He was a super fan of the Rainbows and a longtime member of the Na Koa Football booster club. Denis was an adventurer. He was one of the first travelers to China after it reopened in 1977 and made many trips throughout Asia. He stayed in a yurt in Mongolia, sailed on a ship to the Galapagos, braved the frozen tundra in Green Bay, Wisconsin, raced motorcycles in Bermuda, and enjoyed the fine beers of Bavaria. Denis practiced the values of fileal piety with regard to his parents and expected it of his own family, to whom he was fiercely devoted. He had a winning smile which made him numerous friends throughout his life. Denis was predeceased by his wife, Roberta in 2011, siblings Walter, Stanley, Hon Young, Hei Wai, Peter, James, Lawrence, and Elizabeth Wong, and granddaughter Jasmine Haughian. He is survived by sisters Francesca Wong (Antonio), Catherine Chinn (Salwynn), sons Gary (Kent Gifford), Bruce (Marisol), Robert (Irene), and Patrick (Kehau) Wong, daughters Denise Haughian (Richard) and Bonnie McCrystal, four grandchildren, Jade and Rosanne Haughian and Ryan and James McCrystal, and two great grandchildren, Willow and River Theusch. The family would like to extend deepest mahalo the staff at Kalakaua Gardens, Queen's Hospital, Divine Touch home care, and Malama Ola Hospice for helping to care for Denis in his final months, and to his many friends for their fellowship over the years, especially after Denis became a widower. Service at Nu'uanu Mortuary on Sept 6 at 10:30 am with visitation at 9:30 am. Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC