TAN, Reverend Doctor Wee Chong, born January 6, 1930 in Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China, fell asleep in the Lord, January 10, 2013. Survived by his sisters and their families: Grace, Scottsdale Arizona; Rachel, Austin Texas; Sylvia, Los Angeles; Esther, Los Angeles; Helen, San Jose; and his brother Chen Fu Zhong in Hong Kong. Dr. Tan’s memory will be cherished by his loving family and legion of friends all over the world.
Visitation at McCall Bros. Downtown (1400 Vancouver Street Victoria, BC), on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 4 pm – 8 pm. Parastas (Memorial Service) and All-Night Vigil at All Saints of Alaska Orthodox Church (5363 Patricia Bay Highway, across from Elk Lake), on Monday, January 14, 2013, beginning at 7 pm, everyone welcome. Funeral Service at St. John the Divine Anglican Church (1611 Quadra Street Victoria, BC), on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 11:30 am. Eulogies will be offered at the reception in the Church Hall of St. John the Divine. Burial at Royal Oak Burial Park (4673 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC). Condolences may be offered the family below.
37 Responses
Indian History congress deeply mourns the demise of Dr. Tan. May the departed soul rest in peace.Condolaence s are offered to the family members of the brieved .
Wee Chong was my mentor and teacher of Biology and Chemistry at Pearson College 1978-1980.(Year 5) He was inspirational in his teaching especially in Biochemistry and Cancer research which I was able to take into my training as a medical doctor. I have many fond memories of his enthusiasm, humour and love for his fellow man. He was a true polymath and will be sadly missed.
My condolences to his family.
With love.
Judith Davies(nee Eastaugh)
I had the privilege of meeting Dr Tan several times and introducing him at our graduation ceremonies in 2005. Such a visionary Spirit was he and I’m indebted to his vision for having been able to attend CCAOM. I will enjoy an cup of tea in his name and honor an incredible life. Thank You Dr Tan
My deepest sympathies to Wee-Chong Tan’s family.
Dr. Tan has influenced and enlightened so many people during his lifetime. He exemplified being and acting in accordance with one’s beliefs.
Among his many attributes he was a pioneer in bringing Chinese medicine to Canada. In 1984 Dr. Tan called me and asked why there was no TCM school in British Columbia. In reply to my response that it was illegal here, he simply said that it was time to start one. A week later he came over to Vancouver to meet with interested member of the TCM community. Not long after that the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine was established.
Wee Chong was a kind, generous and wonderful man in addition to being a scholar and philosopher of note. I am privilidged to have known him (he was my teacher at Pearson College). A smile creeps up on my face every time I think of Wee Chong. Thus it will always be. Rest in Peace Good Sir.
My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dr.
So always remember him as a generous person with
Love of God rest in peace.
Leticia.duenas
San Diego Ca.USA
My deepest condolences to Dr. Tan’s family. He was an amazingly creative, deep, and original thinker who had the utmost passion for life and ideas. During my time as a student and registrar at the Canadian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine I had the great fortune of being treated to many a memorable lunch. His simple lifestyle contrasted sharply with the complexity of his mind and his Museum of Chinese Discovery was, without a doubt, the work of genius.
Dr. Wee Chong Tan, a friend of Jesus, Gandhi and Confucius. I attended the TCM school Dr. Tan founded and lived in his house of all sorts for a couple of years while attending the CCAOM (1991 to 1994). Dr. Tan was a great friend, always willing to share of his time and energy, always supportive of scholarship. Dr. Tan told me many times of how grateful he was that people gave him a break and supported him to leave China and study in the West. He never forgot how he was blessed and in turn poured his blessings upon others. He was a brave man. He left his home country and became not only a noted scholar but also an Anglican priest. I think I was the only student who attended both his lectures at the TCM College and his sermons on Sundays at St. John the Divine where in both places he would talk about Christ’s love and the Tao….and it all made sense in a Dr. Tan sort of way. He was never afraid to speak his mind and to do the impossible. He was well known and well respected in Victoria. I last saw him a couple of years ago living in the building that used to be a garage surrounded by his books (stacks and stacks of books) with his simple cot in the corner and the little cook stove to make tea and his favourite noodles. It saddens me to think that I can no longer pop by for a visit to share noodles sitting at the long tables Cambridge style ( I once tried to clean up his kitchen and separate the long tables so people could get in and out easier and he quickly put them back and explained that this is how is was done in Cambridge). Dr. Tan you have kept the faith. You are with our Father in Heaven. You have done so much for so many and now you can enter His rest. Peace to your friends and family members who will deeply miss you. Dr. Tan, it was a great priviliege to have known you, I will never forget all the lessons you have taught me and how you have imparted your deep love of China and all things Chinese. Amen.
I’ve known Wee Chong since his days teaching at Lester Pearson College of the Pacific. His blend of scholarship and commitment was unique in my experience. Anglican ministers with doctorates in biochemistry and fluency in several languages are quite rare!
Wee Chong’s sense of humour was infectious. He told a wonderful story of an encounter in a Hamburg train station when a couple of young people were rude to him: he told them off in fluent German for disrespect to their elders.
His enthusiasm was infectious too. Wee Chong always practised what he preached, whether it was welcoming refugees or growing organic food, and he inspired others to join him. His life and example were a gift to me and to many.
We have many good memories of Wee Chong. His sermons at St Johns were always thoughtful, spiritual and delivered with humility. The twinkle in his eye, his charming sense of humour, and his obvious love of humanity and nature endeared him to us.
He was an outstanding man of his age… well educated, well traveled and in communion with his Lord and Saviour. We will miss him.