Genni-Marie Fong

Genni-Marie Fong [Wheeler] led a life of love, compassion, generosity and selflessness. Born in Linz, Austria to Captain Myron Wheeler and his wife, French-born Emilia. Her youth was spent in travel to various military assignments due to her father’s service. She lived in Taiwan, going to school in an oxcart, various posts in the U.S. and also in France. As a young girl she could barely see due to severe myopia but grew into a woman who saw the world and put down roots to change it for the better. Genni, a force of nature, who usually got her way, was known by name almost everywhere she went and made friends throughout the world. The family settled in San Francisco at the Presidio. The marriage ended in divorce with Emilia raising Genni and older brother John as a single parent working at City of Paris in the late 50s. Genni showed her independence and self-sufficiency early, cooking and cleaning for the family and working at a clothes shop while in high school at Washington High. She decided early in life that she wanted to help others and chose nursing as a career. After 2 years at City College, she was accepted into the Master’s nursing program at UCSF where she met her future husband, Juon-kin, who was an intern at the U.S. Public Health Hospital. Despite the cultural and racial differences, they fell deeply in love and married on the Ides of March, 1973 and started a loving and caring nearly 47 year marriage journey together.

She leaves behind, a hopelessly devoted husband Juon-kin, three children, Geoffrey, Janine and Jamieson, daughters-inlaw Ana and Cristin; seven grandchildren-Liam, Elise, Carlee, Devon, Elliott, Lily, Ophelia, and countless pseudo-adopted children and grandchildren. She created a home full of laughter, stories and food! Her chocolate chip cookies were well known throughout the San Francisco educational system and she always seemed to make a little extra dinner anticipating a guest would likely show up. Genni started her professional career as an ICU nurse and later worked as a private practice nurse and office manager with her husband’s orthopaedic and hand surgery practice. She had great pride serving for several decades on the Board of Trustees for Archbishop Riordan High School including being co-president. Despite all her accomplishments, nothing made her more proud or happy than doting on her grandchildren, showing them the world and sharing her traditions.

Genni filled 70 years with multiple lifetimes, managing many trips abroad with the children and then later, the grandchildren. Her love for all things Disney also led to countless trips to Anaheim and Orlando along with trips to Paris Disney and Shanghai Disney with that motley crew. There were not too many restaurants that she missed over the years, having dined at HPR for over 50 years and Sam’s for many lunches among her favorites. The symphony and theatre were also passions along with the SF Ballet. And she would dutifully attend Cal games with her husband, hoping for the year that would end in a Rose Bowl. Sitting along the 3rd base line eating a Molly Stone sandwich and rooting for the Giants was always a great way to spend an evening. Still her time on earth was too short. She has left a major void in the hearts of all who her knew her. Despite, or maybe because of her childhood difficulties, she was always a giver, encouraging all she met and giving hope and love indiscriminately, lifting spirits and dreams. Genni’s legacy will live on through her children and grandchildren and descendants to come.

Genni was our sun, and we all revolved around her, she kept us warm and grounded. Our world is a bit darker without her, but she is sharing her light in a new place. There will be a service at ARHS on April 2, 2022 at 3:00pm to celebrate her life at one of the places she treasured and honored with her presence and effort.