Florence Sue Wong
July 1, 1933 October 18, 2017
Florence Sue Wong passed away after a long illness with her children by her side. Flo was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, George S. Wong MD, as well as her brothers, Edward and Andrew, and her sisters, Nancy, Laura, and Connie. She is survived by her adopted brother, William Lee (Nancy), and her sister-in-law, Nellie Young. Flo also is survived by her 4 children, Vansen Wong (Holly), Susie Mielke (Neal), Lori Zabel (Karl), Georgette Wong Beadnall (Charles) and 10 grandchildren, Brian, Anne, Gray, Stacey, Bradley, Ted, Reed, Lark, Emmett and Lillie. She leaves behind numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, great-grandnephews and great-grandnieces.
Flo was the youngest of six siblings in the closeknit family of Ng Shee and Chin Mon Wah (also known as Young Ah Fook), who owned the famous Kuo Wah Restaurant and Lion’s Den nightclub on Grant Avenue in San Francisco Chinatown. She graduated from Oakland High School and was the first girl in her family to attend college, studying chemistry at Mills College. As her husband’s medical practice grew, her family moved to Castro Valley and later Piedmont. In Castro Valley, her children were among the few children of color and often teased. Flo wanted her children to be proud of their Chinese heritage and volunteered at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco to learn more about Chinese culture and history. Due to her friendly, lively personality and fundraising abilities, her volunteer career quickly took off. She became a Trustee of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco in 1979, making her the first AsianAmerican trustee of a major museum board in the US. She subsequently became a board member of many local non-profits, including the Berkeley Art Museum, Chinese Culture Foundation, Fort Mason Foundation, Oakland Art Museum, and UCSF Foundation. Flo was one of 78 noted San Franciscans featured by artist Elaine Badgley Arnoux in The People of San Francisco: Lives of Accomplishment (2001). Through her volunteer work, Flo made lifelong friends whom she treasured.
Flo loved being part of the San Francisco scene, enjoying drag queen shows south of Market as much as glamorous fundraisers in Pacific Heights. She knew where to find the freshest fish in Chinatown and the trendiest designers in Union Square. Flo traveled the world as part of her trustee responsibilities, going to New York, the Vatican, Taiwan, and China. At home, she collected art, entertained frequently, and cooked 2 dinners every night, American food for her children and Chinese food for her husband. Above all, she took great pride in her grandchildren and was an active part of their lives, even during her lengthy illness. Flo was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and is greatly missed. A private celebration of Flo’s life for family and friends is being planned. Thoughts to the family are welcome at kuowah2@comcast.net. Gifts in her memory may be made to the Education Department of the Fine Arts Museum (Director of Education, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, deYoung Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118).