Henry Kwong Yee Woo

Henry Kwong Yee Woo was born in 1948 on the 7th day of the second month in the Lunar calendar in Canton, China. Henry has always tackled life’s challenges with gusto: at the age of 7, he escaped a turbulent communist China by fleeing to Hong Kong; after high school, he couldn’t immigrate to Canada to be with family, so he started a new life, alone, in the state of Washington, with just a couple hundred dollars in his pocket; in college, he worked multiple odd jobs to support himself, including working summers as a busboy in New York City’s Chinatown, and graduated with a BA in Finance from Central Washington State University in 1972. Despite multiple challenges, he would always tell the stories of this time fondly and always with a smile, from riding his water buffalo out to the rice paddies in China, to flying a kite on the roof of his apartment in Hong Kong, to hearing Santana blasting from the bars in New York City. 

Shortly after his graduation, Henry moved from Washington to California, where he married Wai Ching Chew. They both started a new chapter in their lives together, caring for Wai Ching’s siblings, Stephen and Connie, and starting a family, first in North Beach and then later in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Henry continued his business and accounting education at California State University at Hayward while working several jobs. He ultimately landed a job at the Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center, where he worked for 32 years, rising up in the ranks from accounting to being the Executive Director of the entire center. He was incredibly proud of his time there. Under his leadership, he fostered a supportive community that honored Janet Pomeroy’s vision, growing recreational and vocational services so that individuals with developmental disabilities could live a more fulfilling and independent life. 

In Henry’s retirement years, he enjoyed gardening with his wife, walking around Lake Merced with friends, eating dim sum and boba with his family, and traveling to seek new adventures with his grandchildren. He loved chatting with people, often reminiscing about his own experiences, the importance of planning, and how a little positivity can get you through life’s challenges. 

After a valiant fight against cancer for over seven years, Henry peacefully passed away on March 12, 2025. Henry kept his extensive battle with cancer private, quietly enduring his bouts of radiation, surgeries, and chemotherapy so as to not burden others. He preferred laughter over worry, good company over concern, and always put his loved ones first.

He is survived by his wife, Wai Ching, of 53 years. He is also survived by his first daughter, Elaine, her husband, John, and their two children, Isabel and Sophie, and his second daughter, Eliza, her husband, Brent, and their son, Owen. Finally, he is survived by his brother, Kwong Yin Woo, his wife Lin Ho, and their two children, Roland and Joni.

Even in his last few days of life, Henry continually reminded us that “Life continues,” showing us how to tackle life’s challenges in stride. We hope he knows that he will continue to live in our hearts and memories forever. We love you, Henry.