[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 173 (Monday, November 7, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF JOHN WONG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 7, 2022

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the long life of a 
cultural force of eastern Connecticut, John Wong. John passed away 
peacefully at the age of 92 on January 28th, 2022. A resident of 
Uncasville, Connecticut, John used his time on this earth as a conduit 
to extend appreciation for Chinese-culture and heritage among his 
fellow community members.
  Born in 1929 in Canton, China, John was son to James and Ago Gay 
Wong. John and his family moved to the United States during the Second 
World War, in 1944, resettling in Connecticut. John attended Buckley 
High School in Hartford, where he gained an appreciation--and 
eventually a scholarship--for the study of Fine Arts.
  Ever the dutiful son, John focused on supporting the family business, 
Wong's Restaurant, after graduation. The joys he experienced working in 
the restaurant inspired him to establish a restaurant of his own, China 
Lake, in 1956. Supported by the love of his life Kally, who he married 
in 1958, John and his restaurant came to be known as an iconic spot in 
Uncasville for more than 25 years. After selling China Lake in 1982, 
John used his entrepreneurial skills to embark on other successful 
ventures, such as the Connecticut Air Freight Logistic Co. and Sing's 
Kitchen-located in the Town of East Lyme. John's Sing's Kitchen was 
such a hit in the area that he had to upgrade it from a takeout 
destination into a full-fledged restaurant before passing the business 
onto his son, Nage, and moving into retirement.
  Though there are many eras of John's life for which he was known 
throughout his community, some of his most impactful years came about 
after his retirement. He used his time wisely, nurturing and fostering 
his connections with friends and family to establish an immeasurable 
reputation across the region. A man with an eye for opportunity, he 
recognized the potential to help those within the community on a larger 
scale and formed the Chinese and American Cultural Assistance 
Association. The positive influence of the CACAA was immediately 
recognized within the community and membership grew exponentially 
across New London County. Due to John's efforts, southeastern 
Connecticut was exposed to a layer of culture it had not seen before; 
and in 2014, he was recognized by the Rotary Club of Norwich, CT, and 
given the Diversity Award.
  It is through this advocacy that I first came to know John as an avid 
contributor to the community, a participant in countless public events, 
and an instrumental figure in bridging the cultural gap between the 
Asian community and residents of the district. John and my staff 
developed a close relationship that spanned over ten years, working on 
issues focused on immigration, education, and economic development. 
Many of these efforts will undoubtedly have generational impacts on 
members of our community and their families.
  Madam Speaker, it is an honor to have had the opportunity to 
represent constituents like John, who was so dedicated and creative 
toward the growth of his own community. I had the opportunity to meet 
John during my tenure in Congress and can personally attest to his 
relentless commitment to improving our region.
  Throughout his life, he gave every project before him his all, and 
pushed to solidify an entire segment of a community within eastern 
Connecticut. For that we are grateful. Though we, alongside his fellow 
friends and surviving family--his daughter, Namie Tedford; sons, Nage 
and Walter Wong; and grandchildren--mourn his loss, we of course must 
seek to understand and preserve the weight of his life's work, which 
will continue to positively influence the district and state long 
beyond his final days with us. To that end, it is most appropriate that 
my colleagues in the House join me in paying tribute to the 
inspirational, all-American story of the life of Mr. John Wong by 
preserving his memory through the permanence of the Congressional 
Record.

                          ____________________