By Rodney Yee 4/29/2012
Edwin G. Wong (N6YCG) of Berkeley, California – October 1, 1924 – April 17, 2012, passed away at the age of 87.
Edwin was one of three original members of the Cathay Amateur Radio Club. The Cathay Amateur Radio Club was established in April of 1949. The other two club members were Manfred Jang, Winston Wong. With the exception of Winston, they all were Chinese Americans GIs that served in the US Army in WWII and had returned to their homes in the San Francisco bay area. Their HAM radio clubhouse was in the American Legion Cathay Post on Powell Street, San Francisco.
In 1940, Edwin met our present day Cathay Amateur Radio Club President, George W6BUR at a St.Mary’s school sponsored street fair held on Stockton Street in San Francisco. Edwin was demonstrating his homemade CW transmitter he built as a Boy Scout – Troop 3. In the crowd that day observing Edwin’s CW transmitter was George W6BUR, he introduced himself to Edwin as a fellow Boy Scout – Troop 11 and an aspiring HAM.
Back then both Edwin’s and George’s families lived in Chinatown San Francisco. Edwin and George became lifelong friends, hung out together and ate lunches at the famous100 year old Sam Wo restaurant on Washington street.
Edwin interest in electronics led him to become a HAM before the war. When he entered the service in 1943, he was a natural fit for U.S. Army Signal Corp – 14th Service Group and was stationed in Chan Yuan Province, China. By 1946, Edwin rose to rank of Technical Sergeant as he completed his tour of duty in the China, Burma and India (CBI) Theater of War.
Edwin’s choice of joining the Cathay Amateur Radio Club would be a rather fortuitous life changing event. His fellow club members; Manfred Jang and Winston Wong introduced Edwin to Miss Loretta Yee who eventually became his wife.
After 35 years of Federal Government Civil Service as an inspector of military equipment he completed his career with the Lockheed Missiles and Space Corporation as a Quality Assurance Specialist.
Edwin enjoyed his retirement fishing and making radio contact with fellow HAMs from all corners of the globe.
According to his wishes, there will be no services and his ashes will be scattered outside the Golden Gate where he loved to fish.
Edwin leaves behind a devoted wife of 61years,Loretta Wong and his cherished 3 daughters: Denise (Sherman) Lee, Jadine (the late Steve) Yamamoto, and Deanne (Robert) Surtees. He always will be the loving grandfather of Stacey Lee, Kevin Lee, and Maia Surtees. Survived and missed by dearest cousin, Shubert Yee, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Contributions in Ed’s memory may be made to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care or the American Heart Association .
