spb66 #68: North America Mini-Reunion - July 4, 2008

North America Reunion of SPC ’66 “Old Boys”

What is believed to be the largest-ever gathering of St. Paul’s College Class of 1966 alumni in North America took place in early July this year (2008) in Toronto, Canada. The inspired brainchild of Nico Choi and Tennyson Ng, this historic gathering was almost a year in the planning and making, and took tremendous organizational skills on the part of Nico and Tennyson, as well as Nelson Cheng and Joseph Tang, and other classmates who resided in the Toronto area. Thanks to their diligence, generosity and efforts, it all came off “splendidly,” as our teacher Mr. Emerson would probably have said.

A number of classmates came from various parts of the United States for this reunion (Mike Chung from Massachusetts, Henry Gaw from California, Wallace Ip from Ohio, John Leung from Arizona, and Frank Ng from California) but the “long-distance” prize went to Joseph Ip who resides in Hong Kong but happened to be visiting family in Toronto. It was also fortuitous that Fred Cheng and Enoch Mo, who are Canadian residents but not from the Toronto area, were also available for the event. Indeed, it was providential in such ways that made such a large gathering of old friends possible and allowed such a large number of us to meet with classmates whom we had not seen for such a long time – in many cases, over forty years of separation. The occasion was also greatly enriched by the opportunity that the reunion afforded us to get to know one-another’s spouses and families.

The reunion activities kicked off with the Toronto folks treating the “out-of-towners” to a dim-sum lunch in Mississauga on Wednesday, July 2, and culminated with a resplendent banquet on the evening of July 4 at the Empire Court Restaurant in Markham that was attended by twenty-two classmates (namely, in alphabetical order, Chan Kar Wah, Fred Cheng Man Him, Nelson Cheng Yui Hing, Nico Choi Lap Chung, Michael Chung Wai Chung, Fu Tze Kin, Henry Gaw Tiong Boon, Joseph Ip Chung Sang, Bill Ip Ka Biu, Wallace Ip Sing Yiu, Gordon Jang Kwok Tung, Alex Lau Hoi Sing, Timothy Leung Kam Fai, John Leung Kong Cheung, Enoch Mo Yiu Chor, Tennyson Ng Chung, Ng Sai Tak, Franklin Ng Yung Cho, Tony Tam Man Kwong, Joseph Tang Jo Yan, Tong Biu, and Steve Wong Sai Hoo.) As we enjoyed the magnificent food, we relished even more in frolicking in the garden of our memories, in telling jokes that were probably so old that they became new again, in marveling at how so much has changed and yet how so much has remained the same, and in re-forging friendships and understandings of one another. As we met, as we took pictures to keep our remembrances refreshed, and as we pledged to see one another again soon as we said our goodbyes, we carried with us the assurance that it was indeed a serendipitous blessing of the highest order of wonderment and grace that we were able thus to gather in one place after so many years, and to get to know each other once again, as if for the first time. Until we do meet again, we embrace that blessing to our hearts.

Post-script: This report cannot end without once again acknowledging, on behalf of all of us gathered on this gracious occasion, the time and effort and thoughtfulness of Nico and Tenny, which made all this possible.

Report filed by John Leung Kong Cheung

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A group photo of all 22 alumni can be found in spb66 #63.

Following are individual photos of smaller groups.

Nico Choi, Mike Chung, Nelson Cheng, Tony Tam, Frank Ng, Steve Wong, Tennyson Ng

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Back Row:

Nico Choi, Timothy Leung

Front Row:

Gordon Jang, Henry Gaw, Wallace Ip
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Bill Ip, Tong Biu, Fu Tze Kin
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Fred Cheng, Alex Lau, Joe Tang (sitting)
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Frank Ng, Tennyson Ng, John Leung, Nico Choi

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Timothy Leung, Joe Tang, Ng Sai Tak, Joe Ip, Tony Tam, Steve Wong

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Gordon Jang, Henry Gaw, John Leung, Fred Cheng, Enoch Mo
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Mike Chung, Chan Kar Wah, Nico Choi

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Nelson Cheng, Timothy Leung, Joe Tang, Joe Ip, Fu Tze Kin
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Henry Gaw, Ava Chung, Mike Chung, John Leung, Janet Leung, Nico Choi

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Photos courtesy of John Leung & Tennyson Ng.