Dear friends of Class of 61:
Since I had left La Salle in 1963, I did not have much contact with my former school mates even though I could have easily done so. There was simply too much going on in my life then – girls, fun, future… Then in 1971, I emigrated to Canada and after a year, settled in Winnipeg, a city of 600,000 people with a climate like that in Harbin, China. Though I occasionally reminisced in front of my old class photographs from my La Salle days, I did not make much effort in re-establishing contacts. There was still too much going on in my life – wife, children, career…
More than quarter of a century just flew by. After much effort, I managed to track down Tang Hon Chung, my best La Salle buddy, right where I had left him, in Illinois, USA. It was pure joy! Shortly afterwards, I learned that there was a LSOBA being established in Toronto by some 61-ers and that they were holding a big party on Valentine’s Day. I flew 2,000 kilometres to Toronto and asked Ah Tang to join me there. We had a ball. It was heavenly to meet up with old friends from our childhood days, to reminisce, to swear and sing the school song for the first time in a long time, to the shock and amazement of many spouses. “How did you ever remember the words?”
More decades flew by. For the past 40 plus years, my priority, like most people, has always been my family, schools, swimming/piano lessons, universities, weddings, grand-children… Then, in retirement, I received the most wonderful, surprised gift – an invitation to the golden re-union. Apparently, some selfless 61-ers in HK and other parts of the world took the trouble of getting together and organizing the once-in-a-life-time event.
I called my travel agent and booked my flight before I had a chance to tell my wife.A hasty decision ? Let me see::
– I am pushing 70 years old, but still healthy enough to travel, unlikely the case for the 60th or 75th re-union;– Having spent decades putting the needs of other family members first, I have earned the right to do something selfish, just for my own fulfillment and enjoyment. Family events of ALL others have to fit my schedule or proceed without me.
Next, I contacted the Organizing Committee and thanked the members for their initiative and efforts, for their wonderful gift.Planning a social event without any knowledge of attendance numbers and attendee preference is extremely difficult. If you have not yet done so, I urge you to RSVP immediately. Give a YES or NO or MAYBE. No commitment. No explanation needed either. A ball-park attendance figure is all they need.I hope to see many of you in November. I may not remember your names, much less recognize your faces. But I know that listening to one another’s good old stories from our La Salle days will trigger many fond memories. Happy childhood re-lived. Old friendships renewed. Guarantee! Don’t live to regret missing this once-in-your-life-time event.With warmest regards,
Stephen Wong Heung Sang
Dear Stephen,
Sorry for the late reply.I just returned to Hong Kong from Sydney where my children & grandchildren are residing. In Hong Kong,where Moon Wai & I practising in the private sector,met Wilson,Richard,Ling Ching & others recently several times,we look forward to meeting you to renew & relive those good old days!
Regards, Lee Yiu Kan John.
On April 28, 2011 Gabe Yau wrote:
Steve,
It seems you have told my own story except I did not meet up with too many except Ip Moon Wai who I met in New York when he came to further his surgery post doctoral training. Ever since we have seen each other in San Francisco, here in Minnesota.
Steven, I would love to have the lyrics of our La Salle school song. If you can send me a copy (if you can just write in your email, I would appreciate very much.
Hope to hear from you and see you in HK this fall.
Gabe
Gabe,
The school song with lyric is on this website. Click the page “Year 1961”, then “The most popular song in 1961”.
Francis
On April 28, 2011 Edward Kang wrote:
Dear Stephen,
Your e-mail really has reflected my personal feeling. I had booked my hotel and flights to HK to join the reunion back in January even before any detail of the reunion has come out.
I do not know whether you remember me or not. Back in La Salle my name was Hong Po Tai. Now I am using the Mandarin spelling for my last name which is “Kang”. I was in the same class with you in Form 1D with “Ju Wong” as our class master. After that, we were in different classes.
The reason I write for I am leaving for Toronto today to attend a wedding. This is my first time to Toronto. Through Dennis Ho (our classmate in F 1D also), I understand there is quite a group of La Sallian class ’61 there. Thomas Au (phone 905-513-1764) had contacted me yesterday informing me that he is trying to get us together this Sunday evening (May 1) for a small reunion. If you are in town and have the time, I would like to see you again after over a half century. If not, see you in Hong Kong.
Sincerely,
Edward Kang (Hong Po Tai).
On April 27, 2011 Richard Ho Kwok Ning wrote:
Dear Stephen,
You put it so well. I look forward to seeing some of the long missed faces at the reunion.
The fortunate bunch in HK or in Toronto met frequently in the past years and enjoyed thoroughly all those drinking, eating, majonging and swearing and greatly look forward to sharing those with you in Nov.
Richard Ho
On April 27, 2011, Clifton Ling Ching wrote:
Stephen,
I echo your sentiments entirely – though was not as hastily as you in booking the air ticket so far in advance – but now I have.
I also hope that your enthusiasm will be contagious and arouses in others the sense of nostalgia and longing for what might seem to be our long-lost childhood. For those who have not yet decided, we hope that their decision will be positive for the re-union. I have contacted several class mates to urge them to come, their personal circumstances permitting.
Clifton Ling Ching