Andrew Lai Sau Leung

Surrounded by his loving family, Andrew passed away peacefully at Vancouver General Hospital. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Karen, children Elizabeth (Branden), Douglas (Jade), Mother (Alice), sister Josephine (Danny), and many nephews and nieces. He will also be missed by his many colleagues and friends. Andrew was predeceased by his father, David.

Born in Hong Kong, Andrew immigrated to Canada with his family in 1969. He spent two years at the School for New Canadians at Cecil Rhodes Elementary, followed by schooling at General Wolfe Elementary and Eric Hamber Secondary. In both places, Andrew made friendships that would last his lifetime. Andrew attended UBC and completed a BSc in microbiology, graduating in 1980. After working for the BCCDC for a short while, he joined Dr. Evan Evans’ lab at UBC where he spent the majority of his scientific career working in biophysics. Before he became ill, Andrew was researching possible cures for Multiple Sclerosis.

Andrew became seriously ill in 2014. In 2017, he had a bilateral lung transplant, and he subsequently underwent treatment for lymphoma, which recurred in 2026. Remarkably, Andrew never complained of the difficult hand that was dealt him. Rather, he concentrated on the positives of his life: his family whom he loved dearly, his photography at which he excelled, and his numerous deep and lasting friendships. He was loyal, brilliant, and talented in so many areas.

Of his many talents, Andrew’s first love was ballroom dancing. He began dancing with the UBC Dance Club and competed at international competitions. After he retired from dancing, he remained in the dance community as a renowned photographer. He made countless friends in the community over the years, and his favourite dance partner became his wife. He never regretted subjecting his feet to “that slow foxtrot.”

The family would like to thank the medical staff at the Solid Organ Transplant Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital as well as the doctors and nursing staff on T12, High Acuity, and the ICU. They would specifically like to acknowledge Dr. Ali Kapasi for his outstanding communication and Dr. Dana Haaf for years of medical support.

A celebration of Andrew’s life will be held on August 19, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Ocean View Funeral Home and Burial Park, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby, BC. While the family hopes you will be able to join them in-person, the ceremony will be live streamed and a recording made available afterwards. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Vancouver Hospital Foundation or the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.