Tai Yiu ”Tony” Fong, of Greensburg, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, April 7. He was 82 years old. He was born on November 11, 1937 in Canton, China. He moved to Hong Kong in the 1950s where he met and married his wife, Kit Ping Leung, on November 23, 1967. They were married for 52 years.
Tony enjoyed watching basketball, growing houseplants, gardening, and, unknown to most, reading and writing poetry. He was a very artistic person and that talent was also demonstrated through his food. He began his culinary career as a cook on a British Royal Navy ship. After moving to the United States with his family in 1982, he worked as a chef in several restaurants until he opened his own restaurant, New China, in downtown Greensburg. He loved to create flavor combinations and decorate them with food art. He was well-known for certain specialty dishes that were requested often.
While Tony wasn’t fluent in English, he never let that stop him from meeting people. Every place he went he was greeted by someone he knew. Friends and family meant the world to him. He was called Yeye (grandpa) by many family and friends. He will be greatly missed! In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Thomas & Donna Fong, Greensburg, and two daughters Kim Fong, Seattle, WA and Carrie Fong, Greensburg. He also had three grandchildren he was extremely proud of: Kaeli (Fong) Moffett, Zachary Fong, and Kirsten Fong.
There will be no public services. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.gilliland-howe.com
