Mr. Wan Fei Liu

Wan Fei was born in Hong Kong on June 9, 1918 (Lunar calendar) in the year of the Horse. His parents Liu Budson and Lee Bo King were both from the Village of Poon Yu in Guongzhu, China, and kept a home there until after WWII. He was educated in Hong Kong and studied Buddhism under the tutelage of Shao Lin Buddhist monks from a young age. He married his first wife, Wong Lai Sze, in 1937 (deceased 1941) then married Rosita (deceased 2010) in 1944. He lived with Rosita in Guongzhu until after WWII.

After WWII, Wan Fei carried on and expanded a watch retail business (Budson Watch Co.) that was founded by his father. He became the Chairman of the Federation of H.K. Watch Trades and Industries Ltd. in 1954-1955 and continued as a life time advisor to the Federation.

Wan Fei took up martial arts as a youngster and spent some years in the Shao Lin Temple. He became an expert in the Shao Lin “Mai Chung” style of martial arts under the tutelage of an accomplished Shao Lin Master, Yip Yu Ting. In the 1950’s, Master Yip brought the Shao Lin “Mai Chung” martial arts to the South China Athletic Association in Hong Kong, a non profit sports club that is nicknamed “Shao Lin Temple” and promotes many sports and organizes sports teams for local and international competition. Wan Fei was appointed Master Yip’s successor and the Grand Master of the Shao Lin Mai Chung martial arts by the Association. He was the head of the Association’s martial arts division for a number of years in the 1950’s and 1960’s and then became its life time advisor. In his later years, he also took up Tai Chi and became an expert in it.

In addition to his expertise and accomplishments in martial arts, Wan Fei had many other interests and talents. He was an expert marksman and won many competitions against the best sharpshooters in the Hong Kong Police Force. He represented Hong Kong in international shooting competitions for a number of years. In his younger days, he was the first violinist for an orchestra that accompanied a leading woman opera singer in China. In the early 1960’s, he played violin for a Chinese orchestra every Sunday in Hong Kong as a hobby. He learned to play all the instruments in the Chinese orchestra. He was an accomplished calligrapher and was invited by many businesses in Hong Kong to write their signage for them. In addition, he was an expert photographer and floral arranger (Ikebana), a gourmet Chinese chef, a hunter and a fisherman. For many years, he was the Chairman of the Liu’s Clan General Association, a world wide association for persons with the last name “Liu”, and remained the Association’s life time advisor.

Wan Fei had 11 children; 7 of whom were with Rosita. In 1967, Wan Fei and Rosita moved to Canada with their 6 youngest children. Despite their roots and connections in Hong Kong, they felt that Canada would offer the best education and career opportunities for their youngest children. Two of the elder children had already gone to universities in the U.S. and Canada. Wan Fei and Rosita carried on a retail business first in Vancouver then in Montreal until they retired in 1987 and returned to Vancouver.

Wan Fei lived according to the Buddhist teachings. He was a kind and gentle soul, easily contented, a peaceful man, and always had a welcoming smile. He loved his family and his family in turn loved and revered him. He was generous to his fellow men and was highly respected by them.

On May 27, 2010, Rosita passed away. Wan Fei and Rosita had been married for almost 66 years. Wan Fei accepted Rosita’s passing with grace and spent 3 wonderful months with his children and grandchildren. He fell ill suddenly in August and despite major surgery, he rebounded and spent several weeks of quality time with his children and grandchildren. He let his children know that he was at peace and was merely completing the cycle of life. He never complained and passed away without any fuss and bother. A number of his children and grandchildren were by his side.

Wan Fei will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed by his children, Richard, Irene, Mable (Peter), Victor (Maria), Peter (Wendy), Catherine, Rose-Mary (Alan), Tony (Rosig), Joseph (Maggie), Elizabeth (Sandra), his 21 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

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LIU, Wan Fei, June 9, 1918 – October 1, 2010 – Wan Fei passed away peacefully at 7:40 p.m. on Oct 1, 2010 after losing his wife, Rosita, of almost 66 years in May this year. He will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed by his children, Richard, Irene, Mable (Peter), Victor (Maria), Peter (Wendy), Catherine, Rose-Mary (Alan), Tony (Rosig), Joseph (Maggie), Elizabeth (Sandra), his 21 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. Wan Fei operated the Budson Watch Co. in HK after WWII, became the Chairman of the Federation of HK Watch Trades and Industries Ltd. in 1954 – 1955 and was a life time advisor to the Federation. Wan Fei and Rosita moved to Canada in 1967 and conducted a retail business here until they retired in 1987. Wan Fei was a Shao Lin Buddhist, easily contented, a peaceful, gentle and generous man, and always had a welcoming smile. He had many talents and achievements: Grand Master of the Shao Lin “Mai Chung” style of martial arts, head of this division in the HK South China Athletic Association and life time advisor to the Association; an accomplished marksman representing HK in international competitions; the first violinist accompanying a leading Chinese opera singer (he could play all the instruments in the Chinese orchestra); an accomplished calligrapher; an expert photographer and floral arranger (Ikebana); a gourmet Chinese chef; a hunter and a fisherman. He was the Chairman of the Liu’s Clan General Association, world wide, and remained its life time advisor. He accepted Rosita’s passing with grace and spent 3 wonderful months with his children and grandchildren. When he fell ill suddenly in August, he let his children know that he was at peace and was merely completing the cycle of life. He never complained and passed away without any fuss and bother, family at his side. A Buddhist Prayer Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct 18 at Oceanview Burial Park, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. and internment at 1 p.m. on Oct 19 at Oceanview. Reception at 5 p.m. Flowers to Oceanview before 3 p.m. on Oct 18. Donations in memory of Wan Fei Liu to Cardiac Function Clinic, VGH, 604-875-4676 or www.worldclasshealthcare.ca.