Hong Wu

Hong was born on January 9, 1931 in Canton, China, to the late Edwin and Shun Wu, and briefly attended medical college before landing in Chinatown, New York City, in 1951. Having arrived with scant resources, he worked to pay his way through college. He pursued undergraduate studies at Columbia University and Tristate College, and graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

After graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering, he began his 40 year career as a structural engineer with Munson & Mallis Inc. in Springfield, MA. Memorable projects included the Basketball Hall of Fame and numerous school buildings. He was proud of the buildings he designed and kept his license as a Registered Professional Engineer active into his 90s. Engineering was never far from his thoughts, from his interest in including his buildings in trip itineraries, to extensively photographing the steel joints of the Eiffel Tower on a trip to France, to recalculating and revising an architect’s design for a son’s home.

In 1957, Hong met Florence Wen in New York City. They married in 1960 and went on to have three children, Art, Barry, and Curt. Hong and Florence raised their family in Agawam and lived there for 45 years. He loved to take the family on road trips to visit relatives and iconic American places and, when home, to putter around a huge vegetable garden and creatively sculpt hedges.

Upon Hong’s retirement in 1999, his life was filled with ballroom dancing and ocean cruises with friends, gardening, and spending time with grandchildren. He loved to recall stories from his childhood in China for his grandchildren. An avid Red Sox and Patriots fan, he also enjoyed drawing, calligraphy, Mahjong, Sudoku, puzzles, and reading letters to the editors.

Hong was preceded in death by his older sister, Yuk Chu Ng. His memory lives on with his wife Florence; sons Art (wife Joanne), Barry (wife Judy), and Curt (wife Diane); and grandchildren Nala, Elise, Tristan, Lauren, Kaelyn, and Veronica.

Hong was a gentle, happy, and giving soul. He was a joy for family and friends to be around and a model for his children and grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at Deware Funeral Home, 576 Hancock St, Quincy, MA, on January 27th from 9:00am -- 12:00pm, with interment to follow at Forest Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association :https://ahatribute.funraise.org/fundraiser/hong-wu