He was born March 29, 1930 to Ernest and Lesia Pearl Ho Tai in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. A proud Creighton alumnus (University and Medical School), he remained an avid Bluejays supporter. He did his internship at Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, NY, then residency at St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, NY, where he met and married the love of his life Joyce Knight (CSN ‘62). They raised their family and lived in Yonkers for thirty-two years. He was in private internal medicine/family practice and served on the staff of St. John’s for over fifty years, finally retiring at age 83. He loved playing tennis and poker with "the boys” and was a proud Yankee fan (in good times and bad). He treasured early family vacations to Jamaica (always close in his heart), Disney World, the Caribbean with his children, then later ones to the Outer Banks, Atlantis, Camelback with his granddaughters even more. He wanted go to China to see the Three Gorges before the dam was built, and he checked that box in September, 2001.
He is survived by Joyce, his wife of 55 years, his children Jill Ho Tai, Wendy Ho Tai, Amy Ho Tai/Christopher Scala and Raphael Joseph Ho Tai, Jr. (R.J.) Sharon, his cherished granddaughters Maggie Ho Tai and Paloma (Lola) Scala, his brother SueSin Ho Tai/Fay, sisters Rosa Lym/Albert (Dockie), Lesia Koth/Dick and Florine Ho Tai, his sister-in-law Edna and brother-in-law Al Carrozza and many, many nieces, nephews and their families. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Ramson, sister Rita and nephews Andre Matthew Lym and Steve Ho Tai.
Visiting Hours will be at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home on Friday, February 7th from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Christ the King Church on Saturday, February 8th at 11:00 a.m. Final disposition private.
