Known to many as either Chris, Mr. Chong or Coach Chong passed away surrounded by family in Laurel Place Hospice in Surrey, British Columbia. He leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Solrun and his loving children Andy Chong, Michael Chong (Kristy), Brian Chong (Kate), Laura Lipon (Gary) and his beloved grandchildren Tiana, Cameron, Hayden, Spencer, Emery, Quinton, Adelynn and Scarlett.
Chris was born in Vancouver and lived there and in North Vancouver for his first eight years and then the family moved to New Westminster. Except for two years, just after their marriage, this was his “Home” town.
In North Vancouver, he lived across the road from the Capilano Tennis Club and upon moving to New West he joined the New Westminster Tennis Club. At 15, he began to coach the younger children at the club and continued as the club pro through his years at university.
He was a great coach who was ready to teach children and adults alike. His best advice for all those he coached was: “Don’t tell me you can’t, just tell me you’ll try.” For rainy days when the clay courts were unable to be used, he would entertain his students with the card game “Oh Hell”. It was an equal achievement to win the club tennis tournament and the “Oh Hell” tournament at the end of the year.
In 1976, he started work with the Canadian Border Services Agency at the Peace Arch border. He was well respected at the border and finished his career at the downtown Customs Center located in the Main Vancouver Post office.
Even with less time while working at the border, he still managed to play and coach tennis. For many years, he scheduled the C Level Men’s tennis league which involved a lot of checking and rechecking. When he finally decided to stop, the BC Tennis association gave the next person a computer to work with.
In his early 30’s, he experienced a shoulder injury which slowed his tennis down and he began to play more golf and turn to coaching other sports. The children were playing Soccer, Baseball, Volleyball, Basketball, Lacrosse and Softball. At the district level, he coached Brian and Laura in soccer and Laura Softball. The coaching staff at New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS) asked him to coach Basketball for Brian’s Junior Team and for Laura’s Grade 8 team. This was an honour for him as he had been a manager for the basketball team when he attended NWSS. It is also the pride of the family that he, his four children and his two oldest grandchildren all attended NWSS.
Coaching Laura’s softball team led Chris and Solrun into the world of softball at all levels. He became the president of the New Westminster Softball Association. He was able to increase the number of youths playing softball. He led a team of volunteers in holding the yearly Hyack Girl’s Softball Tournament which attracted teams from the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. After making the provincials, he reinstated a Rep B Girl’s team. When Laura stopped playing, he continued to coach younger girl’s teams making it to the provincials more than once.
He and Solrun became fans of the University of Washington Husky’s Women’s Softball team, eventually buying season tickets and following their preseason games. He became an expert in booking great BnB’s. for the tournament cities.
Golf became the other big part of his life. Playing 264 different golf courses was a source of pride, but his biggest joy was playing with his children and grandchildren. Because of the care he received he was able to go on three weekends of golf with his children in the past year – the last one including his 35-week pregnant daughter. He came home to say that was the best weekend of his life. His other great joy was having family dinners or going out for Dim Sum. He was always up for a card game before dinner and ready to be on dish duty after.
The family would like to thank his GP Dr. Warner and Oncologist Dr. Constantine along with the staff of the Oncology team at Royal Columbia Hospital (RCH) for making his last year a good one. Also, thanks to his dentist Dr. Margulius and Oral Surgeon Dr. Villings for relieving the oral issues he suffered during his last few months. As well, we would like to thank the staff on 6 North in RCH and on the Palliative unit at Laurel Place Hospice for their care of him and the family.
He has requested that no funeral be held and in lieu of flowers please donate blood through Canadian Blood Service or donations to Royal Columbia Hospital Foundation or Laurel Place Hospice.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Christopher Gayling Chong Jan 16 1949 Dec 20 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique