Koon Fook Tai

Mr. Koon Fook Tai, a loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully at home on the 3rd of November surrounded by his loving wife and children after a courageous battle with cancer.  Koon was born in 1939 in Hong Kong. He was the only son of three from the late Shing Tai and Ying Yip.

As a young boy, Koon was a conscientious student and was able to attend Queens College in Hong Kong, then further landed a position in The Hong Kong Government (British) where he had a career for over 30 years, then making his way up from a clerical position to Chief Executive Officer.  He met and fell in love with his wife Jenny (Lai Chun) instantly in 1956, although the courtship only began after Jenny became his student for private English tutoring. The two were married by November 1963. Koon had worked with several departments in the civil service where he established a good rapport with his colleagues.  His loyalty to his work and family were most important to him throughout his life.  He and his wife emigrated to the USA, settled in New York with their four children in 1986 where he later accepted Christ the Lord as his savior and was baptized in 2001.  While living in New York, Koon Fook had the pleasurable opportunity to look after his first grandchildren Alice and Andrew. With that early experience he went to look after his grandchildren Grace and Jacob with confidence when he moved to Boston in 2003. The role of a father and a grandfather was indeed his pride and joy, he had instilled in them his sense of humor and to the grandchildren he was always their “gung gung”, cantonese for “my mother’s’ father”.   He has taught his descendants not only the importance of human integrity but also loyalty. He will be well remembered for his kindness and generosity.

Koon is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jenny, (Lai Chun) and his four children, Sukyee (Nicholas) Tai of Glasgow, Scotland, David (Cathy) Tai of Irvine, California, Irene (Peter) Cheung of Austin, Texas, Judy (David) Chang of Newton, MA.  His five grandchildren, Alice, Andrew, Grace, Jacob and Mia. His siblings, Shou Yung Tai & Shou King Tai.

Family and friends will honor and remember Koon's life by gathering to visit at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 20, 2022, in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rt. 20) Waltham, followed by his memorial service at 4:00 p.m.

Those wishing to view the broadcast (and recording) of Koon's service please use this link at 4 p.m. https://my.gather.app/remember/koon-fook-tai

A private family burial will be at 11:30am on Monday, November 21st in Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, New York.  

The Tai family is grateful for the medical team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Good Shepherd Hospice.  Thank you.

                                                                                                     訃告

作為家中摯愛的丈夫、父親、祖父，戴宫福，經過與癌症的一場搏鬥，於二零二二年十一月三日，在太太和孩子的陪伴下在家中安詳離世。他於一九三九年出生香港，他是已故戴勝和葉英三個孩子中的唯一兒子。

他在小時候是一名認真的學生，在香港的皇仁書院就讀，畢業後他為港英政府效力三十多年，當時他從一位文書主任晉升成為總行政主任。於一九五六年的初次邂逅，他對太太黃麗珍Jenny一見鍾情。而他們的關係是在Jenny成為他的私人英語輔導學生後有了進一步發展，兩人於一九六三年十一月結婚。他曾與公務員事務局多個部門合作，與同事建立了良好的關係。對他一生中來說是最重要的忠誠於工作和家庭。一九八六年，他和太太移居美國，帶著四個孩子在紐約定居，其後他接受了主耶穌基督為他的救主，並於二零零一年受洗。在紐約居住期間，他有幸照顧他的第一個孫女 Alice 和孫子Andrew。累積了照顧兒孫經驗為他增強了信心，於二零零三年在波士頓定居，照顧他另外兩個兒孫，Grace 和 Jacob。作為父親和祖父，成為了他的驕傲和喜悅。他向兒孫們灌輸了幽默感，他就是兒孫們的公公，廣東話即是「我媽媽的父親」。他教曉後代為人正直和忠誠的重要，我們永遠不會忘記他的善良和慷慨。

Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main street (Rt. 20) Waltham

Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main street (Rt. 20) Waltham

將有綱上直播、到時可使用此連接: https://my.gather.app/remember/koon-fook-tai

Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, New York