Educator’s efforts
improved schools

NEE CHANG CHOCK WONG /
RETIRED TEACHER

Wong inspired many students to
become teachers, a niece says

SEE ALSO: OBITUARIES

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By Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.com

Retired teacher Nee Chang "N.C." Chock Wong of Honolulu loved teaching children even when she wasn't at school, and she contributed to their education throughout her life by donating thousands of dollars to scholarships and foundations.

She died Jan. 17 at the age of 93 at the Hale Ola Kino Center.

Her niece, Evelyn Mun of Nuuanu, said Wong "never had any children, but she treated her nieces and nephews (a few dozen) like her children."

"She was always thinking of us. She would teach us piano, ukulele and singing. She would help us with our schoolwork," she said.

"Her students loved her so much that many of them decided they would go into teaching. She loved music" and sang Hawaiian songs with a group of women called "the Golden Serenaders," Mun said. She said they were invited by Liberty House to sing in the stores at Christmas for several years.

"Even at Hale Ola (nursing home) she would strum her ukulele and get those people to sing with her. Her favorite song was 'Hanohano Hanalei' because she was born in Hanalei," Mun said.

Wong and her husband, Harry C. Wong, who died in 1990, established a foundation for study abroad scholarships in 1984 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In 1987, they established the Nee Chang and Harry C. Audiovisual Center at the UH's Sinclair Library, the most heavily used part of the library, according to Linda Engelberg, the center's librarian.

Engelberg, who a dozen years ago first met the Wongs -- "they were the sweetest couple" -- said they have no idea "of the impact of their gift on this campus." Due to their contributions over the years, the library was able to establish a center "ahead of its time."

"We've always been able to keep it technologically current and well-equipped," she said. "We've never had to go without due to their generosity. ... It is one of the largest collections in the country."

The center has been praised repeatedly by faculty and students who have commented, "It's the best part of the campus" and that the center has "profound value for my teaching," according to Engelberg.

The Wongs established a foundation in 1967 to provide scholarships at St. Anthony's Senior and Junior High School on Maui, and contributed $260,000 in the past three years for the creation of a computer lab, computers and audio-visual equipment there. Harry Wong was an alumnus there.

Principal Daina Collins said: "We now have over 200 computers and four computer labs. They have been very, very generous to this school." The Wongs also made substantial donations to Aliiolani School, where she served as a teacher for many years, and the First Chinese Church at 1054 S. King St., where services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Inurnment will be held 12:45 p.m. at Nuuanu Memorial Park. The family requests aloha attire, no flowers, and donations to a favorite charity.