In Loving Memory of our Dearest Dad

Ben was born in Hong Kong and the youngest of five children. He attended St Paul's College where he made lifelong friends whom he saw regularly and cherished to the very end. Sometimes after graduating from high school, he set out on world adventures and he worked in Switzerland, lived in Germany for awhile and drove around England. He came to Canada in the 70s and lived and worked in Vancouver before moving to Toronto. There he met our mom, Anna and they married in 1985. Caitlin was born in 1988 and Gordon followed in 1993. Dad was a true entrepreneur and a bit of a Renaissance man being that he was involved with many projects and talented at so many things. I'd give him the address of a friend's birthday party and he would know the nearest intersection within mere seconds and minutes later, a map was sketched out. He was a master of school dioramas and projects. He could draw anything. He had a mind for history and geography. He owned and managed real estate, owned and ran a laundromat, owned and ran an ice cream shop (where Gordon and I had our first jobs).

Dad always had a strong and quiet presence and I recall not being able to sleep when he wasn't home, which luckily was not so often. He always had a positive attitude and gentle approach to all matters. He rarely raised his voice so when he did, we knew to pay attention! He and mom gave us a comfortable and happy childhood filled with lots of travel and good food. A natural, no look, no recipe chef in the kitchen. He always told us how important it is to take outside perspectives, see the world beyond Toronto and not to resist what life has to offer. Throughout his and mom's illnesses and after mom passed in 2011, he said adversity earlier in life is character building and positive in the long run to make inevitable life challenges less difficult. It would also make us more interesting people and that bit of levity sums up our dad's philosophy on life.

After he and Gordon moved downtown, he enjoyed his independence and appeasing his adventurous side by walking daily and exploring new neighbourhoods, restaurants and shops. He loved knowing the TTC network of buses and how easily he could get anywhere without driving. He would show me all of his newly acquired business cards as if each were little gems. We shared an AGO membership for many years and he enjoyed attending various exhibitions.

In his later years, as his vision and health deteriorated and he faced a barrage of medical challenges, he still always managed to remain so strong and so positive. He always loved music and spent more time listening to records and his favourite artists.

Forever in our hearts.