Ivan was born in Hong Kong and had three older sisters and one younger brother. He came to Canada in 1969 and attended University of Ottawa where he met Ida while they were studying Chemical Engineering in their undergraduate studies. Ivan then further completed his MBA while Ida attained her Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1973, the same year when Ida and Ivan got married. After graduating from their Master’s studies, Ida and Ivan were both employed by Imperial Oil and worked in the company’s headquarters in Toronto before moving to Sarnia for a few years and then returning to Toronto. Ivan then continued working with Imperial Oil until his retirement while Ida worked as a Specialist Engineer at Hatch.
Little be known, Ivan was very good in curling and was on Imperial Oil’s curling team. Ivan was also an avid golfer, a wine master, and an antique collector.
To everyone who knows Ida and Ivan as the loving couple, Ivan was a very caring and supportive husband. He would drive a few hours out of town to take Ida for piano lessons while she was preparing for her piano performance level exam. Ivan always waited patiently in the driveway outside the piano teacher’s house and then drove back home together after Ida finished her lesson. Whatever Ida liked, Ivan would try to appreciate; he picked up Tai Chi after Ida and did very well himself. To his friends, Ivan was a quiet, gentle, thoughtful and soft-spoken person. Ida and Ivan were food enthusiasts and often organized “food tasting” groups to try all kinds of yummy food in town. They were also avid travelers, touring interesting places around the world.
On retirement and inspired by faith, Ida and Ivan launched a charity called “Touching Lives Overseas”, which played a large role in improving the lives of school aged children in a marginalized region of China and in extending Canadian goodwill internationally. Both within Imperial Oil and in the wider community, Ivan and Ida were role models that lived their commitments with integrity and kindness. Both Ida and Ivan had demonstrated Christ's Love and character in their lives on earth. After Ida’s passing two years ago, Ivan continued to serve fervently in church as Man’s group bible study leader and Christian Education ministry coordinator.