Larry Wong Memorial College Fund
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In memory of Larry Wong, a beloved fifth grade teacher at Barron Park Elementary School in Palo Alto, California. Larry passed away in January from a sudden and catastrophic illness and is survived by his wife Beth, his 7th grade son Philip, and his daughter Elizabeth, who is a college freshman at the University of Tennessee.
Larry taught in Palo Alto for over 20 years, and he touched every kid at Barron Park Elementary School in many inspiring ways: he spearheaded a daily flag-raising ceremony, championed the student government program, orchestrated his famous 5th grade graduation conducted in over 20 native languages, and built a partnership with “Pilot Wendy” of Southwest Airlines where every 5th grader wrote letters to Wendy’s Southwest passengers asking for life advice and received a bound book of responses. His students fondly remember his amazing classroom activies including actual archaeological excavations complete with tools, grid mapping, artifacts, and of course fossils; and crime scenes where the students felt like true sleuths. He also had his fifth graders write letters to themselves as high school seniors and then mailed them out seven years later, showing what a committed and thoughtful person Larry was.
As amazing as his teaching traditions were, what really set Larry apart were the intangible ways he guided his students towards young adulthood. Larry instilled confidence in his students by celebrating their individuality and helped them find their own passion for life long learning. As one of his past students said, "I remember him as an insightful and caring teacher who aimed not just to educate but also to engage his students and to inspire in them a true love of learning."
Please join us in honoring Larry's legacy by funding college scholarships for his two children. While it is impossible to repay Larry for all his gifts to our community, let's come together to help his family continue the tradition of education.
Larry taught in Palo Alto for over 20 years, and he touched every kid at Barron Park Elementary School in many inspiring ways: he spearheaded a daily flag-raising ceremony, championed the student government program, orchestrated his famous 5th grade graduation conducted in over 20 native languages, and built a partnership with “Pilot Wendy” of Southwest Airlines where every 5th grader wrote letters to Wendy’s Southwest passengers asking for life advice and received a bound book of responses. His students fondly remember his amazing classroom activies including actual archaeological excavations complete with tools, grid mapping, artifacts, and of course fossils; and crime scenes where the students felt like true sleuths. He also had his fifth graders write letters to themselves as high school seniors and then mailed them out seven years later, showing what a committed and thoughtful person Larry was.
As amazing as his teaching traditions were, what really set Larry apart were the intangible ways he guided his students towards young adulthood. Larry instilled confidence in his students by celebrating their individuality and helped them find their own passion for life long learning. As one of his past students said, "I remember him as an insightful and caring teacher who aimed not just to educate but also to engage his students and to inspire in them a true love of learning."
Please join us in honoring Larry's legacy by funding college scholarships for his two children. While it is impossible to repay Larry for all his gifts to our community, let's come together to help his family continue the tradition of education.
Organizer and beneficiary
L Wong Memorial Fund
Organizer
Palo Alto, CA
Beth Zurcher Wong
Beneficiary
