Hung Liang's Obituary
Mr. Hung Liang, age 95, of Grand Haven passed away peacefully on February 19th, 2016 at American House in Spring Lake.
Hung was born in Hong Kong to Kwang-Tao and Margaret Liang on October 26th, 1920. Raised in Shanghai, China, as a young boy Hung would visit his father’s family in Haiphong, Vietnam and his mother’s family in Macao. The families, close friends, had left China in the early 1900s because they provided financial support to democratic revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the Qing dynasty.
Japan invaded China in July 1937. In July 1939, Hung and three of his siblings boarded the S.S. President Coolidge in Shanghai for the United States and American colleges. Like many young, optimistic Chinese men and women during that difficult wartime period, Hung expected to return home after completing college studies to help rebuild his war-torn country.
Hung studied metallurgy at M.I.T. in Cambridge, MA. He received his B.S. in 1943 and M.S. in 1947. From 1943-1945 he worked at Inland Steel in East Chicago. He met his future wife Elsie Lee while both were undergraduate students. In 1947 he returned to Shanghai and began working at the Jiangnan Shipyard. Hung married Elsie on June 26, 1948 in Shanghai. On Christmas Eve that same year, Hung and Elsie left Shanghai for the United States - six months before the city was taken over by Communist troops.
Arriving in the United States for the second time, Hung and Elsie settled in New Rochelle, NY where they raised two children. Hung worked in non-ferrous foundry operations as an executive at Superior Castings Corporation in Bridgeport, CT and the president and owner of Quality Castings Corporation in West Haven, CT.
Hung and Elsie moved to Grand Haven in 1975 when Hung joined the Grand Haven Brass Foundry. After his retirement in 1985, Hung was active as a China consultant to American foundries and foundry equipment companies. He was especially proud of assisting JSJ Corporation to establish its joint venture foundry in Tianjin in 1987.
Hung enjoyed and deeply loved his forty years in the Grand Haven-Spring Lake community. Hung and Elsie were former members of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake. Hung was a member of the Grand Haven Rotary Club and served on the local boards of International Aid and Goodwill Industries. He loved sports, particularly tennis, which he played weekly until he was 90 years old.
Hung is survived by his son Tim and daughter-in-law Ping Liang of Ada, MI, son-in-law Sam Norton and grandson Noah Hammond Norton of Miami, FL, and 98 year-old sister Mrs. Ching-Ye Lee of Gaithersburg, MD. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Elsie and his daughter, Priscilla Norton. Hung’s family wishes to extend special thanks to Hospice of North Ottawa Community, to the Stoneybrook staff of American House Spring Lake, and to his superb caregivers for the loving care and support they gave him and Elsie.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 27th, at VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home in Grand Haven with Rev. Richard Rhem officiating. Visitation with Hung’s family and friends will take place before the memorial service at 10:00 AM at the funeral home. Interment will take place in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Ottawa Community. Please sign the family’s online guest book at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Hung?
What’s a lesson you learned from Hung?
Share a story where Hung's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Hung you’ll never forget.
How did Hung make you smile?