Tai Ho

Tai Ho 95 of Sudbury, MA died on Sunday, October 27, 2024 in MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham, MA.

All his life Ho Tai lived by the highest standards of both Chinese and United States values. Born and raised in Guangdong Province China, even as a child he supported his family. Once during the Japanese invasion, he hid himself and the family cow in the bushes to avoid the invaders. He and his wife Lo Lee grew up near each other and later married in Hong Kong, where they had three sons and one daughter. Ho Tai was tireless in educating himself. Working full time during the day he pursued learning at night. He studied and became proficient in English, learned the Morse code on the job, bought a typewriter and taught himself how to type. His daughter can type thanks to his patient teaching. To support his family in Hong Kong, Ho Tai became the chief steward for English merchant ships, staying at sea for many months at a time, despite how much he missed his family, and how prone he was to seasickness. With Tai’s earnings at sea, Lo Lee purchased a seventh-floor apartment not far from the harbor. Tai later said that the greatest joy of his life was to return to Hong Kong and find his four children seated around the table doing their homework in their very own apartment.

 In order to help finance four college educations, Ho Tai left the merchant marine to open a coffee shop for factory workers in Providence, RI. He had often told his kids that there would not be an inheritance, but they could get as much education as they wanted, and he would work to support them in their pursuits of education and knowledge.

Lo joined him in Rhode Island where he bought and managed a dry-cleaning shop. It was his pride and joy that all his children were able to pursue college education, and some went on to graduate school. His daughter Ali purchased a home in Sudbury MA where Ho Tai and Lo Lee could retire. They were joined often by their son Simon, Ali and her daughter Anna, son Daniel and his family who lived nearby in Massachusetts, while son Alex and his wife lived and worked in California. Ali’s husband, Walter Clemens, also moved to Sudbury and had great conversations with Ho Tai about his life. Despite losing his hearing, he remained upbeat and active, and he and Lo spent much loving and supportive time together in their retirement.

Since his youth he was always tuned to the events of the world, when not keeping company watching Chinese TV programs with Lo. While Ho Tai practiced no religion, he accepted that son Daniel and his family were devout Christians. His love for his family, upstanding values, respect for fellow humans, always living life with purpose and strength despite physical limitations, and quiet resignation to tumult in the world were there for all to see and admire. He is deeply loved and missed by all his family and respected by all.

 He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lo Lee of Sudbury, his daughter Ali Clemens and her husband Walter, 3 sons, Daniel Ho and his wife Veronica, Alex Ho and his wife Atta, Simon Ho, 2 grandchildren, Vivian and Anna.

 A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 11:15 am in New Town Cemetery, 357 Concord Rd., Sudbury, MA

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Tai Ho, please visit our floral store.