Kenneth P.

Kenneth Pak Ho Patrick Lai was born on November 29, 1922 in Guangdong province, China; he died on May 16, 2012 in San Francisco, California. He was married to Chan Ling Chu for over 60 years till her death on March 30, 2004. He is survived by 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-laws, 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-laws, 1 goddaughter, 4 grandsons, 6 granddaughters, 2 grandsons-in-laws, 3 granddaughters-in-laws, 2 great-grandsons and 1 great-granddaughter. He was much loved by his family and respected by his friends, colleagues and business associates. Few would disagree that Kenneth was a great man who lived his life by example. He was a giver, always considerate of others and hardly ever complained--even up till the very last moment of his life. Coming from humble beginnings, Kenneth was the classic self-made man who believed in education, discipline, hard work, compassion and a sense of humility. The mottos he lived by were "Don't leave for tomorrow what you can accomplish today," and "Always grant a favor but don't ask for one in return." After moving to Hong Kong with his father, Kenneth attended a prestigious secondary school but had to drop out early because of World War II. His lack of a formal education was not an excuse for him; instead, he took pride in the fact that despite of little formal schooling, he kept up with his studies and took advantage of any learning opportunities. He worked as a customs officer for a number of years but found his true calling in the retail/garment industry. Kenneth was a buyer for a British department store, Dodwell, in Hong Kong from the 1960s to 1980s. After retiring from Dodwell, Kenneth founded his own garment- manufacturing firm, Golbon International, specializing in jeans and men's shirts. His clients, amongst others, included Levis, Guess, Montgomery Ward and Walmart. He ran a successful business until his retirement in 1993. Kenneth met his wife Ling Chu at an all-night card game hosted by her brother. He seized the opportunity of accompanying Ling Chu to work in morning and the rest, as they say, was history. He became a father at the tender age of 22 and later a grandfather at 44. He was a loving husband and father who provided for his family. As a grandfather, he was indulgent of the grandchildren, rarely denying any requests. It has been said that the true measure of a man is by what he does. What Kenneth Pak Ho Patrick Lai had done for his family, friends and others are immeasurable, he will be sorely missed.

Kenneth P.

November 29, 1922 - May 16, 2012