TAN, Toning King - (August 2, 1948 – April 28, 2021) - Toning passed away on April 28, 2021, after a long battle with brain cancer and a rare form of dementia.
He received palliative care and passed peacefully at home with the company of his wife, Brenda Tan, and his three daughters: Heidi Whewell, Samantha Tan, and Kristina Alister.
He was born in Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines and later moved to Manila with his family where he graduated with honours from UNO High School in 1965. In 1971, Toning received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and began a career in printing. In March 1979, carrying one small suitcase, Toning immigrated to Toronto, Canada.
Loo Bin Koo and Zarah Ong were two friends who helped him settle into a Canadian way of life. Zarah organized a get together in a China Town restaurant with friends, including Brenda Myland, and it was love at first sight! Three months later, Toning and Brenda were married in the Myland’s back garden.
Toning had 7 siblings: Ramon, Ben, Shirley, William, Leon; and 2 surviving brothers: Samson and wife Jennie and daughters Naomi and Nonnie in Taipei, and brother George living in the Philippines. In 2010 Toning traveled with his brother Samson back to the Philippines to reunite with aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He enjoyed giving back to the Filipino community both while in Philippines and in Canada. Toning, a proud Chinese Filipino Canadian and member of the Federation of Chinese Filipinos of Ontario (FPCO), enjoyed bringing his family to celebrate the Federation’s Christmas and Lunar New Year events.
Toning worked at University of Toronto Printing Press and valued education and supported all his 3 daughters through schooling and their professional careers. Toning was a loving husband and worked hard to provide the best for his family. He was a devoted father to his three beautiful daughters whom he lovingly called “honey-ko”. He would teach them Chinese values, such as respecting each other.
When anyone came to the house, Toning would always make sure they had something to eat especially when we had large get-togethers with the whole family including his son-in-laws, Matthew, Christopher and Sassan, as well as when Joyce, Terry, Keoki, and Kane visited from North Carolina. Toning was a loving Lolo (grandfather) for Nolan, 7; Juliette, 4 and Loralei, 2.
A great man sums up the generous, giving, and compassionate spirit of Toning:
"The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving."
~ Albert Einstein ~
Arrangements entrusted with Ogden funeral home.
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