PROFILE • THE CHONGS
Every day is Father's Day for this family
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
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But to the Chong brothers, the home with a scenic view of Honolulu is filled with fond childhood memories, almost all of which are connected to their late father.
On this property, Roy K.P. Chong raised two sons and a daughter to aspire, achieve and appreciate — lessons they haven't forgotten, even after his death at age 81 three years ago.
The long-time O'ahu Interscholastic Association football officiating commissioner died from complications of a stroke.
The void is still there, despite the new walls and furniture in the house now owned by his youngest son, Armand.
"He was the pillar of our family from day one," said Elroy Chong, 50. "Not a day goes by that I don't think of Dad."
Sunday — Father's Day — marks the third anniversary of his passing.
The Chong brothers, 10 years apart, followed in their father's athletic footsteps. Both were standout football players at Iolani School who went on to play in college and earned degrees on athletic scholarships.
Roy Chong played football for The Rev. Kenneth Bray, and earned outstanding athlete honors when he graduated from Iolani in 1937. But a partial scholarship to Northwestern University wasn't enough, and he was forced to abandon his dreams of college. He worked at various jobs before becoming a managing trustee for Aina Kihei Development, from where he retired in 1990.
That was a defining moment for Chong, who taught his children to appreciate education, to work hard, to make something of themselves.
Elroy was an all-star quarterback at Iolani in the late 1960s, earning a scholarship to Montana. He later returned to play for the University of Hawai'i from 1971-72 under head coach Larry Price.
Ten years later, Armand earned all-star honors as a receiver at Iolani. He played for Oregon State before going to graduate school in dentistry.
Elroy coached the offensive line at Iolani for 10 years and at Farrington for three; Armand has been coaching Iolani's receivers for the past 11 years.
Just like their father, both sons gave back to the sport — and their school — in whatever way they could.
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| Roy Chong's sons — Elroy, left, and Armand, seated with daughter-in-law Cathy and Roy's wife, Elizabeth, in front of a photo of their late father — say their dad taught them as much about life as sports. All three men were star athletes at Iolani School.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser |
But what they fondly remember isn't the awards or the trophies or the scrapbooks their parents kept. They recall the afternoons spent in the backyard throwing baseballs or playing football in the street. They remember how their dad never missed a single practice, much less a game. Those intimate father-and-son moments are what they carry with them.
"Success wasn't just scoring touchdowns or getting awards or making all-stars," said Armand, 40. "It's about being a good person and being kind to others. That's what Dad taught us."
While athletics was what the Chong family was known for, it didn't define them.
Roy Chong urged his children to carve their own paths, to find a passion and pursue it.
Daughter Arlene Lee, 60, is a nurse with the Department of Health. Elroy Chong runs his own practice as a physical therapist in Liliha. And Armand Chong is a dentist in Kaimuki.
"Dad encouraged us to get into a profession of our own," said Elroy, who used to call his dad every day for advice. "It was more than just sports."
Devout Catholics, Roy and wife Elizabeth, raised their children in the faith. Although they've found their own ways to worship — Elroy is studying to be a Jehovah's Witness, Armand is Catholic and Elizabeth a Mormon — they have learned the importance of and need for a spiritual balance in their lives.
"He always looked at the big picture," Armand said. "Always."
Both sons have a lot of their dad in them.
All three children love to golf. They admit they're grouchy. And, like their dad, they finish meals before everyone else.
"We always laugh about that," Armand said.
They respected their father's straight-forward attitude, his strict-but-fair policy, his intolerance for disorganization and tardiness.
Elroy is always five minutes early to every appointment, and Armand prides himself on being organized and dedicated.
Just like Dad.
"I see him in all of them," said Elizabeth, 82, who works part time in Elroy's office. "They've made something out of their lives. He was proud that we have such a good, happy family."
Chong never spoiled his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He never favored one son over the other. His only failing was focusing more on his sons than his daughter, to whom he apologized after he suffered the stroke.
"Dad was fair all the way around," said Elroy, who said he was just as strict on his three kids. "Hopefully, somewhere down the road, my kids will get it, too."
Ironically, none of Chong's grandchildren are heavily involved in sports — Elroy's son gave up football and Armand's twin daughters are just starting to play basketball.
They never pushed their children into sports, focusing more on passing down lessons about respect, faith, dedication and hard work that they learned from their father.
"There's not a day that goes by we don't think about Dad," Armand said, gazing out the picture windows that frame a postcard-view of the city. "We wouldn't be where we are today if it weren't for our father."
