City Council
•i' "s May 26th, 2021
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Bcrnarda "Bcmic" Wong has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 77 to her eternal reward; and ' y;,
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her passing by the Honorable Patrick D. Thompson, Alderman of the 11th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Bcrnarda S. Wong. Bclovcd wife ofthe late Albert; loving mother of Jacinta; ".cherished grandmother of Tinana Wong andMatthew Reddix; devoted daughter of the Jate Jorge and the late Virgina; dear sister of Albert Lo,-William Lo, Emanuel Thomas Lo, the late George Lo, the late Charles Lo, and the late Fillis Joe: and ^
WHEREAS, Bernarda "Bemie" Wong wasiborn and raised in Hong Kong and came to the United States in 1962 to get her degree in social work from Blair Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa; and
WHEREAS", Bernarda "Bernie" Wong completed her master's degree in social work from
Washington University iirSt. Louis in 1968; and ■*■ „:. ,
WHEREAS, Bcrnarda "Bcmic" Wong worked as a social worker in Chicago's Chinatown
community; and * :" •
WHEREAS, Bcrnarda "Bemie" Wong and a small group of dedicated Chinese American friends came together to bridge the gap in services for Chinese Americans in Chicago and formed the Chinese American Service League in 1978; and v
WHEREAS, Bcrnarda "Bemic" Wong became President and CEO of the Chinese American Service League; and V 2
WHEREAS, under die leadcrship of Bcrnarda "Bcmic" Wong, the Chinese American Service League became Ihe largesl, most comprehensive, social service agency in-thc Midwest.dedicatcd lo serving the needs of Chinese Americans; arid
WHEREAS, Bernarda *'Bcmic" Wong was instrumental in growing the Chinese American Service League irilo an organization with 500 multilingual and mullicultural staffers lhat offers vital physical, economic, mental, and social support services; and
-:(: ' City Council
' ' .-V ";<:;;;" : ' ■ - May 26th.2021
WHEREAS, the hard work and dedication of Bernarda "Bcmic" Wong helped numerous
Chinese American Sendee League clients become thriving members of the greater Chicago
community; and H. :v '
WHEREAS, Bcrnarda "Bcmic" Wong was^hc first Asian American appointed to the boards of
United Way of Chicago and the Chicago Publiclibrary; and ; = . ' -
WHEREAS, Bernarda "Bcrnic" Wong chaircdjhc Chicago mayor's advisory council on Asian
alTairs; and " "" ■
WHEREAS, Bcrnarda "Bcmic" Wong was a founding board member of the National Asian
- Pacific Center on Aging and the Chinese Immigrant Scrvicc^Agcncics Network International, a
network of social services organizations; and : - f,
WHEREAS, Bernarda "Bemic" Wong developed relationships with elected officials-including mayors, governors, and presidents to advocate on behalf of the residents of Chicago's Chinese American community and immigrants of all nationalities across Chicago; and , '\
WHEREAS, Bernardsi "Bcmie" Wong was awarded the Champions of Change award by * President Barack Obama and Chicago's Woman's History Month Legacy Award; and
WHEREAS, Her love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Bemie to her family
members, friends and all who knew her, and enabled her to enrich their lives in ways they will
never, forget; now, therefore .f ■
BE IT RESOLVED. That we, the Mayor and members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago gathered here this twenty sixth of May2021, do hereby express our sorrow on the death of Bcrnarda S: Wong and extend to her family and friends our deepest sympathy; arid
Patrick D. Thompson /; Alderman, 11 th Ward V
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to the family of Bcrnarda S. Wong.