Saturday, October 16, 1999
Cancer kills Cincinnati policeman
BY PERRY BROTHERS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Retired Cincinnati Police Sgt. Steven Wong lost his two-year battle with cancer Thursday. He was 45.
Sgt. Wong faced the disease with the same courage, bravery and dedication he showed during his 25-year career with the police division, his family and former colleagues said.
“He'll be missed extremely by everyone,” said Cincinnati Police Lt. Col. Richard Biehl. “I don't think I've ever known anyone who was so universally liked in the police division. ... It was remarkable, his ability to communicate with people.”
Pages of commendations filled Sgt. Wong's personnel file, ranging from praise for his dedication and professionalism to notes of thanks from the public for community service work.
“He really was a shining example to anyone who would be drawn to public service of how it should be done,” Col. Biehl said, adding that Sgt. Wong excelled even with the additional pressure of being Cincinnati's first Asian-American police officer.
“Steve met those challenges and overcame them with tremendous grace,” he said.
The state of Ohio and the city of Cincinnati each granted official commendations for the former officer's work. After his diagnosis, fellow officers banded together to contribute a month's worth of sick leave and held fund-raisers to help Sgt. Wong and his family pay for treatment.
Sgt. Wong worked for more than a year until his condition forced him into medical retirement in February.
After his diagnosis, he and his wife of almost 15 years, Christy (Stath) Wong, worked to support Cancer Family Care, a service to aid cancer patients and family members.
Mrs. Wong wants her husband to be remembered for his public service, his community service and his dedication to his family.
“He's the bravest man I ever met — the most courageous and considerate,” Mrs. Wong said Thursday at the couple's Green Township home.
Sgt. Wong also is survived by two sons: Jared, 13, and Brent, 8; a sister, Barbara Wong, of San Francisco; his parents, Tom and Anna Wong, and his mother-in-law, Christine Stath.
Visitation will be held Monday at Our Lady of Visitation Church, 3172 South Road from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Fraternal Order of Police will hold a service for Sgt. Wong during the visitation at 6 p.m.
A memorial Mass will be held at the church immediately after the visitation.
Donations may be made to the Wong Children's Trust Fund, c/o Cincinnati Police Federal Credit Union, 959 W. Eighth St., Suite 101, Cincinnati 45203-9903.
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