Celebration of Life – Aaron Kok Chew Tang
Thank you for joining us on December 12, 2025 to Celebrate the Magic, Music, Dance & Light of Aaron Kok-Chew Tang (October 22, 1935 – October 28, 2025)
Dear family and friends,
Thank you to everyone who joined us — in person and online — for our father Aaron Kok Chew Tang’s Celebration of Life on December 12th, and to those who were unable to attend but held us in thought and spirit.
| Selina’s YouTube Playlist + Memories of a Two Week Old | Robert’s YouTube Playlist + Death Compressed into 11 Symbols & Other Research Articles |
The day was filled with so many moments that reflected who Dad was: quiet humour, curiosity, magic, music, movement, stories, and the simple joy of being together. Seeing people from different chapters of his life — family, friends, neighbours, and community — reminded us how wide and meaningful his circle was.
We each carry Dad in our own way. We share many memories, and we also each hold individual moments that shaped us — moments of laughter, learning, patience, and care. Together, those shared and personal memories form a fuller picture of the man he was and the life he lived.
To honour that, we each created a YouTube playlist as a personal reflection — different in tone, but deeply connected in spirit. Click for Selina’s Playlist, and Robert’s Playlist.
These are not meant to capture everything, but rather to offer a glimpse into how Dad lives on in us, through music, images, and moments that continue to surface.
We invite you to watch or listen in your own time, and to remember Dad in whatever way feels right for you.
As we move forward, we are also carrying something that emerged naturally from the gathering — a shared sense of connection, continuity, and the beauty of passing things.
This has inspired what Robert calls The Sakura Project, and a seasonal movement experience called danceFLOW qigong/taichi along with a gentle outdoor gathering in May at Spencer Smith Park beneath the Cherry blossoms.
Spring, in many cultures, marks renewal and impermanence — blossoms that bloom briefly, reminding us to be present, to remember, and to let go with care. These gatherings are offered as open, welcoming spaces to move gently, reflect, and share — whether you are remembering a loved one, supporting someone else, or simply wanting to be part of a meaningful seasonal moment. Details will be shared in the Spring, and if you’d like to stay connected or receive an invitation, you’re welcome to sign up here:
Thank you again for being part of Dad’s life, and for being part of ours. Your presence — in any form — has meant more than we can fully express.
With gratitude,
Robert & Selina
| Magic |
| From Malaysia to Canada, Aaron delighted audiences with a sense of wonder — performing magic on Malaysian television, entertaining royalty, and bringing joy wherever he went. His playful spirit and love for creating moments of surprise stayed with him throughout his life. |
| Music & Dance |
| What began with a waltz at his wedding grew into a lifelong rhythm. Aaron danced with his wife Judy, inspired his children, and continued sharing joy through the organ and piano at family gatherings, community events, and quiet moments at home. Music and dance were never just hobbies — they were expressions of his spirit. |
| Photography |
| Aaron saw the world through a lens of appreciation and beauty. As a wedding photographer with his own photography studio, he captured couples at the beginning of their life journey together — preserving their first moments of commitment, love, and hope. Beyond weddings, his camera followed birds in flight, family celebrations, meaningful moments with strangers, and everyday scenes others might have overlooked. Photography was his way of honouring life’s quiet poetry. |