By Cynthia Koons
He spent thousands of dollars each year to transport children suffering from congenital heart disease from China to Flushing for top-quality medical treatment.
Few knew the extent of the Chase Bank branch manager’s kindness, but those closely associated with Vincent Tsang said they would remember him for being the consummate gentleman.
Tsang, an 18-year member of the Flushing Rotary Club and longtime branch manager of the Chase Bank on Main Street in Flushing, died last weekend after suffering from cancer for less than a year. His funeral was held Tuesday.
“He was the bridge for more than 20 years between the community and Chase,” said Fred Fu, president of the Flushing Chinese Business Association. “Within the past few years, he’s given an example for the community.”
Fu said Tsang made Chase Bank a contributor to the community through his effort to lend help to others.
“Chase Bank is usually just a bank, but through Vincent Tsang they contribute to the community,” Fu said.
Of all his Rotarian activities, Tsang was most known for his involvement with the Gift of Life program. The initiative, designed to bring overseas children to the United States for costly medical care, was tailored to the Flushing community when Tsang launched a program for Chinese children.
“He would take care of the kids because the parents didn’t speak English,” Fu said. Six children were brought to Flushing annually through this $5,000-a-child initiative — at least one each year was sponsored by Tsang.
“What I said about the $5,000 — nobody knows that. He just did it,” Fu said.
Peter Koo, owner of Starside Drugs on Kissena Boulevard in Flushing, said he became involved in the Rotary Club on Tsang’s insistence.
“He was a devoted member,” Koo said. “He’s very kind to his employees and his friends.”
Koo said he knew Tsang from his personal banking at Chase as well as through Tsang’s involvement with small businesses.
“He always liked to help people in small businesses. He sponsored seminars to teach people how to start small businesses,” Koo said. “He was a very nice guy, very humble. Even though he was in a high position, he didn’t treat people badly.”
Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) said Tsang was one of the first people to contact him after he was elected to office.
“Immediately after I was elected, Vincent came to see me about what he could do to clean up downtown Flushing,” Liu said.
“He was one of the earliest forces pushing for the creation of our (business improvement district),” he said. “It’s truly heart-breaking that we don’t have him anymore.”
Garry Fredrickson, president of the Rotary Club, said the organization plans to memorialize Tsang in a way that would be suitable to his charitable nature.
“He was just a big help, always pleasant and always there to help, which is a big plus in a service organization,” Fredrickson said. “He will definitely be missed.”
Fu said Tsang may no longer be a part of the Flushing community, but the memory of his kindness will endure.
“He lived his life through the community. His life is still here,” Fu said. “That job is not finished, to do the good things he started — that job is never finished.”
Reach reporter Cynthia Koons by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
