Director's Council of Public Representatives

In Memoriam

James S. Wong, Ph.D., 54

We are sorry to announce that COPR member Dr. James S. Wong died Feb. 6, 2010, in California.

Dr. Wong joined the Council in 2008 and worked with fellow COPR members on the Communications Working Group.

Dr. Wong had a lifetime fascination with the application of technology to improving people’s lives. A specialist in the data storage industry, he worked in product development at Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. He received his doctorate in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and held two U.S. patents in optical data storage and photolithography.

A congenital heart disease survivor, Dr. Wong was also active on the board of directors of the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA), helping launch a national disease registry. He served as vice president, board chair, and Internet committee chair during a time of significant growth for the association. Dr. Wong was also an avid skier and golfer, and had a passion for outdoor photography.

Despite a fight against thyroid cancer that lasted many months, Dr. Wong remained an active member of COPR and kept in close touch with his fellow Council members. Dr. Wong is remembered by his COPR colleagues and many others in the NIH community for his commitment, wisdom, curiosity, and his kind and generous spirit. He will be greatly missed.