Remembering Alfred M.K. Wong ’64: A Legacy of Leadership and Generosity

Alfred M.K. Wong ’64, a steadfast champion of UC Law SF, worked tirelessly to support students, foster alumni connections, and ensure a strong future for legal education. His legacy of leadership and generosity will endure for generations.

UC Law San Francisco honors the life and work of Alfred M.K. Wong ’64, a devoted alumnus who left an indelible mark on the College and the Hawaiian legal community. Wong passed away in Honolulu on Feb. 2, leaving behind a legacy of service, leadership, and unwavering support for his alma mater.

A strong advocate for legal education, Wong spearheaded multiple campaigns to benefit law students and helped shape UC Law SF for future generations. His fundraising efforts and deep commitment to alumni engagement earned him the Alumnus of the Year award in 1997.

Chancellor & Dean David Faigman expressed deep sadness over Wong’s passing, calling him “an extraordinary lawyer and devoted alumnus” who was widely respected for his professional and personal achievements.

“He was someone that you could always count on for his good judgment and his enthusiastic support for his beloved alma mater,” Faigman said. “I feel so fortunate to have gotten to know him over the years. One of the highlights of being dean has been my getting to know all the Hawaii alumni, and Al in particular. He was a true gentleman and a good friend. He will be deeply missed.”

Wong attended UC Law SF at a time when Hawaii had no law school and the College, then known as UC Hastings, offered in-state tuitions to Hawaiian students. This made UC Law SF a natural choice for many aspiring attorneys from the islands, creating a strong bond between Hawaii and the College that continues to this day.

Dedicated to alumni engagement, Wong was a member of the College’s Foundation Board of Trustees, the Alumni Association’s Board of Governors, and active in the Hawaii Alumni Chapter.

He served as national chair of UC Law SF’s 1993-94 Annual Campaign, which led to record-breaking fundraising success. He was also instrumental in the Class of 1964 Scholarship Fund, raising over $60,000 to support future students.

His commitment to students went beyond fundraising. He also personally advised incoming students, encouraging them to pursue careers that brought them joy and fulfillment.

“No matter what your goals, you must give something back to the community,” he said in 1997. “You must contribute your talent and energy to the welfare of the entire community.”

In Hawaii, Wong was a pillar of the legal profession, serving as managing director of Takushi Funaki Wong & Stone, chair of the Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission, and a leader on multiple committees of the Hawaii Bar Association.

His passion for service extended to civic organizations as well. He was deeply involved with the Girl Scout Council of Hawaii, Maryknoll Schools of Hawaii, and other groups dedicated to strengthening the community.

Professor Emeritus Leo Martinez ’78 reflected on Wong’s extraordinary devotion, noting his long-time service as a trustee of the UC Law SF Foundation, a board on which he also encouraged his son Peter Wong, a 1993 graduate of UC Law SF, to serve.

“Al Wong was a leader in the Hawaii State Bar, among his law school classmates, and in most of his endeavors,” Martinez said. “His work for UC Law embodied the Hawaiian spirit of Ohana – deep caring and loyalty to family. I was privileged to know him for nearly 30 years and to count him among my friends. I will miss him dearly.”