911³Ô¹Ï

With deep sadness, we honour the life and legacy of Leonard Thong, a cherished colleague, friend, and longstanding member of the Faculty of Education community at 911³Ô¹Ï.

For more than 22 years, Leonard contributed to the life of our Faculty not only through his dedicated work, but through the kindness, humility, patience, and care he brought to every interaction. He was a steady and trusted presence whose thoughtful approach and genuine compassion left a lasting impact on colleagues, students, and community members across our campuses and throughout the broader 911³Ô¹Ï community.

Leonard will be remembered not only for his immense professional contributions, but for the relationships he built and the quiet ways he supported and uplifted those around him. He carried himself with integrity, generosity, and grace, and his presence helped shape our Faculty community in countless meaningful ways.

His passing is a tremendous loss, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.

This page has been created as a space to honour Leonard’s life, contributions, and the many memories shared by those whose lives he touched.

If you have a story or photo of Leonard that you would like to share, please submit it to educcomm@sfu.ca.

Elegy for Leonard Thong

You were often the first
one I spoke to
I would go into your office
a cave like den next to mine
we chatted about our tasks
or what we held dear.

Between operations, numbers and projections
the comings and goings of the Faculty of Education
in your quiet way,
you wove brilliance.

You, Leonard, master of finances and nuances
seemed to know the answer to anything anyone would ask
no matter the question
you never hesitated to respond
I’d tease you and say we needed a t-shirt
"Ask Leonard!"

Most of all
you embodied a thoughtfulness
that is unforgettable
leaving us tenderhearted.

A legacy of kindness–
a lesson for life
only you could give.

We remain in gratitude for you.

Celeste Nazeli Snowber
May 11, 2026

Leonard helped make Surrey Campus faculty and staff feel welcome. He was key to us building a sense of community on this campus. Steadfast, always kind and generous with his know-how, we counted on Leonard. Many of us joked about needing t-shirts that said "What would Leonard do?"

Leonard was eternally kind, always helpful and patient. He was systems savvy—able to trouble-shoot problems from minute to massive.

He was humble and generous, very willing to take on simple helpful tasks while also being superbly competent and adept at handling complex problems.

I remember David Paterson sharing how vital the annual enrollments projections are to the success and sustainability of the Faculty of Education. Fail to meet projections, and funds get taken back. Exceed projections, and no additional funds are available. Precision is key. David admitted that most people could not understand the intricacies of the system. Beaming with clear admiration, David shared that Leonard understood better than anyone and excelled at these projections.

The Counselling Program holds enormous admiration and gratitude for Leonard’s work in bringing the Surrey Community Counselling Centre into being. He liaised among Campus facilities, administration and the counselling program to help us create a purpose build counselling centre that both serves as a training centre for graduate students while also offering counselling to the local community. From design phase right through to the clinic opening in 2020, Leonard was dedicated to the project. When we had to "pivot" to remote delivery during the Pandemic, Leonard worked closely with clinic director, Patricia Nitkin, to navigate the complex and changing tech and safety needs. Where others might give up or cut corners, Leonard was deeply committed to ensuring we had what we needed to run the clinic safely.

I think his loyalty stemmed from his deep alignment with the mission of the Faculty and University. He believed wholeheartedly in value of public education and the power of learning.

We feel his absence through out the day and all along the hallways.

- Sharalyn Jordan

I valued Leonard as a person and colleague so much, I am certain that anyone who knew him did as well. He has been at 911³Ô¹Ï as long as I can remember. I am so glad he won the service award a few years ago—he hated the attention, but honestly no one deserved it more. He was the go-to person for any "issue" (our last conversation was about the mice in my office—he verified "yep, that's mouse poop") but also the daily welcome...Little ritual—as I would leave my office on the way to put stuff in the fridge, Leonard's door always open...I'd say "Morning Leoonard!" (heavy on the mooorn-ing) and I'd always get the same silly reply "Mooooooorning Gillian!" His absence leaves a giant hole in our Surrey community. My heart breaks for his family.

- Gillian Judson