Jean Aiko Nagahiro Wong

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Jean Aiko (Nagahiro) Wong. She was deeply loved and will be truly missed. Jean was dynamite in a small package—gregarious, kindhearted, firm in her beliefs, and loved by many. Jean was born July 15, 1935 in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaiʻi, where she lived a few years before moving to Kauai. One of the highlights of her young life was being selected as a 4-H delegate for the National Convention in Washington, DC, where she met President Harry Truman and presented him with an orchid lei from Hawaiʻi.

After graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi, she sought an advanced degree in dietetics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Jean truly had warm island blood running through her veins, and as she was fond of saying, once she got to Wisconsin she was “never warm again!" On her first day of orientation presented by the Dean, Jean entered the auditorium late, took a seat in the front row, and promptly fell asleep after a long flight from Honolulu to Madison. Sitting a few rows back, her future husband Harry saw her and declared that she was the woman he would marry.

Jean and Harry married in 1958 and soon welcomed four children after Harry completed his anesthesiology residency. They settled in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they enjoyed a loving marriage of 67 years.

Jean had an inner strength that helped her raise the children while Harry worked. As a mother, she was exceptionally engaged in her children’s activities—she suffered through the cold to ski with them and became an avid tennis player after learning to play alongside them. Jean expected excellence and fiercely motivated her children and grandchildren toward academic and professional achievement. Jean’s grandchildren, who she loved to spoil, saw a gentler style of encouragement. She didn’t coddle, but she loved deeply and was steadfast in her support of her family.

Jean was an exceptional cook and hostess. When she entertained, no one left hungry or empty-handed. Her passion for cooking and baking lives on in her children and grandchildren.

A strong believer in education and giving back, Jean was an active participant in many charitable organizations. She was a charter member and served as President of the Assistance League of Salt Lake City. There, her particular passion was a program called Operation School Bell, where she dedicated countless hours to providing local children with clothing and school supplies. She also worked many hours in the Assistance League’s thrift shop and was a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), which uplifts women via educational advancement.

Spirited and outgoing, Jean enjoyed many hobbies and the company of a wide social circle. Her favorite pastimes included tennis, golf, exercise, theater, travel, and playing bridge. She was a member of The Towne Club and Women's Investment Club. Jean had great poise—endlessly dignified, elegant, and stylish. With Harry, she was a member of the Third Saturday Night Dance Club and looked forward to getting dressed up and attending the monthly gatherings together.

Jean and Harry were first-generation children of immigrants from Japan and China. With Jean’s care and guidance, their children grew up with a deep sense of service and embraced professions with a focus on helping others. Jeff is a physician who is an innovator in medical education. Stacey was an educator for over 30 years. Daphne is a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Steve was a clinical social worker.

After retirement, Jean and Harry traveled—and Jean shopped—the world, completing visits to all fifty US states and seven continents.

In her later years, as Alzheimer’s Disease progressed, she remained gracious and kind. She was always the first to break into song at birthdays, and the first to win at Hanafuda, a Japanese card game. Jean’s memory faded, but her love for Harry steadily endured. Harry thanked Jean daily and never missed an opportunity to express—or publicly declare—his adoration for her. We are blessed to have witnessed their remarkable bond. We can’t always do exactly what Jean would, but we will do our best to honor her by continuing to nurture relationships abundant in compassion, laughter, and love.

Jean passed away August 18, 2025 in her home in Salt Lake City, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Harry C. Wong; her four children, Jeff Wong (Lisa Preis), Stacey West (David West), Daphne Wong, Steve Wong (Mary Lou Oland-Wong); her six grandchildren, Caili West, Alex West (Hannah West), Andrew Wong, Natasha Wong, Eva Wong and Kalea Wong; her sister, Janet Ono (Kenneth Ono); her brother, Ken Nagahiro (Gin Nagahiro); and her many wonderful nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Masao and Yoshiko Nagahiro.

Our family would like to thank Jewish Family Services for their incredible support and programming for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease—namely the music and memory program led by Rosemary Quatrale, and The Gleeful Choir led by Emily Christensen. Through these programs, Jean, Harry, and our family found joy and formed lifelong friendships.

We are especially grateful to Liliane Haverstock, Leni Chalegre, Dani Nascimento, and Grazi Drogueti for the exceptional love and care they provided to Jean over the past three years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Gleeful Choir (via Jewish Family Services); Operation School Bell (via Assistance League of Salt Lake City); Nagahiro Family Endowment Scholarship (via Kapaʻa High School Foundation); or a charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00-4:00 on September 27th at Memorial Murray Mortuary, 5850 South 900 East Murray, Utah. Eulogy will be presented at 2:00, when there will be time for others to share memories of Jean.