Obituary of Richard P. Kong

Richard Kong, 81, of Needham, MA, passed away on September 20, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.

Richard was born in Taishan, Guandong Province in China. He had 6 siblings. He immigrated to the United States in the late 1960’s from China to pursue the “American Dream”.

Richard was a charismatic and self-motivated man, and a savvy business person. With the support of his family and wife, Elaine, he quickly launched his career as a restauranteur opening multiple restaurants in Massachusetts. They would go on to expand their food businesses to include a wholesale company called Universal Food Specialties serving the New England area. Richard soon moved into real estate development and other investments.

Richard’s crowning achievement is that he is credited with “bringing Chinatown across the street” into the Leather District, which expanded the footprint of Chinatown for the Chinese community starting in the 1990s in Boston, MA. Crossing over what is now John Fitzgerald Surface Road, and across from the Chinatown Gate, Richard’s establishments in the Leather District side of Chinatown, specifically on Lincoln Street, provided an opportunity to many local merchants and others. These included his own businesses, Mei Tung Supermarket, Best Bar B Que Kitchen, Double Rich Bakery, a beauty salon and more. Recognizably to the local Chinese community and beyond, this area most recently was where the grand Hei La Moon Restaurant and large C-Mart were located. These businesses were established on areas he developed for over thirty years.

Richard supported the development of Chinese American commerce and participated in many charitable causes, extending his resources for the betterment of the Chinatown neighborhood. As part of the National Soo Yuen Benevolent Association since the 1980s, he held the position of National Advisor and was a founding member of the Boston Chapter. He also co-founded the Asian American Bank, which was the first locally-owned community bank in Chinatown in the late 90s. This was one of the first Asian- owned banks in Massachusetts.

Richard Kong is survived by his wife Elaine and his five children, Carol, Amy, Karlyn, Patricia, and Richard Jr; one grand-daughter, Amelia; sibling Susan Tow and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. The public viewing will be held on Thursday, September 26th, 5-8 pm, at Wing Fook Funeral Home. Friends and family of Richard are also respectfully invited to attend funeral services on Friday, September 27th, 9–11 am at Wing Fook Funeral Home, immediately followed by a procession and burial at Forest Hills Cemetery. Wing Fook Funeral Home is located at 13 Gerard Street in Boston, MA 02119.

Charitable donations can be made in his name to the Soo Yuen Benevolent Association, 61 Harvard St. Boston, MA 02111.