Robert Hung Ngai Ho ’56, H’11
I write to announce with great sadness the passing of Robert Hung Ngai Ho, a member of the Colgate Class of 1956, recipient of an honorary degree from the University in 2011, former trustee, member of the Order of Canada, and recipient of the Order of British Columbia. Mr. Ho was also, of course, one of Colgate’s greatest philanthropic supporters whose gifts touched nearly every aspect of the University, with particular effect on our academic mission.
Mr. Ho arrived at Colgate in 1952, where he studied English and History, played soccer and tennis, and was a member of Sigma Chi. He then attended Columbia Journalism School, where he earned his master’s degree. Mr. Ho’s family published the Kung Sheung Daily Press, a Chinese-language newspaper group in Hong Kong, where he began his career. After serving as National Geographic’s White House correspondent and covering the United Nations as a freelance writer, he returned to his family’s business. Mr. Ho helped his father run the company until 1984.
In the decades that followed, Mr. Ho moved to West Vancouver, B.C., where he continued to manage his family’s financial affairs. He also served on the Colgate Board of Trustees from 1996 to 1999, but he continued to provide insight, support, and wisdom for decades after he earned his emeritus title.
Mr. Ho built a stunning legacy of philanthropy. Among his many gifts to Colgate, he established an endowment to fund Colgate’s China Study Group, funded an endowed professorship in Asian studies, and supported a renovation of Lawrence Hall. He provided the lead gift of $27 million to fund the Robert H.N. Ho Science Center, which opened in 2007 and was named in his honor. The facility includes the Ho Tung Visualization Lab to recognize his grandfather Sir Robert Ho Tung. The “Year of Chinese Art” in the 2008–09 academic year was funded by Mr. Ho and featured exhibitions of modern Chinese woodblock print art, installation art, lectures, performances, and curricular programming. He also facilitated a 2008 visit by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In 2016, after his 60th Reunion, Mr. Ho supported an important upgrade for the Ho Tung Visualization Lab. A more recent example of his vision and philanthropy was his gift of $15 million for the Robert H.N. Ho Mind, Brain, and Behavior Center and the related initiative that bears his name.
Mr. Ho received a Maroon Citation in 2001 and the Wm. Brian Little Award for Distinguished Service in 2016. His deep and continued interests in science and spirituality were a perfect illustration of the power of a liberal arts education and how it could inform a lifetime of inquiry and exploration.
An elegant and inquisitive man, Mr. Ho remained deeply interested in the state of affairs of Colgate for many years, even well after his term of service on the Board ended. On every trip I made to Vancouver, I was greeted with waves of questions about the University, always with a particular interest in Colgate’s academic reach and reputation. He was unfailingly gracious during these visits and always looking for ways to help deepen and strengthen the academic mission of Colgate. In what became nearly a ritual, he would often send short, observant emails after he finished reading the latest issue of Colgate Magazine. I would write my regular columns in the magazine, knowing that Bob would read, carefully, every word.
I must also note his profound dedication to and support of the medical, cultural, and other institutions of his beloved adopted homeland of Canada and the province of British Columbia. He loved his city of Vancouver, and one can see the impact he had on that city when visiting its museums, arts centers, and medical facilities. His philanthropy was a form of service for him, and a way that connected him to people, to his city, and to his University.
His dedication to his alma mater and the impact of his philanthropic support will be felt for generations to come. Below is the obituary provided by his family.
Sincerely,
Brian W. Casey
President
In Memoriam: Robert Hung Ngai Ho ’56, H’11
Mr. Robert Hung Ngai Ho ’56, H’11, C.M., O.B.C., philanthropist, patron of contemporary Buddhism, newspaper journalist and editor, son of General Ho Shai Lai and grandson of Sir Robert Ho Tung, passed away peacefully in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 30, 2025, at the age of 93.
Mr. Ho was born in Hong Kong. His early years there were interrupted by the war, and he spent several years in south-western China. After the war, Mr. Ho returned to Hong Kong to complete his secondary school education at Lingnam University. He then furthered his studies at Colgate University and at Columbia Journalism School.
Mr. Ho returned to Hong Kong to be involved in various businesses. However, his callings were in journalism and serving society. As a journalist, he led the Kung Sheung daily and evening newspapers and served as chairman of the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong, with an agenda for global exchange and social responsibility in journalism. During this time, he was also chairman of The Community Chest of Hong Kong and Tung Lin Kok Yuen Hong Kong and a trustee of Lingnam University. Later on in life, he established Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada, the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation, and the online journal Buddhistdoor Global.
Continuing the legacy of his family’s philanthropy and guided by one of his mottos, “Before you can receive, you must learn to give,” Mr. Ho’s philanthropic work through his foundation focused on two areas: Buddhism and cultural heritage. With Buddhism, it was to make relevant Buddhist wisdom and practice to contemporary society and life, supporting Buddhist studies at various universities in Hong Kong and North America. On the cultural side, it was bringing Chinese arts to Western audiences, sponsoring exhibitions and cultural events worldwide.
In Vancouver, where he resided for more than 30 years, Mr. Ho gave generously to the Vancouver General and the Lions Gate hospitals, supporting medical research, mental health services, professional development, and palliative care programs.
Another of Mr. Ho’s mottos, “When drinking water, remember its source,” inspired his many donations to his alma mater, Colgate University, including the school’s state-of-the-art Robert H.N. Ho Science Center, with its Ho Tung Visualization Laboratory, and the Robert H.N. Ho Mind, Brain, and Behavior Center — home of the Robert Hung Ngai Ho Mind, Brain, and Behavior Initiative. Among his many other contributions to the physical and intellectual landscape of Colgate are an endowed chair in Asian studies, an endowment to support the China Study Group, and the Robert H.N. Ho Lecture Room in Lawrence Hall.
Mr. Ho was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Hong Kong government. He was awarded honorary degrees from universities in Hong Kong, the United States, and Canada. His contribution to Canada was recognized through his appointment to the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada. He was deeply respected by his fellow citizens, and the impact of his work will continue to reverberate across generations. He will be sorely missed by his friends and family.
Mr. Ho is survived by his wife, Greta; his children, Robert and Kevin; his daughter-in-law, Raquel; and his five grandchildren, Robert Damian, Lachlan, Kiara, Madeleine, and Theodore.