Paul Wen Wong

Dr. Paul Wong, 58, born August 28, 1961 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan (Canada), passed away unexpectedly on October 19, 2019 in Decatur, Georgia.

Paul was a kind and gentle man who enjoyed his family and friends. He liked learning and loved school. He especially enjoyed his career as a researcher and professor. Paul received both his B.Sc with honors and his M.Sc. from the University of Manitoba. He completed a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Ottawa. Paul spent nearly 40 years advancing through the academic ranks, publishing dozens of scientific journal articles, book chapters and contributing extensively to his field. This included 5 years at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda which secured him the Reunette Harris Professorship of Opthalmology in Emory University’s Faculty of Medicine.

His life’s work was to understand the mechanism of retinal degeneration as well as other model systems of tissue involution. His research interests included human retinal disease, models of retinal disease, and retinal and fovea gene expression. His studies merged retinal biology, bioinformatics, genetic analysis, and molecular technologies.
Although an accomplished scientist, Paul was a relatable and humble man.

He led a simple life and surrounded himself with the people and things he loved. Paul was predeceased by his father, Wen, and mother, Jun. He is survived by his brother Peter Wong and sister in law Jeannie Wong.

Memorial and celebration of life service will be held at A.S Turner & Sons on Sunday October 27, 2019 at 2pm. 2773 North Decatur Road. Decatur, GA 30033.