Lawyer Ronald Lou-Poy, who played a major role in shaping the University of Victoria, was a volunteer and fundraiser for numerous charitable groups, and enjoyed bringing people together — “let’s have a dinner,” he often said — has died at age 88.
Lou-Poy had a big influence on “what UVic has become today” with his ability to nurture community connections and create cultural bridges, university president Kevin Hall said in a statement Tuesday marking Lou-Poy’s death. “His passing is a great loss to us,” Hall said. “And it’s also a reminder of the great impact that individuals can have on the world when they commit themselves to making the world a brighter place.
“Ronald Lou-Poy was a shining example of that spirit.”
The prominent Victoria lawyer served two terms as chancellor of the University of Victoria and was on the university’s senate and board of governors. With his family, he supported the creation of the Harry Lou-Poy Infant and Toddler Child Care Centre on campus, named for his father.
Lou-Poy, 88, was a senior partner with Crease Harman LLP and a Queen’s counsel — an honorary designation for contributions to the legal field.
In 2003, he was awarded the Order of Canada for volunteerism, helping such organizations as the Kiwanis Club, the United Way of Greater Victoria, Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.
“He was involved in his church, he was involved in the community, and he and his wife May were huge supporters of the Royal B.C. Museum,” said Bruce Hallsor, his colleague at Crease Harman. “He donated his time and his money generously to a variety of causes.”
Lou-Poy was also a fundraiser for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation and for the rebuilding of the Gate of Harmonious Interest at the entrance to Chinatown.
He received the Leadership Victoria Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Hallsor said Lou-Poy loved his profession and worked into his 70s. “He was very loyal to his clients and they were very loyal to him.”
Lou-Poy came from a pioneering, immigrant family and his grocer father was a stalwart of the area’s early Chinese community.
“Ron was a bright student, a gifted athlete,” Hallsor said.
His sports of choice included soccer and rugby, and he was an avid tennis player — keeping at it until well past 70. He also played golf up until a few years ago, and was a member at Uplands Golf Club.
Lou-Poy studied law at the University of B.C., went on to article at Crease Harman and became a sought-after lawyer, Hallsor said. “He had a stellar legal career.”
Daughter Anne-Marie Lou-Poy-Tasko described him as “a really great father” to her and her brother Patrick. “He was present in everything that we did,” she said. “He was always there but he was always so calm.
“He was light-hearted when we were growing up.”
One thing he loved to do was entertain, Lou-Poy-Tasko said.
“Any occasion he would say: ‘Let’s have a dinner, let’s invite everybody,’ ” she said. “He really wanted to include everybody. Just any occasion he really loved celebrating.”
Lou-Poy-Tasko said her father didn’t say much about the public side of his life, his community involvement and his awards.
“He was really humble,” she said. “But we kind of knew because he would be off at some meeting.”
Lou-Poy-Tasko said her father would occasionally say over the years “Don’t waste your time,” which she has come to realize meant don’t waste your time in not helping others, serving others and donating to others.
“Just get on with it and do it,” she said.
jbell@timescolonist.com
