Occupation: I am a physician and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Danbury Hospital. I have been with Danbury Hospital for 16 years. Previously, I was on the staff at Montreal Children’s Hospital. I completed my undergraduate and medical school requirements at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. My undergraduate degree was in biochemistry. My post graduate residency was completed at the University of Minnesota Hospital.

How Long in Newtown: I have been a resident of Newtown for 16 years. Prior to that, I was in Montreal for 11 years. I was born in Hong Kong and lived for several years in Canada.

Biggest Change Seen in Town: The growth in residential properties, business development, and institutions. It was pretty quiet when I came here. There are all new houses around us.

Family: My wife, Margaret, and I have been married for 33 years. We have three sons. Jay, 29, is in his second year residency in pediatrics at Stoneybrooke Hospital in Long Island. He is married to Cindy, who is a physical therapist at St Charles Hospital. Derek, 26, is doing his residency in internal medicine at the UCLA Medical Center. Christopher, 23, graduated from the University of Connecticut at Storrs with a fine arts degree. He is a tenor and works part time in Norwalk at the Episcopal Church.

Pets: I have a dog, Flash, who is ten years old. I also inherited five fish from my son who is in California.

Hobbies: I enjoy gardening on weekends and the pleasure of watching how things grow. Working in nature is incomparable. I enjoy  house plants and grow a lot of orchids. I also enjoy baking and making desserts.

Favorite Books and Authors: I read mostly medical journals. I do read when I travel, and enjoy books by Dame Agatha Christie, P.D. James, and Dorothy Sayers. I still like the old classics, such as Charles Dickens.

Favorite TV Show: Keeping Up Appearances and All in the Family. I also enjoy programs about nature, mini-series, and Masterpiece Theatre.

Organizations: I have been the attending pediatrician for the Well Child Clinic for eight years. I also work with the Discovery science workshops sponsored by the Newtown Junior Women’s Club and the Board of Education. I am a member of the board of directors of Dream Come True. I am very committed to this. I also volunteer with Family Voices, an advocacy group. I am the health advisor to New Fairfield schools.

Most Vivid Memory of Newtown: The people. The environment. It’s peaceful and quiet. The amenities are here. The flagpole. This community is one of the greatest communities. It has a heritage and traditions that don’t change. Other things are changing, but that’s good. I call this town home in that my children grew up here.

Favorite Vacation Spot: Montreal. The southern part of Ontario. This was my stomping ground for many years. The Thousand Islands.

Personal Philosophy: Children are our future. There is no higher priority than to nourish, love, and nurture our children. When children do well, we are assured of our own wellness. We are all parents directly or indirectly. Sensory experiences mold the behavior of children. With time spent between a child and his/her biological parents being a minor portion of a day, it is time to understand that “it takes a village to raise a child.” As villagers, we must accept this responsibility with commitment and cognizance. Fulfillment, happiness, and contentment are built on the foundation of peaceful interactions, pride in loved ones, eternal optimism, indefatigable spirit, and positive outlooks. One should be kind to oneself, love one’s family, contribute to one’s community, be patriotic to our nation, and care about the world. When it comes to greatness, winning and losing are not important because admirable heroes are the ones who exceed their own potentials with tenacity and determination.

SNAPSHOT

WITH PHOTOGRAPH

DR JACK S.C. FONG