Hector R. Wong, 58, of Cincinnati, passed away unexpectedly on January 23, 2022.

He was born on March 6, 1963,

in Havana, Cuba, and immigrated to the United States in 1968. Hector was very proud of his family’s journey from
Cuba and becoming US citizens who pursued and achieved the American dream.

While growing up in Linden, New Jersey, Hector was part of a three-time state champion high school baseball
team, and then subsequently played Division I baseball while attending Bucknell University. He decided on a
career in medicine and attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson
Medical School, completed his residency in pediatrics at Children’s National Medical Center/George Washington
University, and his pediatric critical care fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh/UPMC.

Hector began his faculty career in pediatric critical care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 1995 where he spent his
career caring for patients and their families. He was also known as a brilliant scientist, mentor, and leader who
dedicated his career to pediatric critical care research and fighting pediatric sepsis. His efforts in both the clinical
and research realms have saved the lives of many children. Hector served as the Division Director of Pediatric
Critical Care from 1998 until 2020 and the Vice Chair of Pediatrics since 2020.

Personally, Hector was a man of few words, so when he spoke, people listened. He believed that words mattered,
but actions mattered more. As a leader, he chose to lead by example and never shied away from hard work or
personal responsibility. He empowered others to achieve their own personal bests. Having a second-degree black
belt in Aikido, Hector was not only a wise sensei, but also had the uncanny ability to inject calm into almost any
chaotic situation. A favorite saying of his leadership colleagues was “Stay calm and call Hector”. He was generous
with his time to any who needed it and mentored countless physicians as residents, fellows, and faculty both
clinically and in their research endeavors. Undoubtedly, his favorite mentees have been the baseball players that
he coached, particularly his summer team, the Dragoons.

Underneath his quiet exterior, Hector was also a man of many passions who loved his family dearly and his hobbies
of fly fishing, working on his property in the mountains of North Carolina, and of course, baseball. Hector’s death
has left an immeasurable void in the lives of so many who knew him both personally and professionally, but his is
the definition of a life well-lived. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Sue Poynter; their collective children
Caroline, Maddy, Ellie, and Max; and his parents, Raul and Mercedes Wong.

A memorial service will be held at 3 pm, Sunday, March 6th at Spring Grove Funeral Home (4389 Spring Grove Ave)
with visitation beginning at 1 pm.

Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to:

• Ronald McDonald House (view additional guidance for online or mailed donations)
• Reds Urban Youth Baseball League (view additional guidance for mailed, phone, or online donations;
please choose “Reds Youth Urban League” when prompted to select a program)
• Cincinnati Children's Hector Wong Fund — supports Critical Care research and training as well as
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (please select "Other" under Additional Information and indicate gift is for
the "Hector Wong Fund")

Online condolences may be made at www.springgrove.org