The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhism and Contemporary Society UBC is saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Robert Hung Ngai Ho, C.M., O.B.C., philanthropist, patron of contemporary Buddhism, newspaper journalist and editor. He passed away peacefully in Vancouver, Canada on November 30, 2025, at the age of 93.
Without his generosity, the Program’s support of teaching, and the amazing work of scholars and community leaders we are able to make available to students, the broader academic and local communities through public events would not be possible. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and to all those whose lives were touched by his work.
In 2006, the generosity of Mr. Robert H. N. Ho and The Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation established the Program in Buddhism and Contemporary Society at UBC. It was the first program devoted to the study of modern and contemporary Buddhism at an institution of higher learning in North America. His gift has supported the learning of thousands of undergraduate students and has brought scholars and community leaders to UBC to share their knowledge through public talks and events, symposia, and academic conferences. His work establishing the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation, the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, and the online journal Buddhistdoor Global, opened new pathways for Buddhist studies and contributed to popular knowledge of Buddhism worldwide. To learn more about Mr. Robert H. N. Ho’s life and work, please see his obituary at the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Society.
In 2014, UBC celebrated the tremendous contributions of Mr. Ho to the Vancouver area and the academy with an honorary degree. The linked video at the bottom of this page records his speech to the graduating students at the Chan Centre. As part of this recognition of his philanthropic and public work, the Program in Buddhism and Contemporary Society was brought under the umbrella of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, gathering together the many initiatives supporting Buddhist studies at prominent universities and scholarships for Buddhist studies, offered through their partnership with the American Council of Learned Societies.
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| In this photo, Mr. Ho and Prof. Jessica L. Main, chair of the UBC Program, stand to each side of a framed work of Chinese calligraphy. The calligraphy reads, “Before you can receive, you must learn how to give” (懂得施 方能受), one of the mottoes that guided Mr. Ho and his family’s philanthropic work and was brushed by well-known calligrapher and former professor and librarian at UBC, Mr. Yim Tse. |
Services and Lieu of Flowers
A private funeral will be held in Vancouver followed by cremation. Buddhist prayer services officiated by Abbot Venerable Tsang Chit will be held at Tung Lin Kok Yuen in Vancouver on December 16, 12:30 pm. This will be followed by a “Celebration of Life” drinks reception at 5PM at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, Canada Place, Vancouver. Buddhist prayer services will also be held in Tung Lin Kok Yuen Hong Kong on December 20, 7 pm. A condolence book will be available at both Tung Lin Kok Yuen in Vancouver and Hong Kong.
Please access this pages to know more information about the services: Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society.
For further information please contact:
Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society, info@tlkycs.ca
Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Hong Kong, info@tlky.org
Robert HN Ho Family Foundation, info@rhfamilyfoundationhk.org
| Speech From Mr. Ho to the graduating students at the Chan Centre, UBC, 2014 |
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