Mathias Martin Lam passed away on Friday May 14th after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. His passing was peaceful and quiet. He was at home with Daria, his wife of 51 years, by his side. He chose to leave this world on the Feast Day of Saint Matthias, whose name he had chosen as his English name in 1960. Hours earlier his sister, Sr. Mary Olga Lam, M.I.C. (Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception), and her fellow sisters had celebrated a mass in Hong Kong, offered in his name. Mathias was a devout, practicing Catholic who attended church regularly. His faith was extremely important to him. It was the groundwork for how he chose to live his life. Perhaps, in the manner of his departure, he left us a sign that he was at peace and was ready to be free from the Parkinson's disease whose slow and steady grip is as cruel as it is senseless. We are all greatly saddened by this loss, but happy that he is finally at rest, and his spirit is free.
Mathias was born in Guangzhou, China, on July 4th, 1940. His family fled war torn China and settled in Hong Kong, which at the time was a British Protectorate. He received his elementary education from the missionary sisters and then went on to study with the Jesuit fathers at Wah Yan School. He ventured out from Hong Kong at the age of 18. His destination was Montreal. There he pursued undergraduate studies at Loyola University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science. He continued his studies at the McGill University Faculty of Medicine. It was there that he met Daria Bogart, an American student from Manhattan with an interest in Chinese studies and fluency in Mandarin. The two first met at the Newman Center, and through mutual friends at the Chinese Students’ Society. Mathias and Daria married on May 24th, 1969 at St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
Upon graduation from medical school, Mathias continued his training with a rotating internship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, B.C. Following this, the young couple settled in Montreal where Mathias completed three years of residency training in Internal Medicine at the Montreal General hospital. He completed an additional year of residency at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio where he would discover a passion for the new technique of endoscopy. He would go on to pursue two years of fellowship training in Gastroenterology at the Montreal General Hospital.
When Mathias was finally ready to set up his practice, he was drawn to Richland, Washington, a small town in the desert of Eastern Washington state. He became aware of the area through a colleague from the Cleveland Clinic where he had trained. He was enticed by the friendliness and warmth of the people, and at the opportunity of becoming the very first Gastroenterologist to establish a practice in the area. He loved the area, its people, and America. He shared his birthday, July 4th, with his new country. Every birthday celebration included a salute to the stars and stripes, and fireworks, from one of the country’s most enthusiastic patriots. He practiced medicine in Richland for over 30 years before he retired.
Mathias loved his career as a healer. He was energized when taking care of patients. He was an astute diagnostician, keen observer, and careful listener. He was compassionate and empathetic. He cared deeply about his patients and their health, worrying about those in his care even after hours and when he was on vacation. Medicine was his life’s work, and he helped many people. His patients loved him for his dedication and care. They would shower him with gifts of home baked goodies and vegetables from their gardens. His family members would often hear stories of how wonderful he was or how he had saved a loved one’s life. Yet he remained humble, without any trace of arrogance. He was compassionate and kind to everyone
Mathias loved life. He loved good food, especially good Chinese food. He would happily drive for hours to Seattle or Vancouver, BC if there was an amazing restaurant to visit at the end of the journey; or even an Asian grocery store where he could stock up on delicious specialties to bring home. He loved eating BBQ with his friends at their amazing parties and getting together with friends and neighbors regularly to explore the restaurants in town.
He was outgoing and funny. He loved parties and being the life of the party.
He loved music, especially anything by Elvis or Andrew Lloyd Webber. He had CDs of Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera which played on a continuous loop in his car over, and over, and over again. He also loved Abba, Frankie Valli, the Bee Gees, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Russell Watson, and Pavarotti. He loved to sing along. As he got older, there wasn't a party he had which didn't involve some sort of karaoke machine or singing.
Mathias was also passionate about soccer. He had played as a student in Hong Kong and Montreal. When he came to Richland he organized and sponsored a men’s soccer team. Many of his closest friendships formed around his soccer buddies. He coached his sons’ soccer teams. He followed the World Cup with devotion, getting up at the wee hours of the morning to watch the games live.
He was a devoted and loyal friend. His friendships were lifelong, and he kept in touch with his friends from his early childhood. He was outgoing, loving, and playful. His personality was warm, open, and embracing of all.
More than anything however Mathias loved his family. Family was of the utmost importance to him. He was a devoted son and brother, a loving uncle, and a loving husband. His two sons, Gregory and Alexander were the lights of his life. He was so proud of them. He loved his adorable grandchildren, Ethan, Andrew, Isaac, and Mathias.
Mathias Martin Lam lived an incredible, full, loving and joyful life. He traveled far and saw much of the world in his time here. He dedicated himself to taking care of others and helping to fight disease. He was loved greatly by many and deeply by his family. He was and is an incredible human being who did his part to make the world a better place.
Unfortunately, in his later years, Parkinson’s disease had a devastating effect on his ability to express himself, and to engage in the activities which he had loved so much. Even so, he remained stoic and optimistic throughout the course of his ordeal. We are incredibly proud of the optimism and dignity that he faced the disease with. He never gave up and he left on his own terms, at peace, and on his Feast Day.
In the spirit of everything that he believed in as a Catholic and physician, we are confident that in lieu of flowers, he would want donations made towards finding further treatments and even a potential cure for Parkinson’s disease.
May he rest in peace and in the certainty of the heavenly reward he so richly deserves.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Guardian Angels Church on Thursday, June 17th at 10:30 am. Friends may visit at the church on Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Inurnment will follow at Guardian Angels Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 4777
New York, NY 10163
https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate
The Mass will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej9SdGjT4k0
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mathias Martin Lam, M.D., please visit our flower store.
Mathias was born in Guangzhou, China, on July 4th, 1940. His family fled war torn China and settled in Hong Kong, which at the time was a British Protectorate. He received his elementary education from the missionary sisters and then went on to study with the Jesuit fathers at Wah Yan School. He ventured out from Hong Kong at the age of 18. His destination was Montreal. There he pursued undergraduate studies at Loyola University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science. He continued his studies at the McGill University Faculty of Medicine. It was there that he met Daria Bogart, an American student from Manhattan with an interest in Chinese studies and fluency in Mandarin. The two first met at the Newman Center, and through mutual friends at the Chinese Students’ Society. Mathias and Daria married on May 24th, 1969 at St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
Upon graduation from medical school, Mathias continued his training with a rotating internship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, B.C. Following this, the young couple settled in Montreal where Mathias completed three years of residency training in Internal Medicine at the Montreal General hospital. He completed an additional year of residency at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio where he would discover a passion for the new technique of endoscopy. He would go on to pursue two years of fellowship training in Gastroenterology at the Montreal General Hospital.
When Mathias was finally ready to set up his practice, he was drawn to Richland, Washington, a small town in the desert of Eastern Washington state. He became aware of the area through a colleague from the Cleveland Clinic where he had trained. He was enticed by the friendliness and warmth of the people, and at the opportunity of becoming the very first Gastroenterologist to establish a practice in the area. He loved the area, its people, and America. He shared his birthday, July 4th, with his new country. Every birthday celebration included a salute to the stars and stripes, and fireworks, from one of the country’s most enthusiastic patriots. He practiced medicine in Richland for over 30 years before he retired.
Mathias loved his career as a healer. He was energized when taking care of patients. He was an astute diagnostician, keen observer, and careful listener. He was compassionate and empathetic. He cared deeply about his patients and their health, worrying about those in his care even after hours and when he was on vacation. Medicine was his life’s work, and he helped many people. His patients loved him for his dedication and care. They would shower him with gifts of home baked goodies and vegetables from their gardens. His family members would often hear stories of how wonderful he was or how he had saved a loved one’s life. Yet he remained humble, without any trace of arrogance. He was compassionate and kind to everyone
Mathias loved life. He loved good food, especially good Chinese food. He would happily drive for hours to Seattle or Vancouver, BC if there was an amazing restaurant to visit at the end of the journey; or even an Asian grocery store where he could stock up on delicious specialties to bring home. He loved eating BBQ with his friends at their amazing parties and getting together with friends and neighbors regularly to explore the restaurants in town.
He was outgoing and funny. He loved parties and being the life of the party.
He loved music, especially anything by Elvis or Andrew Lloyd Webber. He had CDs of Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera which played on a continuous loop in his car over, and over, and over again. He also loved Abba, Frankie Valli, the Bee Gees, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Russell Watson, and Pavarotti. He loved to sing along. As he got older, there wasn't a party he had which didn't involve some sort of karaoke machine or singing.
Mathias was also passionate about soccer. He had played as a student in Hong Kong and Montreal. When he came to Richland he organized and sponsored a men’s soccer team. Many of his closest friendships formed around his soccer buddies. He coached his sons’ soccer teams. He followed the World Cup with devotion, getting up at the wee hours of the morning to watch the games live.
He was a devoted and loyal friend. His friendships were lifelong, and he kept in touch with his friends from his early childhood. He was outgoing, loving, and playful. His personality was warm, open, and embracing of all.
More than anything however Mathias loved his family. Family was of the utmost importance to him. He was a devoted son and brother, a loving uncle, and a loving husband. His two sons, Gregory and Alexander were the lights of his life. He was so proud of them. He loved his adorable grandchildren, Ethan, Andrew, Isaac, and Mathias.
Mathias Martin Lam lived an incredible, full, loving and joyful life. He traveled far and saw much of the world in his time here. He dedicated himself to taking care of others and helping to fight disease. He was loved greatly by many and deeply by his family. He was and is an incredible human being who did his part to make the world a better place.
Unfortunately, in his later years, Parkinson’s disease had a devastating effect on his ability to express himself, and to engage in the activities which he had loved so much. Even so, he remained stoic and optimistic throughout the course of his ordeal. We are incredibly proud of the optimism and dignity that he faced the disease with. He never gave up and he left on his own terms, at peace, and on his Feast Day.
In the spirit of everything that he believed in as a Catholic and physician, we are confident that in lieu of flowers, he would want donations made towards finding further treatments and even a potential cure for Parkinson’s disease.
May he rest in peace and in the certainty of the heavenly reward he so richly deserves.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Guardian Angels Church on Thursday, June 17th at 10:30 am. Friends may visit at the church on Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Inurnment will follow at Guardian Angels Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 4777
New York, NY 10163
https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate
The Mass will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej9SdGjT4k0
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