A WELCOME SUPPORT SYSTEM

Henry Ho ’90 and Clay Wang ’91 demonstrate the bond of SPS friendships

When Henry Ho ’90 met Clay Wang ’91 in Taiwan in the summer of 1987 to share insights about St. Paul’s School with the incoming Third Former, W there was no way to know that 34 years later, Ho’s son would be graduating from SPS and Wang would be the one cheering him on in person. Such is the disruptive power of a global pandemic with its travel restrictions, but greater than that is the power of friendship and the bond between SPS alumni. “Clay was kind of like a younger brother from Taiwan,” Ho says of their friendship at SPS. The two remained close during their years at Harvard, and they kept the connection alive as Wang pursued a Ph.D. at Cal Tech and made a life in California and Ho joined his family’s company, Tung Ho Steel, in Taiwan. “Clay didn’t come back to Taiwan often,” Ho recalls, “but, whenever he did, we made sure to connect for a meal or a get-together.” With his oldest son, William ’21, set to graduate from St. Paul’s, Ho and his wife, SaSa, realized that Taiwan’s travel restrictions meant they would not be able to attend Graduation. Each graduate was allotted eight seats in a designated square for family members. Who would fill William’s besides his brother, Sanders ’22? Meanwhile, in the U.S., Wang was celebrating his son Tyler’s acceptance to the Form of 2025. In a reversal of when Ho had reached out to the just-accepted Wang all those years ago, Wang contacted Ho, who was poised to join the Board of Trustees in July, to help their sons connect. It was a nostalgic exchange for the alumni, one that inspired Ho to propose a solution for William’s graduation.

“I said, ‘Maybe you could go as William’s surrogate parents,’” Ho says.

Wang jumped at the chance to represent his longtime friend, support the boys, and see the School in person with Tyler.

“To be able to fill in as William’s parents and attend his graduation was fantastic,” Wang says. “It shows a strong tradition within SPS alumni from Taiwan where we all look out for each other.”

William, Sanders, and the Wangs lingered long after the ceremony concluded, soaking in the experience of being together on the grounds. The group gathered one last time in Boston the next day, before William and Sanders boarded a plane back to Taiwan.

“William genuinely loved St. Paul’s,” Wang says. “There’s clearly something St. Paul’s is doing right. To see that same love of the campus and people being so nice to each other 30 years later, it’s a very positive thing.”