Born in the U.S.
Raised by Chinese immigrants teaching in a small, rural college town.
Memento Mori
“As a child, I recall watching a flood of Chinese paper lanterns ascend to heaven – and seemingly transform into a constellation of stars in the sky.”
Return your body to the earth
Virgil asked that his body undergo Recompose’s natural organic reduction process to create nutrient-rich soil – for donation to Bells Mountain in WA.
He stated, “My ethos in death needs to be consistent with what I tried to do in life. Do no harm, and perhaps, do some good.”
Or experience another kind of alchemy
Alternatively, he requested alkaline hydrolysis, a process that only uses 1/8 of the energy required by traditional cremation. The remaining carbon in the bone powder will be mixed with his husband’s hair to produce a diamond by Eterneva.
Life Celebration
Virgil Wong (b. 1973) passed away with love and gratitude in his heart for his husband Ian and all of his friends and family members.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to:
- Central Park Conservancy to maintain the park
- National Resource Defense Council in the fight against the climate crisis
- Rhode Island School of Design memorial scholarship for LGBTi minority students
Please join us at the Naumburg Bandshell – permit request in Central Park in New York City for a celebration of Virgil’s life.
01. SONG
“We All Belong Here” by Virgil Wong. Performed by Anni B.
02. EULOGY – Ian
03. SONG
Virgil’s song dedication to Ian – “Music Box” (Mariah Carey) – Performed by Verunka F. and Phyllis C.
04. LETTER TO FRIENDS – Ian
05. SONG
Virgil’s song dedication to friends – “What a Wonderful World” (Louis Armstrong) – Performed by Melisse W.
06. SPEAKERS
5 minutes each
- William and Philip
- Verunka and Jacob Fierro
- Elisa C.
- Erilia W.
07. SONG
“Per Sempre” (Anthony Callea) – Performed by Andrew B.
08. SPEAKERS
5 minutes each
- Sarah and Chuck
- Philip and Lisa
- Carrie N.
- Tehshik and Michael
- Vaydra
09. GROUP DANCE
“Better When I’m Dancing” (Meghan Trainor) – Everyone please stand, fold your chair, and join in a group dance led by Vaydra.
10. LITERARY WALK AND TREE DEDICATION
$5K gift for endowing an existing tree in Central Park with engraved granite paving stone (Form)
Virgil Wong, Artist, Activist, and Technologist, Dies at 100
He championed social and environmental causes by visualizing new worlds transformed by artists and scientists.
Virgil Wong wanted to be remembered for “celebrating the liminal beauty between cultures and disciplines as well as life and death itself.” He is best known for writing, producing, performing, and writing music for the “Panopticon” books and television show.
Over 15 years, Virgil founded and led web and multimedia at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Founded Medical Avatar, an innovator in virtual and augmented reality in healthcare.
Served as Chief Digital Officer at HGS.
Exhibited artwork at the
Working with curator Koan Jeff Baysa, he
Created malepregnancy.com in 2001 – one of the web’s first viral hits – predicting a phenomenon that happened in reality when the first transgender man gave birth in 2007.
Taught virtual and augmented reality, photography, film, and interactive media at The New School for over 20 years.