Peter Tuck Fong Mah was born on January 10, 1934 in Wanchai, Hong Kong to his mother, Poy Jean Mah and father, Lim Fong Mah. He was the oldest of six children who were delivered by the same mid-wife in a village at 240 Lockhart Road.

In Peter's early years, his father who was an American-Born Chinese serving in the U.S. Army, returned back to the United States. At that time during World War II, the Japanese Army invaded Hong Kong forcing Peter to flee to his grandmother's house. He traveled two days in a small paddle boat to hide in the mountains in Taishan. Peter eventually was able to return to his mother and two sisters, Linda and Lai Ying, in Hong Kong.  His sister, Lai Ying died of cholera when she was 6 years old. After the war, his father returned to Hong Kong and Bill, Jane and Wally were born.

On June 25, 1950, Peter and his father left Hong Kong to come to the United States to establish a future home for their family. They boarded the SS President Wilson sailing for 21 days to reach San Francisco. Immigration held Peter in a detention center for 3 weeks which he faced a rigorous interview process to prove he was Lim Fong's son.  Once released, they took a train to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of his father and Aunt Margaret. His mother and siblings would join them two years later in Washington DC.

In Washington DC, Lim Fong worked as a kitchen manager in a Chinese-owned club called the Casino Royal Night Club near the White House. Peter got his first job there as a dishwasher working on Friday and Saturday nights. He was paid $10.00 for 16 hours of work which included eating with the cooks after school.

In January 1951, Peter was enrolled into McKinley High School which was exclusively for white students at the time.  While in high school Peter took on many jobs.  He worked as a carhop at the Hot Shoppes Restaurant for 50 cents an hour plus tips.  His father opened a dry-cleaning business where they lived and worked. Now, Peter had the responsibility to wash, press and deliver clothes.  After school, he was also a part-time shoeshine boy.   In the summer of 1952, Peter started waiting tables at the Silver Spring Chinese Restaurant earning $90 a month plus tips. He continued to work 3 nights a week after school until he graduated high school.  He admits it was hard work and life was tough, but he was eating well. 😉

After graduating high school in January 1954, Peter was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX becoming a Morse code operator. He volunteered for overseas duty as a teletype operator and served in Germany where he learned electronics. After his discharge from the Army as a Korean War Veteran, he enrolled in Capitol Radio Electronic Institute (Capitol College) in Laurel MD.  Before Peter graduated technical school, his father, Lim Fong, passed away at age 45 leaving him with a house mortgage and the responsibility of taking care of his non-English speaking mother and raising Bill, Jane and Wally (ages 8-10). Peter worked as an Electronic Tester for Westinghouse at BWI Airport and then as an Electronic Technician at the NRL where he worked for 34 years.  NRL was a government job which provided him job security, the ability to quit his bartending job, and take some much needed vacation

On a trip to New York City, Peter met a beautiful Chinese girl named Paulina from Africa.  On their first date, Peter introduced Paulina to an "exotic delicacy"....pizza. At the 1964 World's Fair, they strolled together visiting exhibits from different nations. Nine months later, they were married on May 1, 1966 in Washington DC. Before their wedding, Paulina bought a brand-new Pontiac and to Peter's surprise, she paid straight cash!  Paulina's friends told Peter he was marrying a rich girl.  Money or no money, Peter already knew he hit the jackpot. Peter and Paulina bought a new house in Fort Washington, MD where they lived happily for 43 years.  Their family grew very quickly. In 1967, they welcomed their first child, Yvonne followed by Ray in 1969, Evelyn in 1970, and the baby of the family, Albert in 1971.

Once his youngest son, Albert, graduated college in June of 1994, Peter retired on Labor Day - September 1995.  While in retirement he was able to travel abroad, learn how to email, and see three of his children get married and have children.  Peter enjoyed cooking for family, gardening and spending time with friends and family.  He was proud of his children's accomplishments and the lives that they made for themselves.  Peter was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, a loyal brother, and a caring friend.

Peter leaves us to cherish his memory: his daughters, Yvonne Mah, Evelyn Callahan and her husband, Brian Callahan; his sons, Raymond Mah and his wife, Achie Mah; Albert Mah and his wife, Lisa Loncki Mah; his grandchildren, Elise and Ava Callahan, Megan, Steven and Alexa Mah; his brothers, Bill and Wally Mah; his sisters, Linda Lee and Jane Woodburn and her husband Dick Woodburn and many nieces, nephews and friends.