Tony was a great researcher, administrator, educator, and mentor. He was a scholar, a gentleman and a very considerate person. Furthermore, he was an obedient husband, and a loving father. His family always came first. Tony traveled to San Diego regularly, to work with me. He came down more often when Jackie and Allison were students at UCSD. I think Tony treated San Diego as his second home. Tony was very disciplined. Every time he came down he stayed at the La Jolla Embassy Suites. One time he told me he had collected 78 of their room key cards. After checking into the hotel Tony would call me to pick him up at 5:00 p.m. to go to the Del Mar Fish Market. As soon as we were seated Tony would take out his wallet, open it, and show me a small stack of brand new 100 and 20 dollar bills that he got from the bank before flying down. He would say, “Peter, this is my private money (私己 ) that Anna does not know. I get a $5 allowance for lunch. I eat at the Hospital’s cafeteria and save the change. Sometimes I skip lunch and can save the whole $5 dollars. With this private money I can buy things for the family without asking for permission!” Then we started talking about research, and more importantly, where to eat for the rest of the time that he was in town. Tony paid for this initial dinner and it was always between $60-$70. That was his budget. I paid for the other meals. On our way back to the hotel Tony would remind me to meet him at the hotel’s free breakfast station the next morning where we can eat a few pieces of bacon together!....

Tony setting up a video-microscopy system for eye microcirculation studies

On July 7, 1974 Prof. Fung brought a few of his graduate students from UCSD to Caltech to attend the Flying and Swimming in Nature symposium hosted by Prof. Ted Wu. Shortly after arriving on campus I saw a handsome young man walking briskly towards us. He greeted Prof. Fung warmly, introduced himself as Anthony Cheung, said he just started doing research with Prof. Wu, was an organizer of the meeting, and started talking about all the events that were planned. He never stopped talking and when he found out I was also from Hong Kong he said he would treat me like a little brother. Then Dr. Cheung suddenly stopped and said he had to go to the airport to pick up Sir James Lighthill, the world authority on fluid mechanics and the guest of honor in this meeting, arriving from England. The photo shows the front cover of the two volumes that contain the papers presented at the symposium. Tony had two manuscripts in volume one and I believe those were his first publications. Since that first encounter, Tony and I have become collaborators and colleagues, sharing our common interests in microcirculation, microscopy and photography. We were also travel companions, eating buddies and eventually, became best friends……

I was truly blessed to have met Dr. Cheung during my graduate studies at UC Davis. He was not only the Chair of my qualifying exam committee, but also a remarkable mentor and a cherished part of my extended “family.” Throughout the years, he was consistently supportive and deeply caring. I admired his wisdom, eloquence, humor, sharp intellect, and above all, his genuine enthusiasm for science and teaching.

I still remember, with great fondness, how he would occasionally walk by my bench and gently remind me, “Don’t work too hard!”

Dear Dr. Cheung, you have worked hard enough, and you have also lived a truly splendid life. You will forever remain in our hearts. May you rest in peace.

We went on the top of Taipei 101 during his visit to Taiwan in 2012. — with I-Chun Weng and Anthony Cheung

Dr. Cheung took me to Morton's to celebrate my graduation — with I-Chun Weng and Anthony Cheung

I have been blessed to call Dr. Cheung a dear friend and mentor since 1982. I have never encountered a more brilliant, authentic and loving family man. His family was always top of mind and the top priority in his life. With a stellar career and many remarkable studies and pastimes, I can truly say Anthony was “ A Man for All Seasons.” He had a palatable, personable warmth and a love for his children and grandchildren like none other; he always told me that who he was had everything to do with marrying the love of his life. Dr. Cheung was the example of being “one of a kind” and I, along with so many others fortunate enough to have had him on our path in this life ~ will miss him dearly. May the angels above embrace his beautiful family and help them reckon with such a deep loss. Dr. Cheung is now a heavenly star and a forever light in all our hearts. Mrs. Kathy Henry

— with I-Chun Weng and Agnes Lee

Dear Ms. Anna, Allison, Jackie, and rest of the Cheung family, 

I am writing to express my deepest condolences on the passing of Uncle Tony. I first met him 20 years ago at the UC Bioengineering Symposium at UC Davis, and from that day on, he became a cornerstone of my life.

Uncle Tony was a constant source of support through every major milestone. He even flew down to sunny San Diego for my undergraduate graduation and my master's thesis defense. He also wrote the recommendation letters that helped me land acceptances at multiple graduate schools—a gesture that truly launched my professional career.

Beyond my education, he was family. He was there to celebrate my wedding, and I was deeply honored to have him serve as my child’s godfather. While tomorrow will be the first time we are officially meeting, I feel I already know you through the warmth and pride with which he always spoke of you during our many foodie outings.

He was a brilliant light in the medical community, but more importantly, he was a man of immense kindness. I am the person and the engineer I am today because of his belief in me.

With heartfelt sympathy,

Michelle Cheung

An outstanding Wahyanite and Riccian. He will be greatly missed. 

In loving memory of Uncle Anthony. 

From the family of Chuck Cheung

I was saddened by the news of Tony's passing. He was a wonderful friend and collaborator who contributed numerous advances to his field through his innovative approach to science. I will miss him.

My condolences to Anthony's family. I first met Anthony through his sister Amy as we were school friends. Later Anthony and I attended the University of Hong Kong around the same time. I was just emailing Anthony a few months ago after his recovery and he  had plans to come back to Hong Kong for Chinese New Year.  This is shocking news and I am very sorry to hear of his sudden passing. 

Sorry to hear of Tony’s passing. Our condolences to the Cheung family. Our family and yours know each other for a long time, dated back to HK and Macau. And we shared  many happy memories watching our kids grow up!  Do not hesitate to call upon us if we can be of any assistance.  David, Diana, Lauren , and Brendan. 

My condolences to Anna and family. May you find comfort in his memories, the love he gave and the all the moments that will forever live within your hearts.  ❤️🙏

Tony was the embodiment of enthusiasm in science, and he was always full of ideas.     His work on microcirculation and leukocyte biology made long-lasting contributions.     

I was so sorry to hear about Anthony's passing. He was such a warm and inspiring person.

I would like to share with you all, family and friends of Tony Cheung the e-mail accolades sent by his colleagues in the Department of Pathology at UC Davis where Tony spent many of his later very productive years. Tony was a remarkable individual, an inspired scientist and a wonderful colleague. It was a pleasure and privilege to work and collaborate with him

-Ralph Green  Distinguished Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine(former chair, Department of Pathology, UC Davis)

Here are the tributes from his colleagues in the Department: 

***********************************************************************

From: Theodore Wun <twun@health.ucdavis.edu>

Sent: Monday, December 29, 2025 10:00:29 AM

Subject: Re: Tony Cheung - a special colleague and friend

Dear Ralph,

Thank you for letting me know the sad news. I did not see him much after his retirement. Always a bundle of energy.

Best in the new year to you and yours, too.

-ted

Subject: Fw: Tony Cheung - a special colleague and friend

Hi Ted,

I thought that you would want to know about Tony' s passing and the various tributes from his colleagues.

Ralph

________________________________________

From: Paul A Luciw <paluciw@ucdavis.edu>

Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2025 10:52 PM

To: Ralph Green <rgreen@health.ucdavis.edu>

Subject: Tony Cheung - a special colleague and friend

Tony was very collegial, a careful listener, and ready to offer thoughtful suggestions (and encouragement if needed). As Bob pointed out, Tony had remarkable academic and extracurricular accomplishments – importantly, he always displayed a humble, friendly, and helpful nature.

Paul Luciw, PhD.

Emeritus Professor

Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

UC Davis

.***********************************************************************

From: Robert D Cardiff <rdcardiff@ucdavis.edu>

Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2025 4:49 PM

Subject: Re: Some sad news

Thank you for sharing the news about Tony Cheung. Tony was an inventive enthusiast. His studies on microvasculature were ahead of the times but his thinking was also too far advanced for the times. I recall that he used "leaky vessels" to diagnose incipient diabetes in living people. We had a visiting scholar from Xian, China who took part in Tony's studies. Tony found leaky vessels and told the scholar that he had diabetes. The visitor denied it. Two months later our visitor was in the hospital in diabetic coma. Tony had the technology but was too far ahead of medicine to cash in.

As intimated by Ralph, Tony was always an enthusiastic contributor to many other of our projects.

Tony was also a contributor to the initiation of our Informatics efforts. He was able to get into the California Death Registry. He searched for deaths due to breast cancer. Most memorable, he discovered that the state was not editing/auditing the records. For example, a woman with breast cancer was recorded as living at the age of 150 years. Our Mike Hogarth eventually got the contract to create a new registry.

On our second trip to mainland China, Tony was one on three Chinese faculty members I took with me. Tony was ebullient and a gracious guide for our trip. He made it memorable.

It turned out that he was a Ping Pong Olympian representing Hong Kong. And. a well-known horseman and a member of the Hong Kong Polo Club. He took us to his childhood home which was on the upper level of Victoria Peak! He was born on the Chinese mainland and led us on a tour to the small hospital where he was born. So many memories. He was one of a kind. In many ways he was one of the many Unsung Hero's of UCD who made it a great place to be. He will be missed.

rdc

Robert D. Cardiff, MD, PhD

Distinguished Professor of Pathology, Emeritus

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

School of Medicine

University of California, Davis

Davis California 95616

________________________________________

From: Lydia P Howell <lphowell@ucdavis.edu>

Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2025 1:57 PM

To: Ralph Green (UCD Health) <rgreen@health.ucdavis.edu>; Robert D Cardiff <rdcardiff@ucdavis.edu>

Ralph:

I’m so sorry to learn about Tony Cheung – thanks for informing us. As you describe, Tony was a very upbeat person who helped create a positive atmosphere in the department for all. His research brought interesting new technology into the department that allowed us to view disease in a novel way. My husband worked with Tony’s wife – she was the hospital administrator in charge of the orthopedic service line in the Mercy system here in Sacramento before going on to even bigger roles in the Bay Area – so of course, Steve will also be interested in knowing about this sad loss.

As we Greeks say – may Tony’s memory be eternal!

Lydia Pleotis Howell MD

Deputy Director

Association for Academic Pathology

lhowell@academicpathology.org

Distinguished Professor Emerita and Chair Emerita

Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

University of California, Davis School of Medicine

lphowell@ucdavis.edu

************************************************************************

Subject: Some sad news

Dear Bob,

I share with you the sad news that Tony Cheung has left us. Joshua Miller, who was still collaborating with Tony from afar, contacted me this morning to let me know that Tony's surgery for a gallbladder tumor had not gone well. He suffered postoperative complications and succumbed.

I know that you were instrumental in recognizing Tony's skill and promise and it was you who brought him into our fold. I appointed him as our vice chair for research for a time and enjoyed collaborations with him. He brought his skills and training at Caltech as an engineer to solve problems in biology.

(I add as a footnote That Josh is planning a sabbatical next year and would like to come back here to Davis to complete some unfinished symphonies, including works that he and I had carried out with Tony relating to the connections between the microvasculature, intermediary, metabolism and cognition)

With my warm regards,

Ralph