USC student remembered for generosity


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Wing Hay Tang, a fifth-year architecture student known for his generosity and helpful spirit, was killed in a car accident in Malibu on Sunday.  He was 22.

Known to his friends as “Vince,” Tang lost control of his vehicle on Piuma Road, driving it off of an embankment and landing overturned. Tang was pronounced dead on the scene.

Megan Kelly, a fellow architecture student and friend of Tang’s, said that Tang loved the 1988 Porsche that he drove and had restored himself.

“He loved cars,” Kelly said. “He was an avid Porsche lover; he restored his own car. He loved fishing and photography. He was a very generous person and he loved helping people … he was very personable and he was just a great person to be around.”

Kelly said she met Tang, the Northern California native, during their first year at USC and that they became close friends because of the rigorous time commitment that comes with the architecture major.

“In architecture, everyone knows each other really well because you spend many, many late nights together working in the studio,” Kelly said.

Kelly said that following the completion of his last year at USC, Tang had big aspirations for his career.

“His plan was to go work for a medium-sized architecture firm for about five to 10 years, then go open his own firm,” Kelly said.

School of Architecture Dean Qingyun Ma released a statement on Monday informing the USC architecture community about Tang’s passing.

“It is with deep sadness that I must inform you of the passing of a member of the USC Architecture Community and the Trojan Family Wing Hay ‘Vince’ Tang,” Ma wrote in the statement.  “He was a talented designer with a generous spirit, known for his love of helping others.”

In the statement, Ma also announced an event that will be held Wednesday afternoon to provide information and support. The meeting is aimed toward fifth-year architecture students but everyone is welcome.

“We hope to know more soon regarding the Tang Family’s wishes for arrangements to celebrate Vince’s life,” Ma wrote in the statement. “Please join me in keeping the Tang Family in our thoughts and prayers.”