Dr. Kenneth Ho, self portrait in the Trudeau Sanatorium library, undated.
Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2022.12.1.39. Gift of the Family of Ken Ho.Born: May 11, 1923
Died: October 6, 2016
Married: Constance "Connie" Frail
Children: Evelyn, James, Daniel, Stephanie
Dr. Kenneth Shiu Kee Ho was born in Hong Kong. Before immigrating to the United States, Ken worked as an interpreter for the Chinese Army attached to the US 14th Air Force. He and his sister Evelyn had fled to mainland China when the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. After working as an interpreter for a few years, Ken came to the United States to study at New York University in 1946. He contracted tuberculosis while an undergraduate student and came up to Saranac Lake for treatment. He broadcasted over the patient radio on Tuesdays. He eventually recovered and returned to New York City to finish out his schooling.
Trudeau Sanatorum patient Kenneth Shiu Kee Ho painting in his bed.
Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2022.12.1.10.2.
Gift of the Family of Ken HoAfter NYU, Ken attended Bob Jones University for medical school for a short time. He quickly realized that he did not enjoy the school and so he began interviewing at other medical schools. While visiting UVM, he was accepted on the spot and decided to attend the school. While in Vermont, Ken met his future wife Connie in a Methodist Church in Burlington via a shared friend. The two dated for all four years of Ken's medical schooling and they married on June 9, 1956, the day before Ken's graduation. The couple received a lot of opposition to their marriage because it was biracial and they weren't allowed to kiss during their wedding ceremony. Despite being told that their marriage wouldn't last because "American girls were too flighty," Ken and Connie were happily married for 60 years and had four children together.
After Ken's graduation, he started an internship at a hospital in Syracuse, New York. He eventually started working at a medical practice in Syracuse and took it over as his own when the original owner moved away. Ken did whatever was needed in his practice, including making house calls and delivering babies if the need arose.
Ken and his family made a few trips to Hong Kong to visit his parents and siblings. Some of his siblings eventually made their way over to the United States as well, and his brother Fred worked with Ken in Syracuse.
He later attended one of Historic Saranac Lake's TB Reunions. His family has donated photograph albums from his time here.
Stowe Reporter, October 13, 2016
Dr. Kenneth Shiu Kee Ho - 93, was born on May 11, 1923 in Kowloon, Hong Kong, one of seven children born to the late Cyril Yan Chiu Ho and Wan Sau Wu Ho that included Evelyn, Kenneth, Thomas, Frederick, Daisy, Clara and Charles. He passed away peacefully on Oct 6th.
He is survived by his wife, the former Constance "Connie" Frail of Montpelier VT.
After graduating from UVM Medical School and getting married in 1956, they moved to Syracuse, NY where he started his medical family practice. They raised 4 children: Stephanie, Daniel, James and Evelyn. They retired to Stowe, VT to the family "ski chalet" in 1994.
Dr. Ho helped bring over his siblings to the US; Dr. Thomas Ho and his family in Toronto, Canada (Tom died in 2006), Dr. Fred Ho and his family in Syracuse, NY, Daisy Ho in Toronto, Clara Ho Wong and family in California, and Dr. Charles Ho and family in Binghamton, NY.
He is also survived by twin grandsons, multiple nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews.
