Frank Tsao - ForeverMissed.com Online Memorials

In Loving Memory
of
Tan Sri Frank Wen King Tsao
1925 to 2019

Passed away on August 12, 2019 in Singapore

Tan Sri Frank Wen-King Tsao, S.B.S., Founder and Senior Chairman of IMC Group of Companies and Founding Chair of Suntec City Development, passed away peacefully with family members around him on 12 August 2019. He was 94 years old.

In recognition of his decades long philanthropic contributions and public service, he was honoured with numerous awards. Among them are Honorary Citizen Award by the Government of Singapore in 2008; Silver Bauhinia Star (S.B.S.) by the Government of Hong Kong, SAR, in 2006; and the title of “Tan Sri” by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia in 1973.

Born in Shanghai and a graduate of St. John’s University in that city, he was the first-born son of Mr. Ying-Yung Tsao and Mdm Tsao Ng Yu-Shun. He was a loving husband, devoted father and a caring brother. He is survived by his four children: Calvin, Mary Ann, Frederick, and Cheryd. His wife of 70 years Maisie Chow Tsao passed away in December, 2014.

He will be dearly missed.

If you would like to leave your condolences and tributes, please do so below.

Wake will be from Thursday, August 15, 4pm, through Saturday, August 17, 2019. It will be held at 33 Swiss Club Road. Cortege leaves on Sunday, August 18 at 1.30pm for Mandai Crematorium, Hall 3.

The family has requested for no wreath and if you would like to make a donation, kindly do so to Tsao Foundation at the following link: Donation to Tsao Foundation.

Tributes

Leave a tribute

August 14, 2019

I had the wonderful privilege of having had him join us on the "Founders and Successors" presentation and discussion at Family Business Network Asia in 2010. His clarity of thought and insight on business and family was greatly cherished by all who were there. He leaves a legacy not only for family, but for communities and nations.

My deepest condolences to the whole Tsao family and clan for this sad loss. May Tan Sri Frank find himself in a peaceful and joyous place ever after, and the family continue on the legacy of making a difference in business families around the world.

August 14, 2019

Dear Fred, Mary-Anne and Family,
Sincere condolences and may God be with and comfort You and Your Family.
God Bless,
Ruth, Ken & Family

August 14, 2019

Tan Sri Mr Frank Tsao was an undoubted titan of the shipping industry. Far more than that he was a gentleman of immense vision, intellect and unparalleled generosity. He was kind and patient even with the humblest of those seeking answers, his depth of wisdom was simply breath-taking. We are all the poorer for Mr Frank Tsao's passing. The Tsao family are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time.
Martin P. Rowe , Managing Director Clarksons Platou Asia Hong Kong

August 14, 2019

Tan Sri spirit lingers on.
And your human friends find solace in the loss they have sustained.

August 14, 2019

" It is not the critic who counts , not the man who points out where a strong man stumbles, nor where the doer of deeds could have done them better. On the contrary the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena , who's vision is marred by the dust and the sweat and the blood. Who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up again and again; who knows the great devotions; the great enthusiasms; who at best knows in the end the triumph of great achievement. However if he fails at least he fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." Theodore Roosevelt.

Tan Sri Frank Tsao was that sort of man.

My condolences to the Tsao family - David G Palmer - CEO Wah Kwong Maritime Transport

August 14, 2019

We have heard so much good about the late Tan Sri Frank Tsao. A giant in the shipping industry, his great vision, drive, capability, success, etc. and besides all these, his great compassion and humbleness towards other people and society. He will be certainly be missed. May he be well, happy and peaceful, and be blessed with all the merits of his good deeds.

We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Respectfully,
On behalf of the management and staff of Korean Register of Shipping, Singapore

August 14, 2019

Our deepest and heartfelt condolences.

Amarjit Singh and Family .

August 14, 2019

曹主席，您的知遇之恩、培养之情，无以言表，难以忘怀。
        每每念及您慈祥的音容、谆谆的教诲，仿佛就在眼前，感念万千！
        曹主席千古！永远的怀念您！

                         中创物流股份有限公司董事长李松青恭敬

August 14, 2019

MY warmest tribute to the memory of the deceased.
谨向故人表示深切的哀悼。
(IMC Korea-Man Chang)

August 14, 2019

  惊悉曹文锦先生不幸仙逝，深感悲痛。谨此对曹文锦先生的逝世致以最沉痛的哀悼，向曹先生的亲属表示深切慰问。
  曹先生一生投身航运事业，德高望重，始终支持中国造船及航运界，为中国造船及航运的发展做出了突出贡献，是航运业的杰出楷模，是国际航运界一颗巨星。万邦集团多次在中船重工订造船舶，为香港和内地的经济发展做出了突出贡献。谨此对曹文锦先生多年来给予中国船舶重工集团有限公司及中国船舶重工国际贸易有限公司的鼎力支持表示诚挚感谢！沉痛悼念曹文锦先生！
曹文锦先生万古！

中国船舶重工集团有限公司总经理助理
中国船舶重工国际贸易有限公司董事长
       徐子秋

August 14, 2019

惊闻曹文锦先生仙逝，深为哀痛，特致此函沉痛哀悼！
曹先生是德高望重、成就卓著的华人航运巨擘和企业家。他毕生致力于发展航运，发展实业，为亚洲和华人航运事业发展做出了杰出贡献，其精神和成就将永久嘉惠航运业界。曹先生创建的万邦航运长期以来与中国船级社互相支持，合作良好。今先生驾鹤西归，于华人航运界失去了一位领袖,于中国船级社失去了一位良师，是包括中国船级社在内的航运界和海事界的巨大损失！
值此万分悲痛之际，我谨代表中国船级社全体工作人员并以我个人名义对曹先生的逝世表示深切的哀悼，并向曹先生的家人表示诚挚的慰问。


                            莫鉴辉
                             总裁
                          中国船级社

August 14, 2019

Mr Tsao is such a legend in business heritage to bring the world such a beautiful spirit in family heritage that stays in many people’s hearts! Although I haven’t met him, I can felt it from Fred and the teammates, as everyone carries the loving energy. He is such a respectful soul! With my full respect and wish him RIP! Wish you all take care!

August 14, 2019

2019年8月12日，上帝犯了一個錯誤，他狠心地帶走了曹文錦老先生。一直在想到底該怎麼稱呼這位令人尊敬的長者，榮譽公民？銀紫荊勳章獲得者？還是丹斯里？然而，我始終都認為這些榮譽稱號都不足以去完整的概述曹老先生的輝煌一生。想了很久，覺得「老先生」這個稱謂才能夠去表達我對他的崇敬，思來想去，發現「樂觀，奮發，雄心，膽略，擔當，謹慎，親切，和藹，關愛，回報…」這些才是真正的曹老先生。今天，人們總是說「世界是年輕人的」，我更認為世界是我們所有人的，曹老先生所留下「樂觀，奮發，雄心，膽略，擔當，謹慎，親切，和藹，關愛，回報…」是留給年輕人們最寶貴的遺產，從而變成我們前進的燈塔，模範！年輕人是非常幸運的，站在巨人的肩膀上去繼承這些最彌足珍貴的遺產，年輕人唯一要做的是學習，發揚，進化曹老先生的遺產！曹老先生沒有離開我們，他只是去到了另一個快樂、和平美麗的世界繼續關愛著，影響著我們！
安息！

August 14, 2019

Tansri Frank Tsao made a fond & lasting impression when he participated at the FBN summit of 2010 Beyond Three Generations - Myth or Reality. His generosity in parting with his wealth of experiences in family business speaks volumes of his wisdom as patriach of the Tsao family.
My deepest Condolences to Frederick, Mary Ann, Calvin and Cheryd.

August 14, 2019

驚悉曹文錦先生與世長辭，深感痛惜，我謹代表中國船舶工業貿易有限公司，向曹文錦先生的去世深表哀悼，向先生的家屬表示深切慰問。
作為華人工商界的巨擘級企業家之一、世界級航運钜子，曹文錦先生一生勤勉、果敢務實，一直以來致力於航運事業發展、航運人才培養，是亞洲航運界的風雲人物，被譽為“香港一代華人船王”，在全球航運界貢獻傑出、建樹頗豐，享有極高威望。曹文錦先生的睿智、遠光及進取的精神令我們感到由衷地欽佩，先生的創業精神激勵著我們繼續努力奮鬥,我們為失去這樣一位卓越的航運界前輩而深感痛惜。
斯人已逝,永留心中。曹文錦先生千古！

                                               李洪涛
                                               董事长
                                     中國船舶工業貿易有限公司

August 14, 2019

Dear Sirs,

We would like to express our deepest sympathy on the passing of Mr. Tan Sri Frank Tsao Wen King.
Please convey our sincerest condolences to his family and all at IMC Group.

Yours Sincerely,
Makoto Abe as President and all staff of Tachibanaya Co., Ltd.

August 14, 2019

Others have put it far better than I could hope. First, my condolences to Mr Tsao's family at this difficult time. I have no doubt that strength will be found in remembering his personal and maritime success as well as the high regard with which he was held by the shipping industry.

Andrew Cutler, CEO, The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited

August 14, 2019

There's always a time to live and be free, a time to pass and embrace eternity.
A time to cherish one's memories, and a time to meet them some day.

Our deepest sympathy for the loss of a great man...

With all our hearts,
The Corporate Marketing Team,
OCTAVE Institute

August 14, 2019

很遗憾获知曹老主席的离世。他老人家留给我们的人生经验，特别是对时代的担当，家国之情怀，都值得我们晚辈好好学习和吸收。在此，祝愿他老人家一路走好，并请曹老主席家人节哀！

August 14, 2019

I am Deeply saddened by the news of Tan Sri Frank Wen-King Tsao passing. My Heartfelt Condolonces to Chairman Tsao and Family.

It is a big loss to Tsao Family and the Society on losing such a visionary and philantropist.

May his Soul Rest in Peace.

August 14, 2019

Dear Fred and family,

We are very sorry to learn of the passing of your father Tan Sri Frank Tsao Wen King.

As we have deepened our friendship with you, Fred, we have come to better appreciate the importance of family and family legacy.

Your father followed Peter Drucker's principles in that he paid attention to what he did too and for society. He left his imprint on the world by shaping the growth of the maritime industry and, through his impactful philanthropic activities, made a positive difference to society. His influence will endure.

Please accept my deepest sympathies to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Jenny Darroch
Dean of the Drucker School of Management

August 13, 2019

音昱上海市场营销部:

深深悼念我们敬爱的曹文锦主席，他不仅是万邦的创始人，享誉世界的亚洲船王，还是一位和蔼可亲的长者，我们怀念他的音容笑貌，言行举止，以及对时代的担当，家国之情怀。

一条木船摇出五代航企，家国情怀演绎传承之美！这是官方对一位德高望重企业家的至高褒奖。

斯人已逝，精神不灭，让我们铭记曹文锦主席的言行教导，薪火相传，生生不息……

Page 1 of 3

Leave a Tribute

Recent Tributes

August 14, 2023

不知不觉，忽忽四载，人老西归，一骑绝尘，事了拂衣，逝者如斯！
往事历历，萦怀怅思，面命耳提，捭阖骋驰，三盅两件，笑谈有憩！

大江东去浪淘尽，千古风流不沾尘。
浮舟沧海万邦贺，驾鹤昆仑勉后生！

August 12, 2023

敬爱的文锦伯父：

今天是您驾鹤四周年的祭日，您虽已仙逝，但音容笑貌，不倦的教诲，言犹在耳，恍若昨日。

诚挚地祈愿您在天堂安好，再播福音。

我们永远怀念您！

您永远活在我们心中！

侄儿刘卫东叩首

August 12, 2022

I am now working in Singapore as Secretary General of ASA again.
I will carry out Tan Sri's wishes to express Asian Voices.
Yuichi Sonoda

View all 122 tributes

Gallery

commemorated the 4th anniversary of the deceased at Buddhist Temple(DoSeonSa) on 15th Aug 2023.

Not Born in Singapore: Fifty Personalities who Shaped the Nation

View all 10 items

His Life

August 13, 2019

Tan Sri Frank Tsao is a much respected and acclaimed veteran in the shipping industry.

Born in Shanghai in 1925, Mr Tsao graduated from Shanghai’s St. John’s University. He started his career working in family-owned companies engaged in banking, transportation and international trade in Shanghai. He then ventured into shipping companies in Hong Kong, co-founding Great Southern Steamship Co. Ltd in 1949. In 1966, he established International Maritime Carriers (IMC) Ltd. in Hong Kong as a shipping company. It eventually grew into a substantial enterprise with ships transporting a wide range of commodities worldwide.

Throughout his long and illustrious career, Mr Tsao had played a pivotal role in shaping the growth of the maritime industry and in promoting maritime education and research in Asia. In Malaysia, he partnered the Malaysian Government in 1968 to help establish her first national shipping line – the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation Bhd. In 1973, His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the Bahasa Malaysia term for “King”) of Malaysia conferred upon Mr Tsao the title of “Tan Sri” in recognition of his many contributions to the country, including the assistance he provided and his investment in Malaysia’s first shipyard, her first seamen’s training institute and the modernisation of her maritime legal framework.

In 2005, Mr Tsao helped to establish the Centre for Maritime Studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and sat on the Board of Directors as Chairman. In 2007, he played a key role in establishing the permanent secretariat of the Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF) in Singapore.

He is also the first Asian recipient of the CMA Commodore Award from the Connecticut Maritime Association of the US in 2002. His important contributions to the maritime industry also won him other awards such as “Personality of the Year” by Lloyds Maritime Asia in 1999 and the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2006, Honorary Citizen Award by the Singapore Government and Lifetime Achievement Award by Seatrade Asia – both in 2008.

He will be dearly missed.

Oil Palm Project

August 15, 2019

About 40 yeard ago Mr. Frank Tsao had invested one of the largest oil palm plantation and a crushing mill in southern part of Thailand at Khabi Province He introduced modern plantation management similar to Malaysian standard that increase efficiency of production and produce quality crude palm oil to supply and expand Thai palm oil market Those dayThai people rarely know about palm oiI and the market gradually improve form few percentage up to more than 50 percent of edible palm oil market in Thailand It is a great achievement Other than this project he have done many are the good things toThailand such as shipping buniness shipyard container yard warehousing etc. that truly assisted Thai economy

August 15, 2019

I am deeply sadden to hear the passing of Frank Tsao, a true and steadfast friend of Thailand. Frank was instrumental in promoting Unithai as the Thai flagship carrier and the Unithai Shipyard as key investments in the Thai maritime industry. I have also personally benefitted from his kindness in imparting his valuable advice and support in my tenure with Unithai.

August 14, 2019

IN MEMORY OF TAN SRI FRANK TSAO

Dear Khun Chavalit TSAO, and the TSAO Family.

Kindly accept our deepest and heartfelt condolences upon the loss of TAN SRI FRANK TSAO, The founder of the UNITHAI GROUP.

During the last decades of UNITHAI, he made a great contributions and efforts not only to the UNITHAI but also to THAILAND. He will be dearly missed.

We are thinking of you of these difficult times. Our thought and prayer are with all of you, the TSAO family.

On behalf of The UNITHAI GROUP and its staff and advisors, may TAN SRI FRANK TSAO rest in peace.

Warmest regards,
Nopadon Mantajit
Chairman of the UNITHAI GROUP

Cookies are disabled :(

Tributes

Leave a Tribute

Invite others to Frank's website: