Tony Eng, Owner of Royal Buddha Restaurant, Dies at 62
Tony Eng, who opened the Royal Buddha Restaurant in Milford 27 years ago, died Sunday of cancer. Funeral services are Wednesday in Boston.
For 27 years, Tony Eng was a constant presence at Royal Buddha Restaurant in Milford.
He commuted to his restaurant six days a week from Boston, and the connection to the business was so strong, his son said, it seemed like a fourth child in the family.
"His business was just as much a child to him as us," said Benjamin Eng.
Tony Eng, the owner and longtime manager of the Chinese restaurant, died Sunday following several months of treatment for cancer. He was 62, his son said, and until recently had been responding well to treatment.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Wing Fook Funeral Home, 13 Gerard St., Roxbury. In a notice posted on the restaurant doors, the family said the public is invited and can call 617-989-8833 for directions. The restaurant, which closed Monday, will reopen later this week.
Many people from Milford have already called, Benjamin Eng said, including longtime customers and others who knew his father professionally.
At 18, Mr. Eng left his home in Hong Kong and came to the U.S. to attend Northeastern University, studying business. He had planned to return home after graduation, but met his wife, Cheryl, at the university. They married and Mr. Eng remained in the U.S. for the remainder of his life.
He had an opportunity to purchase the restaurant in Milford, then an Italian restaurant, in 1985. He opened Royal Buddha Restaurant, naming it in deference to his Buddhist faith, and took pride in his work, Benjamin Eng said. At the time, Milford did not have many options for Chinese food. Mr. Eng, who had worked as a waiter, then a bartender, then a manager, at different restaurants in Boston's Chinatown, was proud of owning the restaurant.
Royal Buddha specializes in Mandarin, Schezuan and Cantonese style food.
The Engs' three sons, Benjamin, Theodore and Graham, came to the restaurant frequently with their father, who worked every day but Mondays for 27 years. Mondays were for family. "We grew up in the restaurant," Benjamin said.
In March, when Mr. Eng was diagnosed and began treatment, Benjamin Eng, his oldest son, moved back to Massachusetts from his home in Tokyo, and started managing the restaurant in his father's absence.
His father wanted the business to remain in the family, Benjamin Eng said, and the family will need to discuss how to continue that legacy.
Benjamin Eng said he appreciated the many kind words of longtime customers, who have contacted the family in recent days, and who sent good wishes to his father when they realized he was ill. Interacting with the customers was what his father most enjoyed about owning the restaurant, Eng said.
"It was definitely the customers," Eng said. "A lot of them have pretty much been there from the day we opened."
In This article
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Royal Buddha Restaurant
121 Depot St, Milford, MA (121 Depot St, Milford MA 01757-3695)
Uncle M
12:39 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony was the nicest person you could ever want to know, genuine and caring, so sad to hear the news of his passing.
David Breen
1:55 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Will miss you Tony. Seems like yesterday - proud to have you as a neighbor for the last 27 years.
Christine Lanagan
2:04 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony was the best man I've Ever had the pleasure to know. He will be truly missed<3
Mary Cooke
2:28 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony was a great man, always very pleasant, happy, and made sure everything was to your liking. You will be missed by many Tony. Rest In Peace
tracy
2:28 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
r.i.p. tony,it def wont be the same with out you there,i use to love coming in and saying hey tony,and you would have a big smile and say how ya doing,and some times even a hug and a few laughs was the best part ,i know your in a better place now,smiling down over the resturant and your family:)
Marla
2:28 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I love Tony. He always had a smile on his face, and his happy personality was contagious. It is an honor to have known him. I was in the Buddha so often over the past 12 years, for drinks or for takeout (always 2 #7s) he treated me like family and I will miss him dearly.
katie leblanc
4:28 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Every time we entered the Budha, Tony was there to greet us with a smile! As we were served he would check to make sure everything was OK....but most of all he truly cared how we were...asking about our family, what we have been up to and work. You will truly be missed "BOSS". With great sadness and sympathy to the family, Katie and Steve
bella ann
4:28 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Thank you for this article. He was one of a kind and truly will be missed by all. The Buddah just wont be the same. My condolences to his family.
unclkebuck
4:28 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony, you will be sorely missed. Thank you very much for the kind hospitality always extended to our family whenever we came in. You were very special to all our children, always looked forward to visiting the Buddah and having those Shirley Temples!
Nicole McKay
4:28 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I will never forget his smile..........when we would walk in the door, he would say Scott and Nicole......we felt so comfortable! When Scott use to go pick up food he would ask where I was and tell him to say hi! He was truly the BEST! We still have not found better Chinese food either and he always knew how to tell them to cook my Peking ravioli........may all his wonderful memories last a lifetime, missing you already and our heart goes out to your family.........Scott & Nicole McKay
Jenn Richter
4:30 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony, you will forever be in my thoughts, may you rest in peace. I know your smile will always shine down on us. Thank you for the many years of your kindness at The Buddha! You always made us feel like family! I loved walking in to your welcoming cheerful presence. It was a joy coming in with not only friends and family, but also for the time I had worked with you. I will continue to be a part of The Buddha for many years to come. I will miss you more than words can express....love, fish!
Terry B.
5:02 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony you will be sadly missed....each and everyone of us has a special memory of you, you always welcomed everyone with a great big smile....May you rest in peace and my prayers go out to your family..I am sure that when we all go into the Buddha
we will indeed feel your presence......
Torry Petrin
7:09 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Miss you Tony, a friend, a boss and a customer for 25 year.
Sheri Fitzgerald
7:09 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony always had a smile on his face. He didn't just smile to greet you - he smiled cause he was happy to see you. Why..? Because he knew you and it didn't matter how long it had been since you were there - he still remembered your name and always asked about the family. He was a genuinely considerate man and will be missed by all who knew him...thanks for the memories Tony may you rest in peace...<3 Sheri Fitzgerald and family
Joan C
7:09 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
May Angles sing thee to thy rest Tony! I can only pray for your comfort & Peace , Eng Family! That wonderful man will be truly missed! XO -
adrienne dow-sams
7:52 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony you will be miss. May you rest in peace
susan wtight
10:30 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Through our tears ar smile and laugh of the fond memories we have if Tony over the 25 years we have called him our friend. He adored our daughter tia and loved her so obviously.... and she loved him and respected him. Tony will be missed and remembered forever by us. Susan Steve and tia wright
Nancy Ferreira
10:30 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony you will be very missed!! Such an amazing person who always went out if his way to make his customers happy. When you walked in to the Buddah Tony was always there to greet you with a smile and always had something positive to say... If you walked in sad, he made sure you left with a smile no matter how bad your day was. Rest in peace Tony, so saddened by your loss. You will be so missed by so many of us. My deepest condolences to Tony's family.
Nancy F.
fred
10:30 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tony we all will miss you as time goes by we all must pass however you where a tough one to loose you TRUELY cared about everyone, kids family, work you where always inquiring about us you have a heart of god buddy , miss you freddy crugha lol rip
fred
10:30 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
^^^^^^ gold my bad teard up a bit lol
chrissy gill
10:30 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tony u we're 1 ov tha best bosses. U served me my 1st drink wen I turned 21. U gave. my daughter Caroleea her 1st Shirley Temple. N u alwayz made me smile wen I was down n out. Working 4 U wasn't a job it was alwayz fun. N no matta wat u alwayz appreciated yur staff. U will alwayz be in our hearts. Love u Tony.
Tony
10:30 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Royal Buddha will never be the same. Already missed. We love you Tony! Rest in peace..
#44
2:40 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
RIP Tony! Thank you for the great memories! The Royal Buddha still has the best chicken wings! You will be missed Tony! Rest in peace from the Galindo family!
carrie
10:28 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
tony was the best i will forever miss seeing him at the door asking where are the kids and then saying go get them i babysit for you rip my good friend
bzriley
10:29 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tony always made me smile, just his warmth, good humor, and obvious concern - One of a kind for sure, I will miss his wonderful greetings. I will miss him,......
I'm sorry, and my sympathies to the family -seems you had a special husband / dad....bz
anthony
7:06 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tony... Thank you for the great memories. When we came to the Buddha, it was like coming to your home. You knew everyone, and everyone knew you. Your family was ours and ours yours. Bless your wonderful family and hopefully the Royal Buddha tradition will continue. The Scinicariellos....Tony and Kim.
Richard George
4:40 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
I will never know how he remembered names? I place my take-out under the name Rick,but when I would walk in to pick it up it would always be "Ricky"! The Budda won't be the same without you. Rest in Peace my friend. Ricky George and Family
sheryl rice
8:06 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
thank u tony for all the great times u are such a people person, and u will take this with u RIP my old friend and thanks for the good food and good cheers in life you will be greatly missed.!!!!!!!!!
Tracy Krebs
12:39 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
So very sad to hear the news. Sadly I was not able to attend services or vigil as I've moved to Fl. I have very fond memories going there with my late husband. Tony was a kind soul with a heart so big. I will miss him dearly With much love and great sadness, Tracy Krebs and family
Sherry L Pearson
12:18 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
I met Tony once in 2002. In July. He was very kind to me, as I had come to see my long-lost daughter, Breanna. She was working as a waitress at the time. When I left the restaurant in the taxi, with my infant daughter, he proceeded to tell me how my older daughter and I had the "same face." I just smiled and told him to give Breanna a raise. That was my only encounter with Tony. He seemed like a real nice guy.
Ron Picnia
5:09 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Just hearing of your passing today my friend, All that have known you for so many years and have shared so of thier lives with you, have lost a friend but gained an angel, you have meant allot to us over the years and will never be forgotten or be ungreatful for nthe friendship and guidance, we love you Tony and miss you ! RIP
Ron Picnia and Family