Anthony T. Liaw Memorial Fund
June 18, 1981 to June 20, 2009
Tony tragically passed away while free diving at Casino Point, Santa Catalina Island with his sister and friends on June 20, 2009.
Tony always loved the ocean, and could name every living and extinct species of shark by the time he was 8. When he was 13, he tried scuba diving on a family trip to Hawaii. He instantly fell in love with diving, and became a PADI certified diver when he was 15. From then on, he spent as much time in the ocean as on land, logging over 2000 dives in the nooks and crannies of the California coast from Shaw's Cove to Malibu. Lobsters everywhere feared him.
In 2005, he dove on the Great Barrier Reef, a great highlight in his life. In 2007, he earned his bachelor's degree in Marine Biology from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). He began working as a Marine Biologist for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, California Department of Fish and Game, a job that he found extremely rewarding, and could identify every species of Pacific Rock Fish on sight.
Tony was without a doubt, the most reliable and dedicated volunteer for the CSULB Science Learning Center, spending over 10 years educating children about marine animals and ocean conservation. Even after graduation Tony told me to call him whenever and if it was at all possible, he would be there. Tony could always be seen at the touch tank encouraging people to explore and touch the sea creatures that he found so fascinating. He would often come in on his days off to help in the Science Learning Center. He loved working with animals, and contributed a great deal of his time to helping with the husbandry and care of the animals in the SLC. Tony was far more than just a student volunteer. He became a close friend. He will be forever missed... but never forgotten.
The Anthony T. Liaw Memorial Fund has been established in his memory to support the CSULB Science Learning Center (SLC); a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about science and marine biology first-hand.
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