Song Phong

Song Phong, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, engineer, baker, and restaurateur of Baltimore, Maryland, passed away on March 21, 2026, at the age of 81.
Song is survived by his beloved wife, Lang; his daughter Kieng and her husband Eric Waltman, his sons Kuong, Meng, Leng, and daughter Angela and her wife Miriam Robinson; and his cherished grandchildren, Zeqiang and Tianna.
He was born in China on September 9, 1945. In his early childhood, Song moved with his family to Cambodia. Even as a teenager, he demonstrated remarkable ingenuity, designing and manufacturing large commercial ovens. He later married Lang, and together they built a thriving bakery while raising their family.
In 1975, during the Khmer Rouge invasion, Song, Lang, and their three young children fled through the jungle under perilous and uncertain conditions, unsure whether their son Meng—who had been staying with relatives—had survived. The family eventually reached a refugee camp and, through perseverance and hope, were sponsored by the compassionate parishioners of St. Luke’s Church in Dundalk. Their journey to the United States was long and arduous, filled with both hardship and moments of wonder. When Song and Lang found out their son Meng survived the war with family, the church helped them reconnect and ultimately reunite him with his family in the States.
After settling in Maryland and learning English, Song began working at Herchowski’s Bakery in Highlandtown. Determined to build a better future, he attended welding school, studying with the help of a small English-Chinese dictionary. He went on to work at Bethlehem Steel, where he took on as many hours as he could.
Through hard work and determination, Song and Lang eventually saved enough to open their first restaurant, The House of Phong, in Dundalk. Over the years, he continued to grow his entrepreneurial legacy with The New House of Phong carryout in Middlesex, Golden Szechuan Inn in Bel Air, and Osaka Hibachi Grill in Eldersburg.
Song was known for his warm smile, patience, and enduring sense of humor. He approached life with optimism grounded in reality, and his intelligence was evident in his quick thinking and problem-solving abilities. He had a gift for mathematics and a love for sharing “dad jokes,” which often drew affectionate groans from his family and laughter from others. In quieter moments, he enjoyed baking beautiful French breads and reading the newspaper.
Song Phong will be deeply missed and forever remembered with immense love.

A viewing will be held at Connelly Funeral Home of Essex, located at 300 Mace Avenue, Essex, Maryland 21221. Visitation hours are scheduled from 12 pm to 2 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm.  

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.