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Yap pays tribute to the late, generous Milan Ilich

Richmond-Steveston MLA John Yap spoke in the Legislature this week to pay tribute to the late Milan Ilich. Ilich died at the age of 76 on June 29, after a 14-month battle with leukemia.

Richmond-Steveston MLA John Yap spoke in the Legislature this week to pay tribute to the late Milan Ilich.

Ilich died at the age of 76 on June 29, after a 14-month battle with leukemia.

His memorial service was a standing-room only event attended by over 1,000 people, befitting of a man who left a legacy of good deeds and donated so much to Richmond.

much to Richmond. "There's a motivational saying that goes something like this, 'The world has two kinds of people: Those who make things happen, and those who wonder what happened.'" Yap said in Victoria.

"Since we last assembled in this House, our province lost a man who truly made things happen.

"Milan's accomplishments are hard to state in just two minutes. For eight years he was the owner of the Vancouver 86ers pro-fessional soccer team. He was a founding co-owner of the WHL Vancouver Giants.

"He was involved in Richmond's planning for the hugely successful 2010 Winter Olympics."

Besides sports, Yap added, Milan took a lead role in establishing a community services facility in Richmond called The Caring Place - a building that's home to 22 volunteer-based social service agencies.

"He not only made a substantial personal donation to this project, but also encouraged many other businesses to add their support," said Yap.

"His philanthropy extended to causes large and small.

"He was a major benefactor to the Richmond Hospital and was known for his quiet generosity to ordinary people in need when he encountered them.

"He loved his home of Richmond and, ultimately, wanted to do what was good for the community and his province."

acampbell@richmond-news.com