Throughout his life, Harvey Lowe was known as the yo-yo king.

The local legend -- who was also famous for bridging east-west cultural gaps in Richmond -- died on Wednesday, March 11 in St. Paul's Hospital.

The 90-year-old led an amazing life, says his daughter Melanie Lowe. "I didn't appreciate him as much as I should have given all that I have found out over the past few days," says Lowe, who lives in San Francisco. "I'm truly amazed at how many lives he touched."

Her father had the uncanny ability to bring people together of all cultures, she adds.

"He wanted immigrants to feel more comfortable in their adopted country but he reminded them that they were now in Canada, thus Canadians first," Lowe says.

Harvey Lowe was born in Victoria on Oct. 30, 1918, the 10th child of Lowe Gee Quai and Ming Yook. His father died when Harvey was three and his mother supported her large brood by sewing.

By the age of 13, he was already a world champion yo-yo player. In September 1932, he travelled to London, England and snared the World Yo-Yo purse worth $4,600.

Soon after, his mother sent him back to Shanghai to learn the Chinese language.

"He attended university in China, where he graduated with a business degree," says Lowe.

When he returned to Canada, the yo-yo continued to play a prominent role in his life.

Harvey made an appearance in 1989 on the Smothers Brothers television show and he became a popular regular on the Return of the Yo-Yo Traveling Show. In 1990, he made a cameo appearance in the movie documentary, Who is Albert Woo. The legendary yo-yo master made it into the 2005 American Yoyo Association's Hall of Fame.

After the Second World War, he settle in Vancouver, bought himself a typewriter and started writing stories about China. He wound up as radio broadcaster for CJOR doing a half-hour show, Call of China. It ran for 14 years.

"In the early 1950s, he opened the Smilin' Buddha Cabaret on Hastings, and in the 1960s he was stage manager at the Marco Polo," adds his daughter. "He kibitzed with many stars like The Fifth Dimension and the Platters."

Later, he worked in public relations for Aberdeen Centre.

Richmond city councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt was mayor when he first encountered Lowe's "charismatic personality."

"Harvey was a great ambassador for our city," he says. "As our population changed, Harvey was always there to bring the new Asian immigrants together to cultural events.

"He worked hard to build bridges between the two communities ... he did that all his life."

Halsey-Brandt went on to say that Lowe was "one of the most kind gentlemen you would ever want to meet ... anytime you attended an event he always greeted you with smile and warm handshake."

Councillor Harold Steves echoes Halsey-Brandt's sentiments and was saddened to hear news of Lowe's death.

"I knew him when he was the yo-yo king ... I used to watch him on television on the Smothers Brothers, we were quite proud to have our own Richmond star on American television," says Steves, who came to know Lowe well in the sixties and seventies during local functions.

"He also came before council a few times when he worked in public relations for Aberdeen Centre," he adds.

"I remember Harvey as a very pleasant, affable and warm-hearted man."

Lowe is survived by his wife Tessie, daughters Melanie (Bruce), Vivian (Andy) and Cindy (Ock), grandchildren Tyler and Chloe, as well as many other relatives. A funeral service will be held this Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at Ocean View Funeral Home in Burnaby. The family has set up a website -- www.forharvey@lowehk.com -- for anyone who wishes to send stories, memories, thoughts and notes about Lowe.