When thinking about Second Uncle, a particular moment stands out.  It was when I was a kid, and we were taking the subway somewhere.  I don’t recall the conversation nor the reason that put us on that train ride.  However, it was a heartfelt moment for me.  

In that moment, I recall feeling the depth of his character; despite his stern reputation, he is actually an extremely kind, sensitive, and thoughtful individual.  Over the years, he consistently demonstrated those exact qualities.  He will always be remembered as this caring and principled man who holds true to the important values of integrity and family. 

I remember second uncle as a man of few words. However, when he talked about his daughters at our family gathering, he couldn’t stop talking about their successes. He was such a proud dad and it shows how much he loved them with all his heart. 

Ever since Second Uncle and Second Aunt moved to California in recent years, I have had more opportunities to see him at family events. During those get togethers, I enjoyed seeing the light hearted side of him as he joked with my parents. I saw the caring grandfather in him as he hung out with his precious grandchildren. I saw how proud he was when he spoke of his daughters San and Nancy.  I am glad to have been part of those delightful, joyous moments and seen his expression of contentment when he was with his family. He will be greatly missed. 

Here is the 2nd photo of uncle and his granddaughter Sienna. :)

A lasting memory I have of Second Uncle is his love for his family. He was a serious, compelling man, yet  equally tender and loving. I recall in 2008 when he and auntie visited my mom shortly after my baby Jack and Cousin San’s baby Aston were born.  We were all celebrating the first grandchildren in our parents’ lives with a baby play date with Aston and Jack. I remember vividly uncle holding baby Aston so proudly on his lap and playing with him. He displayed true contentment that day.  We will miss you uncle and may you Rest In Peace.  (The photos I attach here are uncle with his baby granddaughter Sienna; uncle auntie and my mom.)

My favorite memory of second uncle was when my mom and I took a trip to New York in February 2012 to visit family. We visited second uncle and second aunt at their home in Queens. I remembered him showing photos on his IPAD of San and Nancy and the vacations he took with his grandkids. He was so proud of his daughters and what they have accomplished. He regaled accounts of how hard they worked to get where they are.  We sat for hours as I listened to him reminiscing about the past and his hopes of the future. He accompanied us to dim sum in Flushing and then we all went to the fish market later that day. It was a chilly February and the group all had on their puffer jackets. I always enjoyed watching my mom and second uncle chat and banter about anything and everything. They really enjoyed each others company and did not take for granted these moments when we have an opportunity to hang out and catch up. I always remembered the lighter, happier and jolly side of second uncle. Watching him and listening to him reminds me of how important family is and to appreciate the time we have with each other. His devotion to his family and his daughters are so apparent. He had such an amazing spirit. We will all miss him terribly. He will be in our thoughts and prayer. 

Richard and I will always cherish our memories with Second Uncle. We recall our last visit to LA in 2018, when Uncle insisted on walking Manhattan Beach with us despite his leg difficulties at the time. We admire his tenacity and love for his family. He will forever be missed.

Second Uncle was an honorable man of few words.  It is because of this that I will always remember his words of encouragement that helped me get through college. His words stuck with me and I will always carry them with me.  He will be sorely missed by us all.  May he Rest In Peace. 

Growing up, I always remembered Uncle as the stern and serious adult.  In fact, I was quite intimidated by him.  That changed when he became a grandfather and he frequently showed us pictures of his first grandchild and gushed about him.  He simply glowed.  At that moment, I realized that he was truly a softie.  I will fondly remember him as the stern uncle, but with a heart of gold.

To me, Second Uncle was an honorable man who put his family above everything else. He was a true leader who brought vision, humor and good will to all our family gatherings. He served as a daily reminder that consistently treating people with respect was not only the right thing to do, but a competitive advantage in life. When I got into college or finally gathered enough courage to move out on my own, Second Uncle was the first to congratulate me and let me know he was proud of me. He comforted people with his signature mix of humor and heart. He will be sorely missed by all of us! May he rest in peace. 


OBITUARY

Du Hoan Tran

February 9, 1944 – August 8, 2021

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