Obituary for Siu-Chim Chan
Siu-Chim Chan, 91, passed away peacefully in sleep this past Monday morning, May 2, 2016. Chim is survived by his loving wife, Betty, with whom he was about to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. He was the patriarch of his family, born on August 7, 1924, the first born son of his generation, also survived by his younger brothers, Siu-Won, Siu-Yu and Siu-Kin, and his sister, King-Yue, with many nieces and nephews across the globe. Chim is also survived by his children - Ricky, Diana and Jamie, his 6 grandchildren and his great granddaughter.
Siu-Chim was originally from Guangzhou, China. He immigrated to the United States for Graduate School in engineering. He met his future bride, Betty, when she was assigned as the school newspaper reporter and Chim, as one of eight exchange students, was her story. Soon after, they both became the story in “East, West, Meet, Marry In a Campus Romance” as reported in the Boston Globe in 1951. It was reported that at the ceremony, “dancing was enjoyed”. Chim and Betty were happily married, beginning their life and starting a family together, and they continued to enjoy dancing together.
Through the years, Chim had worked as a design and consultant engineer. He began his illustrious career as a design engineer for Bernard Green Architects of New York. He became Director of Physical Plant of Brown University. He later joined Daniel Tully and Associates as a Vice President. He also worked as Trinity College’s Director of Physical Plant.
Chim and his wife wintered in Aruba for 28 years. Together, they were minor celebrities that were frequently sought out by other residents in the resort. Chim was gregarious, generous and inherently popular. Chim and Betty attended dancing every Tuesday night during their stay in Aruba and won numerous dancing competitions. He was an avid scuba diver well into his 80s. He was an active and inspirational tennis player who was feared by lobsters across the globe. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church.
He summered on Hog Island, in the octagonal-shaped home he took great pride in designing himself. He religiously ran the head-to-head balloon races each year at field day and was an expert at the egg toss. He was recently made Honorary Grand Marshall for the Hog Island 4th of July Parade. He also captained his boat at the Bristol Yacht Club during many races during the summer.
The funeral service will be held Saturday at 2:00 pm in the Monahan, Drabble & Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street, Providence to which relatives and friends are invited. Calling hours Friday 6 to 8PM and Saturday from noon -2pm. Following the service, there will be a collation from 3 to 5pm at the Faculty Club at Brown University, 1 Magee Street in Providence.
Donations in his memory may be made to Brown University (for a bench in his honor at the Faculty Club) or to the RI Association of Chinese Americans, both care of Monahan, Drabble & Sherman, 230 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02906 You may also sent a note to Mrs. Chan at above address if you wish.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, May 7th at 2:00 pm in the Monahan, Drabble & Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street, Providence to which relatives and friends are invited. Calling hours Friday 6 to 8pm. and Saturday from noon -2pm. Following the service, there will be a collation from 3 to 5pm at the Faculty Club at Brown University, 1 Magee Street in Providence. Donations in his memory may be made to Brown University (for a bench in his honor at the Faculty Club) or to the RI Association of Chinese Americans, both care of Monahan, Drabble & Sherman, 230 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02906 You may also sent a note to Mrs. Chan at above address if you wish.
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Siu-Chim was originally from Guangzhou, China. He immigrated to the United States for Graduate School in engineering. He met his future bride, Betty, when she was assigned as the school newspaper reporter and Chim, as one of eight exchange students, was her story. Soon after, they both became the story in “East, West, Meet, Marry In a Campus Romance” as reported in the Boston Globe in 1951. It was reported that at the ceremony, “dancing was enjoyed”. Chim and Betty were happily married, beginning their life and starting a family together, and they continued to enjoy dancing together.
Through the years, Chim had worked as a design and consultant engineer. He began his illustrious career as a design engineer for Bernard Green Architects of New York. He became Director of Physical Plant of Brown University. He later joined Daniel Tully and Associates as a Vice President. He also worked as Trinity College’s Director of Physical Plant.
Chim and his wife wintered in Aruba for 28 years. Together, they were minor celebrities that were frequently sought out by other residents in the resort. Chim was gregarious, generous and inherently popular. Chim and Betty attended dancing every Tuesday night during their stay in Aruba and won numerous dancing competitions. He was an avid scuba diver well into his 80s. He was an active and inspirational tennis player who was feared by lobsters across the globe. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church.
He summered on Hog Island, in the octagonal-shaped home he took great pride in designing himself. He religiously ran the head-to-head balloon races each year at field day and was an expert at the egg toss. He was recently made Honorary Grand Marshall for the Hog Island 4th of July Parade. He also captained his boat at the Bristol Yacht Club during many races during the summer.
The funeral service will be held Saturday at 2:00 pm in the Monahan, Drabble & Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street, Providence to which relatives and friends are invited. Calling hours Friday 6 to 8PM and Saturday from noon -2pm. Following the service, there will be a collation from 3 to 5pm at the Faculty Club at Brown University, 1 Magee Street in Providence.
Donations in his memory may be made to Brown University (for a bench in his honor at the Faculty Club) or to the RI Association of Chinese Americans, both care of Monahan, Drabble & Sherman, 230 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02906 You may also sent a note to Mrs. Chan at above address if you wish.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, May 7th at 2:00 pm in the Monahan, Drabble & Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street, Providence to which relatives and friends are invited. Calling hours Friday 6 to 8pm. and Saturday from noon -2pm. Following the service, there will be a collation from 3 to 5pm at the Faculty Club at Brown University, 1 Magee Street in Providence. Donations in his memory may be made to Brown University (for a bench in his honor at the Faculty Club) or to the RI Association of Chinese Americans, both care of Monahan, Drabble & Sherman, 230 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02906 You may also sent a note to Mrs. Chan at above address if you wish.
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