Tommy was born in Guangdong, Taishan, Chanbing village in China. At age 15 he immigrated to the U.S. He started working at an early age in the kitchen of his family restaurant, Tai Tung. Tai Tung is Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant, opened in 1935 and has been passed down from generation to generation.
A proud veteran, Tommy enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge from the military, he started a family and was a workaholic restaurateur (became owner of Tai Tung and other restaurants in the Seattle area).
Tommy combined passion, energy, determination and grit to achieve success. Whether in the Seattle area or in his hometown of China, he was an entrepreneur with vision and courage to try new ventures. He was unafraid of challenges.
In 1993, Tommy was awarded the Honorary Citizen of Jiangmen City by the People's Government of Jiangmen and in 1997 he was named as Honorary Citizen of Taishan City by the People’s Government of Taishan.
Tommy was a popular host and made any gathering better with his presence. He knew how to entertain just about anyone with his one-liners, like a comedian.
Tommy passed away peacefully on September 23, 2022 at the age of 88 in Seattle, WA with his loving family by his side.
Tommy is survived by his wife Katie, and by his children Aldis (Ayn), Lillian (Scott), Diana (Keith), Allison (Angela), and Mary. He is also survived by his grandchildren Evan and Cole (their father Adam), Michelle, Brian, Jason, Derek, Tara, Lucas, Colten, Janine, Curtis, Kaylin, Jeffery, Ryan, Madison, and Matthew; great-granddaughters Aubrey and Chelsea. He is also survived by his sisters Kam, Leila, brother Harry, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his first wife (Judy), daughter (Elinore), and sister (Nora).
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 6:00 pm.to 8:00 pm. at the Sunset Hills Funeral Home chapel.
Services will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Sunset Hills Funeral Home chapel.
Gravesite services with military honors will follow at 12:30pm.
Sunset Hill Funeral Home: 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98007
Tai Tung patriarch
https://nwasianweekly.com/2022/10/remembering-tommy-quan-tai-tung-patriarch-1933-2022/
The orange king of Guangdong province. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1990/01/07/seattle-restaurateur-becomes-chinas-model-orange-grower/556a00c1-659f-4b91-89dc-66d995a2c01d/
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