Julie Ho Rao

Julie Fangming Ho Rao was born in Chungking, China in April 11, 1941, the only child of Dr. Yichun Ho and Ying-Hwa Chang. Told by doctors that Mrs. Ho was too frail to bear a child, Mr. and Mrs. Ho were delighted to actually have a daughter, nicknaming their precious girl “Little Jewel”. At the time, Dr. Ho was the Dean of both the Law School at the National Central University in Chunking. When Julie reached school age, the family moved to Nanking in 1945, then later to Hong Kong.

Julie grew up in the midst of the Chinese Communist Revolution, and to escape communist oppression, the family immigrated to America. In America, Julie attended school at Western High School, George Washington University, Columbia Union University, and Rutgers University. After earning a masters degree in human nutrition, she worked in various positions as a dietitian, eventually assuming a supervisorial role.

In 1983, Julie was introduced to the Republican Party, establishing a relationship that would define the rest of her career. Over the following 30 years, she worked for numerous GOP leaders, including Frank Wolf, John Warner, Ronald Reagan, and George H. Bush. Her accomplishments include founding the Cosmo Republican Woman’s Club, being recognized as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Grass Root Workers in the Republican Party, founding and acting as Chairman for the Federation of Republican Asian Americans, and organizing the First and Second Asian-Pacific Presidential Inaugural Balls. She was also appointed Director of Volunteers for The Organization for America’s Future, Asian Finance Director for the Bush Reelection Campaign, and Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration.

Throughout her life and work, Julie was the quintessential people person. She enjoyed her work, but treasured the people with whom she worked. She cherished the many friends she was fortunate enough to have. She was endeared to her family, including the many relatives with whom she shared her childhood. Whatever your age, walk of life, or country of origin, to know Julie was to be her friend. Most of all, Julie loved dearly and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her beloved husband David, son Michael (Trang), daughter Debbie (Carl), and four grandchildren (Nicholas, Lauren, Claire, Corinne). Her friends and family meant everything to her, and she meant everything to her friends and family.