Phero Nguyen Duc Nhi

Peter Nhi Duc Nguyen, born October 20, 1929, in Van Doa, Quang Nam, Vietnam, passed away peacefully in Arlington, Texas, on August 25, 2024, at the age of 94. Known for his steadfast faith and unexpected love for puns, Nhi embodied devotion, resilience and quiet heroism. He was a man of contrasts—silly and serious, talkative at times yet contemplative always—constantly carrying a rosary that symbolized his deep spiritual life.

At 14, Nhi entered the Catholic seminary in Kon Tum, excelling in theology, math, Latin and French, and music. His path was interrupted when the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) drafted him in 1953. Nhi's life became a balancing act between military duty and seminary life, ultimately leading him to leave in 1958 to become a mathematics teacher near Hoi An.

In Hoi An, he met and married Lai Thi Tran in 1964, starting a family amidst the chaos of war. The couple moved to Nha Trang, where Nhi’s role as an intelligence officer in the ARVN Special Forces remains a family mystery—whether he managed a cadre of saboteurs or simply handled paperwork, we will never know. In 1968, he left the army, taking on jobs in construction and as a hamlet leader while war loomed closer.

In April 1975, a warning from a local seller of rau muống (water spinach) spurred Nhi to flee with his family. He led the way southward, taking initial attempts on his own, including an encounter with a Communist sergeant whose Jeep Nhi repaired on the spot, allowing him to pass unharmed. As a group, they left their home under the pretense of attending the 6 p.m. mass, each parent taking part of their family, including Nhi’s mother-in-law, to rendezvous a few kilometers away.

They traveled by fishing boat, ferry, and bus for several days until they finally reached Long Hai beach, where they reunited with relatives. Nhi found them in a moment he would later attribute to divine guidance, as he overheard a passerby mentioning their priest. Everyone was rescued by the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet.

After months in refugee camps, the family was sponsored by the families of Bill and Kathy Buchanan and Andy and Joan Noble from the St. Robert of Newminster parish in Ada, outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Nhi, though well-educated and fluent in several languages, started anew with humble jobs, sweeping floors and working in a paper warehouse, tirelessly supporting his family alongside Lai.

Nhi's love for wordplay was a constant source of amusement. He delighted in “Vietlish” puns, rechristening his daughter’s friend Barb as “Barbecue” and calling the Michigan superstore Meijer, mấy giờ (what time). His infectious, cackling laugh and jokes made even the most cynical crack a smile.

A man of action and prayer, Nhi doubled the living space of his dream home by adding multiple rooms with the help of a friend. One Christmas, he built a star-shaped ornament nearly five feet tall and attached it to the roof as his version of the Star of Bethlehem, leaving it until the next year as a proud display of his hard work.

As age and ailments took their toll, Nhi’s vigor diminished, yet he remained connected to his family. He moved in with his daughter Uyen-Sa and her husband Thanh, whose family lovingly cared for him for thirty years. Despite being nearly blind and deaf, he continued to garden, meticulously planting fruit trees and rose bushes whenever he visited his children.

Nhi Duc Nguyen, a man who spoke little but laughed loudly, is preceded by his parents and his younger brother Phong. He is survived by his youngest brother Phap, and his children—Ly-Sa, Uyen- Sa, Lynh, Liem and Hoai-Nam—and their respective families; his wife, Lai; and extended family members and friends around the world. Nhi will be remembered for his unwavering faith, love for his family, and quiet heroism. He will be deeply missed.

You can read the full obituary here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15AA9HeX_8s1oApEjhkXcxa9fv2iHSYSH/view