Edward J. Guen

Born to Dogan and Toy Len Chin Goon (immigrants from Taishan, Guangdong Province, China to Portland ME), he was the third of eight children. Ed worked along with his parents and siblings at their family hand laundry until he graduated from Deering High School in 1943. He was Vice President of his class and won the Rensselaer Bausch & Lomb award for excellence in math and science. After working at the Bath Iron Works, he attended Bowdoin College between 1945 and 1948, majoring in math and physics and graduated cum laude with as A.B. in the class of 1949. Under the 3-2 plan, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1948-1950 and received a B.S. in chemistry. In 1954 he received a PhD in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was a member of the Sigma Xi and Phi Lambda Epsilon Honorary Societies. Ed was a post-doctorate and research associate at Tufts University until 1959.

Ed began his professional career as a chemist at National Research Corporation in 1959, and acquired increasing levels of responsibility over his 33 years of employment to become Director, Research & Development of capacitor-grade tantalum power which his company used in its innovative products; he earned two patents related to this process. NRC was acquired and re-acquired several times - finally by the Bayer Corporation, from which Ed retired in 1992.

In 1994 Ed and his wife Amy moved from their home of over 30 years in Needham, MA to retire in Tarpon Springs, FL.

Having grown up with humble beginnings, Ed devoted many years of community service in order to "give back" to society through charitable and non-profit organizations in the Greater Boston area. He served as President of five organizations: Action for Boston Community Development; South Cove Manor Nursing Home; the Kwong Kow Chinese School, the Chinese Economic Development Council, and the Asian American Civic Association. He was a Trustee for the New England Aquarium and the Urban College of Boston.

Ed was an active volunteer for Bowdoin college through the BASIC (applicant interviewer) program, the Alumni Fund, and Planned Giving. At his 50th class reunion, Bowdoin recognized Ed with the Common Good Award, its highest recognition for service to the community. He was very proud to have three of his children graduate from Bowdoin, and to have a granddaughter currently in attendance.

He is survived by Amy, his wife of 59 years; his three sons Leo, Michael, and Timothy; his daughter Theresa; and eight grandchildren. He was devoted brother to seven siblings: Dr. Carroll Goon, Josephine Moy, Arthur Len, Doris Wong, and Janet Louie, and the late Richard Len and Albert Len.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 16th at 10:00 AM at the St. James the Greater Church in Boston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, www.kidney.org, and to the Boston Kwong Kow Chinese School.