John Quý Lê

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved John Quý Lê, also known to his family as Ông Nội and Bố. He passed peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Dublin Methodist Hospital, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was 92 years old. Quý fought courageously until the very end, holding onto the same feisty, strong-willed spirit that defined his life.

Quý was born in Nam Định, Việt Nam, to his parents Lê Văn Vụ and Trương Thị Thìn, a teacher and a midwife, who shaped the foundation of his strength and character. His early life was marked by hardship and history; as a young child, he survived the Japanese Occupation (1940-1945), the First Indochina War (1945-1954), and the Geneva Accords that partitioned Vietnam at the 17th Parallel into communist North Vietnam and US-backed South Vietnam. During the Vietnam war, he left his mechanical engineering studies to serve his country, training as an Officer Cadet at the prestigious Trường Sĩ Quan Trừ Bị Thủ Đức Reserve Officer Academy. He went on to serve in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam, rising through the ranks from Aspirant to Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, and eventually Major. He was stationed with the Ordnance Corps (Quân Cụ), based in Cam Ranh, and dedicated years of his life to leadership, service, and sacrifice.

Following the fall of Sài Gòn, Quý was given the opportunity to leave for the United States under the sponsorship of Ambassador Graham Martin, whom his wife had worked for, but he chose to stay, honoring his pledge to the flag and his duty to defend his country until the very end. That decision led to his arrest and six and a half years in re-education camps deep in the jungle, where he endured immense hardship. Even after his release, he lived under strict government control until he and his family were finally granted the opportunity to immigrate to the United States through the Humanitarian Operation program, initiated by President Ronald Reagan and finalized under President George H. W. Bush.

In America, Quý and his wife, Tâm, started over from nothing—and never once complained. He worked tirelessly in any role he could, from janitorial work at Sacred Heart Hospital, to housekeeping at Courtyard by Marriott in Spokane, Washington, to a supporter at NationalRx in Columbus, Ohio. He believed deeply in the American Dream and carried profound gratitude for the opportunities this country gave him, often wearing an American flag pin on his coat. Because of him, his children and grandchildren were able to achieve more than he ever had, carrying forward that same gratitude for this great nation and never forgetting where they came from. He was known for his generosity and honesty, always leading with a kind and giving heart. He would never pass by someone in need without offering what he could, often emptying his pockets for those less fortunate.

But to know Quý was to know far more than his resilience. He was joy, laughter, and the brightest smile in the room.

When he came to the US, he discovered a new love: Coca-Cola! That love, unfortunately, came with a diabetes diagnosis, but he met it head-on. He bought countless books, annotating each one carefully, teaching himself how to manage his health, without any medication. Through discipline, exercise, and nutrition, he maintained a healthy lifestyle for years. He created his iconic “health smoothie,” a blend of vegetables, chicken, ketchup, and his secret ingredient: Diet Coke. His grandchildren still remember the unmistakable smell.

Our Ông Nội had the most infectious smile, sometimes laughing so hard his dentures would fall out. He was always clapping, usually on beat, sometimes not, and sometimes even in silence, because music lived inside him. He was a ping-pong enthusiast, proudly coaching his youngest son Vũ to a Sài Gòn singles semifinal in the late 1980s. Ông Nội had simple joys: feeding ducks at the neighborhood pond, flying kites, fishing, biking for miles, and taking his grandchildren to fairs, parades, garage sales, and all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets. For a man with diabetes, he had quite the sweet tooth! He loved bananas, dragon fruit, peanut butter sandwiches, Snickers, kettle corn, ice cream, green Jello, and of course, Coca-Cola. He had a playful spirit and a stubborn streak, often muttering favorite phrases like “Bố khỉ” and “mất dạy” when he was annoyed – words that, over time, became some of our favorite memories of him.

Although Alzheimer’s stole pieces of Ông Nội’s memory, it could never steal his joy. He continued to smile, to clap, to sing. Music still reached him, and he often sang alongside his son Hoàng (David), even in the later stages of his illness. He held onto his independence in his own way – often wandering off on unplanned adventures, but always safely brought home thanks to the care and kindness of our loving neighbors.

Through it all, he was deeply loved and cared for. His children showed him the same unwavering devotion he had always given them, with Trinh and Vũ traveling often to be by his side to care for him, and Việt coming from Florida. The Lê family is also deeply grateful for his caregivers, Vivian and Lin Yi (林怡), for their kindness, patience, and compassion.

Above all else, Quý was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grandfather.

He is survived by his wife, Tâm Lê; his children Trinh Lê (Phong Nguyễn), Việt Lê (Thảo Nguyễn), Hoàng Lê (Hồng Phan), and Vũ Lê (Vy Nguyễn); and his cherished grandchildren Angelique Lê, Eli Lê, Britney Lê, Andrew Lê, Daphne Lê, Deanna Lê, and Dalton Lê.

A visitation and Celebration of Life will be held at Schoedinger Dublin, 5980 Perimeter Drive, Dublin, Ohio, on Saturday, May 9, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Quý is deeply missed, but his spirit lives on in the lives he built, the family he loved, and the joy he carried. We find comfort in knowing he is now reunited in Heaven with his parents – free, at peace, riding his bike with a smile on his face and a cold glass of Coca-Cola in hand.