Nam Phu Pham

Born in 1955 in Saigon, South Vietnam, Nam was the second youngest of 10 brothers and sisters. His early years in Vietnam were shared with his siblings and friends, creating countless memories filled with joy and camaraderie, even in a time of war.

Empathetic. Patriot. Loving. Selfless. Unwavering. Leader. These are some of the many words that describe my father, Nam Pham. Whether he was playing in the river with friends, leading them in school activities, or taking care of his crowded family at home, my father has always embodied these values since his youth.

With his nation in turmoil during the 1970s, he courageously volunteered and enlisted in the Republic of South Vietnam Navy. There, he proudly served as a medical corpsman until the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Even after the communist takeover of Vietnam and two of his brothers fleeing to the United States, my father stayed behind to take care of my grandparents and navigate his family back to normalcy.

Yet, in the 1980s, my father finally fled VIetnam by boat to seek out a better life and achieve the American Dream. The rustic boat was overcrowded, and the seas were rough. Despite being one of the youngest people on the jam-packed boat, my father was viewed as the undisputed leader of the boat people refugees. Running low on drinkable water, my father’s boat was captured by pirates. Even in treacherous times and hampered by the language barrier, my father still negotiated with the pirates for the safe passage of his fellow refugees. Thankfully, my father’s boat was saved by the fishermen, who towed his boat to safety to a refugee camp in Malaysia.

Even after reaching a refugee camp, my father was far from safe. Despite being beaten down mentally and physically in the refugee camp, my father was, nevertheless, unwavering and steadfast in his pursuit of the American Dream.

Upon his arrival in the United States, things were again not easy. My father stayed with one of his older brothers in Rhode Island and worked as a busboy at the White Horse Tavern restaurant. In spite of his limited English proficiency and backbreaking, low-wage job, my father remained committed to achieving the American Dream for himself and his future family.

Eventually, my father would continue his American Dream by journeying east to west across the United States. When his engine sputtered and stalled in the snow, my father continued to push forward in confidence. An engine failure in the land of freedom was still Heaven compared to an engine failure at sea, where the supply of fresh water was as scarce as faith. Eventually, my father’s willpower and optimism led him to settle in Northern California.

In the late-1980s, my father met my mother, through his former high school classmates. On their first date, my father finished my mother’s leftovers in the restaurant, something that does not usually occur during a couple’s first encounter. Still, the move seemed to work as my parents got married a few years later and settled in San Jose, CA. Six years later, I, Vincent Anh-Viet Pham, was born.

Nam Pham’s legacy can be best described in two roles: a community leader in the Vietnamese American community and a family man as a husband and father.

First, although my dad has finally achieved his American Dream by becoming a husband to my mother and a father to me, he realized he could be more than the head of a family. He realized he could offer his leadership to Vietnamese-Americans nationwide in the Bay Area, Texas, Virginia, and Florida.

In the 1980s, my father started a magazine printing company that promoted Vietnamese American stories, art, and health. Eventually, in the 1990s, my father joined Immigrant Resettlement & Cultural Center (“IRCC”) and started his own media company, Dan Sinh Media, in tandem with IRCC. Through IRCC and Dan Sinh Media, my father helped create the Viet Museum to chronicle the historical journey of the Vietnamese Boat People to America, hosted numerous community events, and created countless documentaries and media programming to advance the socioeconomic welfare and political rights of the Vietnamese American community.

In collaboration with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Congressman Mike Honda, State Senator Dave Cortese, State Assemblymember Ash Kalra, County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, County Supervisor Otto Lee, and many other elected leaders, my father hosted community events such as “Thank You, America”, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events, April 30: Fall of Saigon commemorations, and Viet Museum events. These events engaged the Vietnamese American Community to continue their rich culture and to give thanks to the United States for allowing them a new opportunity to achieve the American Dream.

Through Dan Sinh Media, my father produced numerous documentaries that memorialized the sacrifices of South Vietnamese veterans and untold stories of the Vietnam War. Additionally, my dad created countless radio programs, television programs, and Youtube videos that dealt with topics affecting the local community, such as Medicare, Hepatitis B, SBA loans, COVID-19 programs, public safety, etc. Not only did my father’s media programs assist people in the Bay Area, but they also assisted people throughout the nation as they were also distributed in the Oklahoma-North Texas region, D.C-Virginia region, and many other areas in the United States.

Furthermore, as a pioneer and local community leader, my father galvanized the local community to fundraise for the U.S. Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Statue on Guam to honor the sacrifices of Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard veterans. Because Guam was the first American landing spot for Vietnamese Refugees after the Fall of Saigon, my father was motivated to assist in this fundraising effort. Not only did my father coordinate the effort to raise the necessary funds for the project, all of his efforts came to fruition on April 30, 2019 when the Lone Sailor statue was erected at the Governor’s Mansion in Guam. There is a memorial plaque that lists “Nam Phu Pham,” forever immortalizing his name for all to witness.

Second, while a great community leader, perhaps Nam was an even greater husband, father, and friend. Unlike the prototypical Asian father, my father was never hesitant to express his love for me and my mother. In fact, my father constantly reminded me to show respect to my mother and to always appreciate my mother because mothers unfalteringly sacrifice the most for their children.

Even though my father is no longer here, his legacy and lessons will always be ingrained in our hearts. Through my father, I gained my sense of community. Since my youth, I have attended and been involved in an innumerable count of local community events. Together, my father and I co-hosted many community events. Together, we fundraised for the U.S. Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Statue in Guam. Together, we traveled throughout the country and world to learn about people’s stories and retell them for all in the community to hear. My father is the main reason for my motivation to go beyond myself and do my part to give back to the community. My father paved the way for the next generation of Vietnamese Americans like myself.

More importantly, my father was a loving and supportive man. Whatever I wanted to do and whoever I wanted to be, my father was always understanding and encouraging me. In fact, he inspired me to be all I can be. My father instilled in me a sense of self-confidence and pride in whatever I do. With these values and lessons from my father, I am able to publicly speak, seek out connections, pass job interviews, ask out girls, and provide leadership to my law school and local youth community. Even though my father is gone, I continue to hold these values true to my heart as I navigate the formative years of adulthood without him.

Beyond the father-son dynamic, my father was also my friend. We enjoyed watching hundreds of movies together. Some of his favorite films are the 007 James Bond franchise and historical war movies. We enjoyed going to football, basketball, and baseball games together. Together, we have been to the NBA Western Conference Finals and NFC Conference Championship game. Win or lose, the game itself was not even my father’s favorite thing, rather, it was the previous moments we spent together, the experience of taking B.A.R.T to go to Oracle Arena, riding on CalTrain to Chase Center and Oracle Park, and walking through the enormous parking lot to Levi’s Stadium. Yet, perhaps our favorite memories together were the conversations we had about life, love, politics, and world events; we could talk about anything like true best friends.

A service to celebrate Nam’s life will be held on April 24, 2024, at the Lima Milpitas-Fremont Mortuary and Cedar Lawn Cemetery. After the service, on April 25 at Saint Victor’s Catholic Church, a mass will be held for Nam, followed by Nam’s cremation at Lima Milpitas-Fremont Mortuary and Cedar Lawn Cemetery.

Predeceased by his parents, Nam’s memory will be kept alive by his son, his wife, his siblings, his nephews and nieces, his enormous family, and all of his friends and community members.

Nam Phu Pham’s legacy and journey are one of empathy, dedication, love, and an unwavering commitment to his family and community. As a community leader and patriot, Nam gave his all and never demanded for anything in return. Nam did all he could to help his country and community. As a caring father, he instilled in me the values of love, community, self-confidence, pride, and friendship.

Dad, I will truly miss you, but you are the one who taught me that our journey does not end at death. Although the road ahead is dark and uncertain, your light will guide me for a lifetime to come.

Dad, as I prepare to take those next steps, I am humbled by your legacy as a leader, a patriot, a friend, a son, a husband, and a father.

We will never forget our sweet memories. Mom and I will dearly miss you, Dad! We love you, then, now and forever!