John B. Lam Huy Bui

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits John B Lam Huy Bui who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, John was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with John knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

John was born on December 15, 1940 at Vietnam in Ninh Binh. His parents were Khoai and Hien Bui. John was raised in Ninh Binh. Even as a youngster, John learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, John was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. John was raised with seven siblings. He had 3 younger brothers: Vinh, Phuoc, Duc and 4 younger sisters: Mao, Hanh, Tu and Huong. John had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For John, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

John's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, John enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. John took part in soccer and was a member of religious organizations. In his spare time he liked arts and nature. John's memorable achievements included public speaking.

In school, John was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, John was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. John’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Tan Hung High School in 1955. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite classes in high school were Literature and Art. In addition to his love for the arts, John excelled in the field of Literature.

John’s practical work ethic carried over into his college years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. John’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When John saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. During John's college years, he joined the military.

John was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When John was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to John came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Ninh, Hau, Tiem and Due. Later in life, he became very close friends with Ninh,Tiem and Due.

An objective and conscientious individual, John reveled in the security of his family. On October 26, 1956 John exchanged wedding vows with Pham Thi Ngat at the Binh Thai Parish of Saigon, Vietnam. One of John’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

John was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. John would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. John was blessed with nine children, 5 sons: Son, Su, Chinh, Dinh, Dai and 4 daughters: Tuyen, Oanh, Sang and Hien. He and his lovely wife were also blessed with thirteen grandchildren, Minh, Thu, Hieu, Tuan, Phuong, Hoa, Hien, Khai, ThaoMi, Truc, ThienAn, ThienMinh and VietThu.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, John was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, John was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, John upheld his standards. His primary occupation was painting. He was self employed. John was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

John was an Intelligence Investigation Officer. His sense of duty helped lead him into the military where his understanding of rank, his willingness to abide by rules and regulations and his desire to follow orders was admired by his fellow service men and women. He was in South Vietnam before 1975. John saw action for fourteen years during the Vietnam War.

John approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were arts, nature and painting. John was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for John to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In high school, John played soccer. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was soccer.

Being generous with his time and energy, John liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. He was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. His desire to uphold traditions and his ability to take charge of any type of project made him a tremendous asset. In high school, John was a big supporter of vocation. In college, John joined the Ministerial Committee. Throughout his later years, John was an active supporter of Vocation.

A civic-minded person, John was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. He was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. John was a member of several community groups, including serving on committees for the Catholic Church. During these years, John applied his analytical intellect to problem solving and so, was an asset on most committees.

Faith was important to John. He held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay he saw around him. For that reason he held deep spiritual beliefs that he was willing to share. He was a member of Our Lady Of LaVang for 12 years. During that time, he was a Eucharistic Minister.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, John used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. John had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included traveling the world.

John was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of John’s favorites was a dog. They were best friends for 6 years. His pet family was rounded out by his tropical fish.

When John’s retirement finally arrived in 2005, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. His new life involved relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. In retirement, he found new pleasure in Acupressure Treatment. In many ways, John loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

John passed away on December 4, 2010 at home in Las Vegas, Nevada. He fought a brave battle against lung cancer. He is survived by his children, especially his daughter Tuyen. Services were held at Palm Mortuary and Our Lady Of LaVang Church. John was laid to rest in his homeland of Vietnam.

All who knew him would agree that John was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. John B Lam Huy Bui did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Downtown Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.