Alberto Phan Ba Trac

Our father, Phan Ba Trac, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025, at the remarkable age of 91. His final moments were spent exactly as he lived his life, surrounded by family who loved him deeply, held in the warmth of his children, grandchildren, and nieces. It is a blessing that his journey ended in the comfort of home.

He was born on July 31, 1934, to Phan Huy Diem and Le Thi Lien in Binh Dinh, Vietnam. From an early age, he understood the value of education, discipline, and perseverance. He earned his Bachelor degree in Education in 1962, the same year he married our mother, Nguyen Thi Hong‑Lien, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in devotion and resilience. From 1962 to 1973, he taught English at Cuong De High School, shaping young minds with the same dedication he later poured into his own children.

Never one to stop learning, he earned his law degree in 1975, just before the fall of Saigon. That same year, our family immigrated to the United States and made a new home in Dallas, Texas. Those early years were difficult, but he faced every challenge with quiet determination. After long workdays, he would drive 25 miles to attend classes at the University of North Dallas, pursuing the education he believed would open doors for our family. His perseverance paid off when he graduated from UNT with a Master of Arts on August 9, 1997, later teaching ESL, French, and Latin in the Dallas Independent School District and Richardson Independent School District.

Teaching was not just his profession. It was his calling, his gift, and his way of giving back. His influence reached far beyond the classroom. A few years ago, we received a call from one of his former students from his teaching years in Vietnam. This student had spent years searching for him and wanted to confirm that we were the children of thầy Trác Phan. My dad was no longer able to speak much at that time, but his student wanted us to know that our father had inspired him to become a teacher here in America. Even decades later, across oceans and generations, my father’s impact continued to shape lives.

To his children, he was a father who balanced firmness with tenderness. He held high expectations, not out of strictness for its own sake, but because he believed in our potential. His guidance shaped our character; his sacrifices paved our paths; his love, sometimes quiet and sometimes unspoken, was constant and unconditional. As we grew older, we came to understand the depth of his care, the intention behind his lessons, and the pride he carried for each of us.

His friends and our relatives often said that our father was blessed to have his children care for him. But the truth is, we were the blessed ones. After our mother passed, we were given the privilege of caring for him, of giving back even a fraction of the love, sacrifice, and devotion he had shown us throughout our lives. It was a gift to walk beside him during his golden years, to support him, to honor him, and to be present with him in the way he had always been present for us.

He lived a long, full life. One marked by perseverance, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility. He taught us the value of hard work, the importance of family, and the dignity of doing what is right. His legacy lives on not only in the stories we share, but in the way we live our lives, the values we pass to our children, and the love we continue to carry forward.

Though our hearts are heavy, we also feel immense gratitude. We were blessed with a father who loved fiercely, who guided us with purpose, and who remained a pillar of strength until his final day. We will miss his presence, his voice, and his wisdom, but we will forever feel him in our daily lives, in the traditions he cherished, in the lessons he taught, and in the family he built with such devotion.

Rest in peace, Daddy. We love you, and we miss you more than words can ever express.

A visitation will be held at Sparkman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, located at 1029 South Greenville Avenue, Richardson, Texas 75081, on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral mass will take place at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Parish, 2121 Apollo Road, Garland, Texas 75044, on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 10:00 am.

A committal service will follow at Sparkman Hillcrest Mausoleum & Memorial Park, 7405 West Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225, on January 3, 2026, at 12:00 pm. There will be an escorted procession.

In addition, if you or someone you know wishes to send a floral condolence to the Phan family in his honor, you may choose InBloom Flowers at 972-256-6637 or visit their website at www.inbloomsympathyflowers.com