Sauth Meak

Sauth was born in the small Cambodian village of Prey Veng, outside the capital of Phnom Penh, on November 3, 1943. He was the only child of Em and Meng Meak. Sauth attended the University of Phnom Penh and graduated with a degree in economics. Upon graduation, he joined the Ministry of Finance. In 1974, Sauth received a fellowship from The Asia Foundation to continue his studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was working towards a graduate degree when the Khmer Rouge overthrew the Cambodian government.

At the time, Sauth’s wife, Kim Meak, and their three young children were still in Cambodia. With the generous help and support of his friends and mentors, Sauth was able to bring his family to the United States. Sauth and Kim made Columbia their home for 43 years and were stalwarts in the city's burgeoning and vibrant Cambodian community. Sauth’s career in Columbia began at Jensen International and then at Columbia Foods/Kraft Foods, where he worked for over 20 years.

Sauth had a love of food, travel, and gardening and weaved those passions into just about everything he did. When it came to food, while his wife Kim whipped up Cambodian dishes in the kitchen, you could often find him outside grilling meat and frying egg rolls to nourish his friends and family. He had a green thumb with a talent for nurturing plants for decades, long after anyone else would have killed them. He loved traveling with his family, whether it was a simple camping and fishing trip or more adventurous excursions to Europe and Asia. But more than anything, Sauth dearly loved his family and was proud of all that he and his family have accomplished in their adopted country. In May of 1992, Sauth became a U.S. Citizen.

He is survived by his loving wife, Kim Meak, of Kingsport, Tennessee, his daughter, Vantharane Meak, of Kingsport, Tennessee, his son, Van Meak (Liza Meak) of Redwood City, California and three granddaughters, Olivia, Erin and Carrie Meak of Redwood City, California. Sauth is preceded in death by his daughter, Vanthary Meak, and his parents, Em and Meng Meak.