Tan Thanh Nguyen

Nguyen Tan Thanh, 78, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2016 while surrounded by his loving family. Tan Thanh was born on July 23, 1938 in Quang Ngai, Vietnam. He has lived in Nova Scotia, Canada since 1981.

Tan Thanh is survived by his wife of 36 years, Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa; son Nguyen Thanh Hien (Thuy Hong Le), daughter Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, son Nguyen Thanh Trang (Lien Truong) and son Nguyen Thanh Tung (Chrissy Nguyen). Grandpa will be remembered fondly by his grandchildren: Dien, Chan Tam, Altair, Judy, Peter, Aden, Ethan, Natalie, Jalen, Brandon, and Alexander. He was predeceased by his first wife (Nguyen Thi Hue) and daughter (Nguyen Thanh Uyen) in 1971. He is the third child of a family of twelve children, and will be missed by many extended family members around the world.

Tan Thanh was known for his generosity and compassion for others. He will be remembered by many in the Vietnamese Community for his simplicity of life and his passion for life-long learning. Tan Thanh’s deep love for learning and teaching led him to a long career as a highly esteemed teacher and school principal in Vietnam. He will continue to be well respected by his peers and honored by his students. After the Vietnam War, he survived five years in a re-education camp, drawing on his strength of spirit and resilience. He came out of this immensely difficult experience with a stronger desire for peace and freedom.

In 1980, motivated by his quest for freedom for himself and his family, he took his son Trang, and escaped Vietnam along with other boat people. After a perilous journey on the high seas followed by months in a refugee camp, they were sponsored to Canada by Bethel Presbyterian Church in Sydney, NS, in an initiative led by Rev. Dr. Everett H. Bean and Mrs. Winnifred Bean. Tan Thanh and his son moved to Halifax a year later. For seven years he worked hard to sponsor his wife (Kim Thoa), daughter (Thanh Tuyen) and youngest son (Thanh Tung) from Vietnam to Canada.

Tan Thanh developed new skills as a sailor, a fisherman, a taxi-driver, a carpenter and a landlord. He loved to work with his hands, read scientific journals and invent things. He embraced the Maritime life and enjoyed spending time at his house in Eastern Passage. Tan Thanh was extremely devoted to his family, and supported his children in any way he could in building their lives in Canada and the United States. Over the years, he built three homes in Halifax to support and leave a legacy for his family.

Visitation will be held on December 27, 2016 at Cruikshank's Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor St, Halifax. A traditional service will be held from 2-6 p.m. On-line condolences may be made to Hien Thanh Nguyen's Facebook page.