Khoa Dang Dao

Khoa “Alex” Dang Dao, age 40, passed away peacefully at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday November 9th, 2013 at 6:35 p.m. in the presence of family and friends after a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

He was born on August 4th, 1973 to Mr. Thien Duc Dao and Mrs. Lieu Thi Pham in Ho Nai Bien Hoa, Vietnam as the second child of eight. At age 16, Khoa and his younger brother, Hoc Van Dao, took the long journey from Vietnam to Thailand by boat, where they arrived at a refugee camp at Panatnikom. They lived there for two years while waiting to be sponsored by their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Anh Binh Pham, to go to the United States of America.

Though English was not his first language, Khoa excelled in mathematics and enjoyed studying auto mechanic. He was also an avid stamp and coin collector and in his free time he loved learning different languages. In 1993, Khoa graduated from Johnston High School and attended Austin Community College where he graduated in 1995 with an associate degree in electronics. Soon after, Khoa worked at Ichor Systems in Round Rock, Texas as a technician. He continued to go to school to learn plumbing and air conditioning.

Khoa was a jack-of-all-trade by nature and always offered his helping hands to people in need. His younger brother Nghia Trong Dao commented on the fact that he would gladly leave a party to take care of a stranger with car trouble. Khoa was also a very religious man, always encouraging others to go to church and always checking on his younger siblings to make sure they were well taken care of. For many years, Khoa was an active member of Thieu Nhi Thanh The youth group and a parishioner at Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church in Austin, Texas where he attended regularly until his passing.

He was an endearing son, a caring brother, a loving father, and a devoted husband. His greetings were always filled with serenity and love and his smile could heal any heavy heart. He will always be remembered for his funny line: “Good morning sunshine” even when it’s dark outside. To his younger siblings, he was not only a role model but also a surrogate father. He valued education and thus always encouraged his siblings to better themselves. On October 2nd, 2004 Khoa married his lovely wife Yen “Lori” Hoang Dinh and two years later, their son Khoi “Ethan” Dang Dao was born. Khoa had an adventurous spirit and together his family cherished many wonderful memories from vacations in and out of the country.

On April 7th, 2013, Khoa began his courageous battle with leukemia. He was a persistent fighter and always had a strong will to live and come home to his family. Even during rigorous and tiring treatments, he still had a kind smile and a joking sense of humor. Khoa had a way about him that made many feel comfortable around him and many of his caretakers soon became his friends. His smile could only be described as joyful and refreshing.

Khoa is survived by his wife Yen “Lori” Hoang Dinh and son Khoi “Ethan” Dang Dao. He is preceded in death by his father, Thien Duc Dao, and mother, Lieu Thi Pham; seven brothers and sisters, Trang Xuan Thi Dao, Hoc Van Dao, Huong Xuan Thi Dao, Vu Anh Dao, Thuan Duc Dao, Nghia Trong Dao, and Ngoc Xuan Thi Dao; and his in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He will always be remembered and loved by all. He may have left this earth too soon but his legacy and kindness will never be forgotten.