Jimmy Cuong Duc Pham

Jimmy Cuong Duc Pham was born on April 10, 1952 in Dalat, Vietnam.

Growing up in Vietnam, he attended French-Vietnamese schools, learning French, Vietnamese, and German along the way. He completed law school and was slated to begin his legal and political career until the fall of Saigon in April 1975 changed his plans. He escaped the end of the war as a 23-year-old passenger on a ship led by the USS Kirk headed toward the United States by May 1975.

As a refugee in the U.S., he lived with a German-speaking host family in Washington, D.C. Pulled by friends, good weather, and the beaches of Southern California, he eventually made his way to Huntington Beach and settled in this area for the larger part of the next ~50 years of his life.

Jimmy was a foreign policy wonk, entrepreneur, businessman, realtor, and artist, and he spread his knowledge to extended family and friends around the world. He was also a generous spirit who helped many Vietnamese refugees settle into their new home country, teaching many how to drive, find jobs, learn English, buy homes, manage finances, enroll in education, and navigate government bureaucracies. He regularly enjoyed quality time with friends and family, a good cup of Vietnamese coffee, great music, traveling, and chatting about current events.

Jimmy passed away on November 4, 2023 at 7:35 pm PST surrounded by family members and visits by friends in Irvine, Orange County, Southern California. He battled stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma lung cancer, a rare and aggressive type, with courage, sound mind, positivity, wisdom, and humility throughout the ordeal and until the very last day. He is survived by his daughter Jessica and son-in-law Dennis; her brother Michael and his family Robert, Avery, Stuart, and Royce; nieces Anita, Lily, Elise, and Nancy; and extensive family in Vietnam throughout Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, and Hanoi he worked hard to reunite.

*Note: American birthday: April 10, 1952; Vietnamese birthday: April 10, 1950.

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