Jim Chan

Jim was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1982. He excelled in mathematics since the first grade, attended Woodbury High School in MN, and graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University in 2006. Jim held various industrial engineering jobs during his career and achieved numerous accolades, including being an ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt (2009), Whirlpool Operational Excellence Black Belt (2012), ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (2014) and ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (2016).

Throughout his adult life, Jim was an ambitious person with an array of undertakings. On top of working a full-time engineering job, he managed his own Airbnb property, was a licensed real estate professional, was a Project Manager for multiple properties, and enjoyed learning about and managing his wide range of investments. This summer, he completed his MBA from Rice University, during which he was selected as team lead for his cohort’s Capstone project and Global Field Experience in Berlin, Germany. Furthermore, what Jim took greatest pride in was his utmost passion for soccer refereeing.

Through his refereeing, Jim contributed countless hours to improving grassroots youth and adult soccer across Texas. His achievements are too many to list, but he was especially proud of being selected to officiate in the first-ever official soccer match at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium. Most recently, this summer, Jim had just submitted his application to become a National referee which would have made him eligible for professional adult games at the highest level.

Above all else, Jim will be remembered most fondly for his personality. To put it simply, Jim was always himself: laid-back with quick wit, infectious laugh and uniquely unfiltered sense of humor: a rare quality in today’s world. He was open, sincere and always made the effort to be there for his friends. This includes taking just as much interest in and giving as much time to the careers and development of his fellow soccer referees as to his own.

Jim is survived by his parents Lilian and Michael, his long-term girlfriend Shuting, and the memories of the plethora of friends who naturally gravitated towards Jim through his soccer refereeing and other pursuits. If you would like to share any condolences and/or fond memories with Jim’s family, they can be contacted at [email protected] (Lilian), [email protected] (Michael) and [email protected] (Shuting).