He was born in Ben Tre, a small village in Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam, the oldest of five siblings. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, and lived a life of service; he was generous, kind, loyal, humble and fun-loving.
Minh-Tho graduated from the Vietnamese Naval Academy in Nha Trang, 8th Class First Scorpion. He devoted 17 ½ years serving in the South Vietnamese Navy. The most important and formative things to him were the lifelong friendships he made in the Navy. Among his many accomplishments:
* Ascended to Commander in the Vietnamese Navy
* Commanded Vietnamese Navy bases in An Thoi, Phu Quoc, Cat Lo, and Vung Tau
* Chairman of “the Military Spear Fishing at Sea Club”
* Received the National Defense Service Medal, 5th Class
His family immigrated to the United States in 1975, and resettled in Logan, Utah for 10 years. He moved to Florida in 1985, and served as the President of the Vietnamese Community of South of Florida. He loved to spearfish, scuba dive, cook, travel and garden; he had one of the best tropical fruit gardens in all of South Florida.
He is survived by his long-time companion, Ms. Nhan Thi Phan (Miami, FL); his ex-wife Mrs. Bach-Yen Tran (Salt Lake City, UT), daughters and grandchildren: ToOanh and her children Ethan Minh-Khoa Ma and Kate Thuy-Linh Ma (Austin, TX); ToUyen and Jason Gries and their children: Audrey Y-Nhi Gries and Keanan Minh-Quan Gries (Austin, TX); Thuy-Phuong Minh Nguyen and Bill Davis (Decatur, GA); Diem and Michael Thompson and their children Minh and Lien Thompson (Salt Lake City, UT); Anh Khoa Ton That and Huyen Dinh and their daughter Elise Ngoc Nu (Salt Lake City, UT). Siblings, Brother - Nguyen, Quan Dang and Kim-Lien and their children Quang Nguyen and My-Tien (Mytho, Vietnam); Sister - Nguyen Thuy Hoa and Le Quang Nhuan and their children Le Quang Huy and Trang and Le Ngoc Thuy and Giles Poggi (France); Sister - Nguyen Ngo Xuan-Hoa and Ngo Ngoc-Hao and their daughter Kim-Cuong Diamond Rose Ngo and husband
Vu, Duc-Duy (Houston, TX); Sister - Nguyen Ngoc Hoa and Le Thien Quoc and their son Le Minh-Tan (Margate, FL).
He is preceded in death by his father: Nguyen Quan Quan, mother: Huynh, Thi Du and step-mother Le, Thi Hoang.
A celebration of Minh-Tho Nguyen’s life will be held this Friday, 7/12, 3-8 pm, and Saturday, 7/13, 10am-3pm.
Caballero Rivero Woodlawn South 11655 SW 177th Ave. Miami, Fl 33186 Phone: (305) 238-3672
Schedule of Services:
Friday, 7/12: 3-8pm Visitation 4pm Buddhist Ceremony
Saturday, 7/13: 10am Buddhist Ceremony 12pm Vietnamese Military Ceremony
Memorials:
Minh-Tho regularly attended the Phuoc Hue Temple in Miami. His ashes will be blessed for 100 days following the ceremony according to Buddhist tradition.
Donations to Phuoc Hue can be made by personal check made to: “Phuoc Hue Temple” in honor of Minh-Tho Nguyen
Phuoc Hue Temple 16195 SW 184th St. Miami, FL 33187 (786) 250-3588
In 2010, our Dad was involved in a serious accident in Orlando that resulted in a long stay in the Orlando Health hospital system. Family members came from Atlanta, Miami and Austin to be at his side while he fought to recover. Thankfully, the Orlando Health system includes a few special places where family can stay on the hospital grounds for little cost. As you can imagine, the hospitality, kindness and support that these Homes provide helps to ease some of the stress of an awful situation.
The Nguyen Family would like to remember the generosity we were shown and ask you to consider supporting the places and people that showed us so much kindness.
There are two ways to make a donation to the Orlando Health- Perry Pavilion:
Personal Check: You can send your donation directly to the Perry Pavilion at:
Cynthia C. & William E. Perry Pavilion Dr. P. Phillips Hospital 9400 Turkey Lake Road Orlando, FL 32819 (321) 842-8844
Please include a note or memo that your donation is in Memory of Minh-Tho Nguyen
Online:
You can donate with your credit card via Orlando Health Foundation online page.
Follow the link, below: https://secure2.convio.net/orhefo/site/SPageServer;jsessionid=22182B795C469998A8BC3A681A189D8F.app296a?pagename=donate_online&designee=1006
Make sure that you've indicated that your gift is in support of the Cynthia C. & William E. Perry Pavilion in the drop-down list of the web page.
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