Tan Nhu Nguyen

Tấn Như Nguyễn was born on May 8, 1933 in Mỹ Hào village, city of Hưng Yên, North Vietnam, one of 16 siblings, and passed away on November 21, 2020 in his home, peacefully, surrounded by his beautiful wife of 67 years, Nguyêt Thi Nguyễn, and loving family, in Montclair, California.

He was a loving father of Đức (Hạnh), Hoa (Phong), Trí (Phương), Dũng (Danh), Zoon (Cathy), and Kim Hương (Laszlo). Uncle of many nieces and nephews; grandfather to Nichelle, Nam, Carissa, Christine, Jazzy, Melanie, Hannah, Nguyễn Như Liam, Nguyễn Thị Lea, Halligan Hồng, Cassidy, Julian and Bennett.

Tấn was fiercely committed to family, his Vietnamese Community, and his adopted Country’s Democratic principles (he voted, in person at his neighborhood polling place, on November 3) . He was a Commanding Officer of the 331 Logistics Brigade of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), fighting with Americans against the Vietnamese Communists. After he risked his life to help so many leave Vietnam in the final days before the fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975, he, his wife and children started life again in Pomona, CA. As a refugee, Tấn worked as a mechanic technician at a cosmetics jar manufacturing company – a far cry for a Lieutenant Colonel in the ARVN. He was proud to have a job, to take care of his wife and 6 children. All his children are college educated, have careers, contribute to their communities and have loving families of their own. Tấn later became a mailman serving the Pomona Valley residents, until his retirement.

His father, Mr. Nguyễn Như Khuê, taught his children to put into practice "humanity", "integrity" and "generosity". Tấn lived these principles. He practiced "generosity" during the 1944-1945 famine in North Vietnam, always ready to help the less fortunate. And, when he arrived in America, he established the Vietnamese Community Group to support new refugees who arrived after 1975, to help ease the transition to a new way of life. Tấn was always committed to helping others and remained active in many organizations. His main purpose was to help old people, poor families, and the future generations (i.e. students) and simultaneously promoted volunteering to make better communities.

Services will be held on December 07, 2020 at Draper Mortuary, 811 N. Mountain Ave., Ontario, CA 91762. Private family prayers will begin at 9:00 am, followed by viewing from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm.

Graveside service will be held on December 11, 2020 at Forest Park Lawndale, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas 77023, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm noon local time.

Due to COVID 19, there will be restrictions and guidelines during all services.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that memorial contributions be made in Tấn Như Nguyễn’s name to Pháp Vân Temple, 850 W Phillips Blvd, Pomona, CA 91766.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Draper-Mortuary.com for the Nguyen family.