‘One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well” – Virginia Woolf. Those of us who knew and loved Les Quan know that he had dined well over the past 66 years. It is with this knowledge that we know he now rests peacefully in Heaven.
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away on July 13, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. Les was born on October 31, 1952 in Phoenix to Joe and Anna Quan. He spent his childhood there and graduated from Camelback High School where he was very active in baseball and student government. He went on to attend Northern Arizona University after high school. Well-liked and respected by his peers, Les was a natural leader and enjoyed bringing people together. He also spent his time helping his parents who owned and operated independent family grocery stores.
Les was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Paula. They started dating in 1974 and married soon after in 1976. They bonded over a love of the outdoors, traveling, and their children. Paula was the love of his life and she was truly his angel over the past year as his health declined.
As his boys were growing up, Les was always involved in their activities. Whether it was coaching their baseball and basketball teams or volunteering for the Little League Board, he gave his time freely. The many players that he coached over the years would still greet him with admiration and respect whenever they saw him around the neighborhood.
In his professional life, Les spent 38 years at Banner Health, taking on roles of increasing responsibility throughout his tenure. He was responsible for the financial accounting of the IT department across the entire Banner organization. This included the tracking of not only the day-to-day financials but also the tracking of IT capital expenditures for ongoing and expansion projects.
As a young adult and throughout his life, Les was an avid hunter – he enjoyed hunting big game and had the trophies to prove it (including the infamous Melvin the Moose). But what he enjoyed the most were the countless hunting trips that he took with his brother Gary and his sons Tyler and Nick. These trips provided endless memories and developed such a strong bond between the four of them.
Perhaps his greatest joy in life were his four grandchildren – his ‘buddies.’ Despite the distance, he remained an important part of their lives, calling often and writing weekly letters to let them know he was thinking of them and wanting to know the simple details of their daily lives. Whenever they came to visit, they always knew that the refrigerator and cupboards would be stocked with all their favorite treats!
As most know, Les was an amazing chef! There is nothing he loved more than a good steak, but his repertoire included a vast array of delicious recipes. He enjoyed having guests over to enjoy his meals but was also known to prepare meals for others and deliver them to their house, just so they could enjoy a nice dinner.
Les is survived by his wife Paula, children Tyler (Lindsay) and Nick (Meghan), grandchildren Jack, Michael, Annie, and Koa, sisters Joanne (Jim) Reynolds, Phyllis (Craig) Steinberg and brother Gary. Visitation and viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary at 710 W. Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. Services will be on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 9:00 AM at The Franciscan Renewal Center at 5802 E. Lincoln Drive in Paradise Valley. A private gravesite internment will follow the services for family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation or Hospice of the West in memory of Les Quan.
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