Gaing Wing Chan passed away on February 19, 2021, at the age of 98. He was born and raised in Oroville, CA. After graduating from Oroville High School in 1941, he enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley. However, his freshman year was interrupted when the United States entered the Second World War. During World War II, Gaing helped with the construction of Liberty cargo ships at the Kaiser Shipyards, and also served as a U.S. Army technical staff sergeant at Camp Beale. He was a recent recipient of the Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal. After World War II, Gaing continued his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, graduating in 1949. He was also a proud member and active alumnus of the Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity. After graduating from Cal, Gaing attended the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine and earned his medical degree in 1952. He completed his residency training in general surgery at the Southern Pacific Hospital in San Francisco, and then moved to West Sacramento with his wife, Lily, in 1956 where he practiced family medicine and general surgery for 44 years. In West Sacramento, he also served the community as a Kiwanis International service club member, a volunteer physician for the James Marshall High School football team, and a volunteer physician for Kamp Kiwanis. Dr. Chan was an active member of the medical staffs for Sutter and Mercy Hospitals in Sacramento and served a term as President and Chief of the Medical Staff at Mercy Hospital. In his spare time, Gaing enjoyed spending time with his family, working as a part-time “handyman and carpenter” around his home and office, traveling, and watching Cal-Berkeley football and San Francisco 49ers and Giants games. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years (Lily), his parents, and siblings. He is survived by his six children (Carolyn, Diane, Martin, Patricia, John, Alan), sons/daughters-in-law (Gordon, Kenneth, Lynn, Daniel, Lianne, Carol), 15 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and many brothers/sisters-in-law, and nieces/nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a memorial contribution to one of the following: ACC Senior Services (Asian Care Center of Sacramento) https://www.accsv.org, the University of California at San Francisco (https://makeagift.ucsf.edu), or the University of California Chinese Alumni Foundation (751 14TH Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118).
To view Dr. Gaing Wing Chan's memorial service, visit: https://youtu.be/O0d9jKxeXr0
