When all is said and done, what one remembers most about a person is how he/she made you feel.  Working at a startup and growing company like Brooktree, it was an intense work environment. As Sr. VP,  Steve had a key position in  contributing to the success of the company  and no doubt one of the most stressful. He was  always cheerful and  encouraging, He had a way of connecting with people by brightening their day with that warm yet mischievious smile.  His positive attitude was contagious. He was not just going through the polite motions; he was  genuinely interested in you as a human being. We only saw a glimpse of his personal life at work. Meeting his family and friends  today confirmed that that's the way he lived his whole  life,  achieving more than he could have possibly imagined. He left footprints in many people's hearts.  What a life to celebrate! 


Uncle Steve had been my wife Miami Yang's family sponsor and guardian in America when as college students we eloped to Reno after less than a month of dating in 1974.  It was something we just felt compelled to do.  We were both concerned how her family would accept us as I had become the first western member of the family, and none other than her sister Mayfair had ever met me.

The family had been alarmed all weekend because she and Mayfair had just disappeared.  Steve was in the middle of the swimming pool when we entered the side gate in Saratoga.  He looked up happily and exclaimed “Miami's back!” and swam to the side of the pool.  It was the deep end so he hung on the poolside.  I leaned over, extended my dry right hand to his wet one and said “Hi.  I am Les Trejo, Miami's husband!”

Steve looked me in the eye with what appeared a mix of instant surprise, recognition and joy, and then launched himself backward in the water to swim to the stairs on the other side while calling out loudly “Roxana!  Call Taiwan!  Miami's married!”

Steve was barely dry when he got on the phone and called all his engineers and friends from work.  Less than 3 hours later we were all seated in a Chinese restaurant at a traditional celebration dinner.  I sat next to Steve and he asked about my family and studies and interests, expressed their surprise Miami got married because she was so independent.   Steve remembered it all well too.  Just last year at a family gathering he laughed and brought up that he had then leaned sideways as in confidence and told me “You know, Chinese never get a divorce” - and at 43 years almost everyone but us had!  

To me that was Uncle Steve -  good-hearted quick witted and practical, with a great and honest love for life's irony and humor.   He never failed to publicly complement you at least once at a get-together.   From the first time I met him, I knew my family had been extended too.  We will miss him dearly.

One of my most cherished memories of Uncle Steve was when my husband Les and I ran away and got married in Reno and returned to tell my Uncle the news.  He was swimming in the pool in the back yard of the house in Saratoga.   Unsteady in the water, Uncle immediately called out, “Roxanna,  call Taiwan - Miami's married!” Even in shock, Uncle was gracious and full of presence of mind.  We have always been grateful for his total acceptance of the news of our marriage without any reservations. 

	Another fond memory of Uncle was him making green onion fried cake in the kitchen.  He was relaxed, happy and joyful.  It was a simple thing, but to me at the time it really revealed a hidden side of him. I was astounded he knew how to make this iconic Chinese dish.  I didn't know myself how to do it and was envious.  Uncle showed he truly appreciated the simple things in life. That is virtue for all of us to emulate.

	One more fond memory of Uncle is how he helped my mom move from San Jose to Laguna Woods.  He stayed in San Jose for several weeks helping her go through her stuff, donating unwanted things, organizing, and moving her household of twenty plus years.  It was no easy task since my mom never threw anything away.  Uncle had the foresight to see that this was a necessary move for my mom so that she would be closer to him and to the rest of her children.  This way my mom wouldn't be isolated by herself in San Jose.  He was right!  For the last ten years, Laguna Woods has been a central destination for all of us.  Thank you Uncle for being so caring towards my mom, and so forward looking.  He had a vision that is benefiting us all.

	May you be at peace now.  We will always remember your kindness and infectious smile and laugh.

								Fondly,
								Miami (niece)  

When I went to UC San Diego, I remember visiting Uncle Steve and Auntie Roxanna on a few occasions.  What always stood out to me was his unassuming nature and warmth.  In my memories of that time, he always seemed to be laughing in flip flops, boxer shorts, and a t-shirt, and that always made me smile.  On his many visit to our family in the SF Bay Area, he was always filled with joy.

Very sorry for your loss, and may the many happy memories of his love bring comfort to you during this time.

Steve Ou, or ‘Ou Buo Buo,’ is my Daddy’s best friend, and like another father to me. Our dads have been friends and classmates since junior high all the way through college. They were the last of their friends to immigrate from Taiwan to the United States. They ended up together again in Texas in the mid 1960’s where my older sister, Elaine, remembers 1 year-old Alan shrieking at a restaurant. Our families again ended up together in the Bay Area in the 1970’s where we were lucky enough to spend A LOT of time with them. Ou Buo Buo was always happy and nice. His smile and laugh are what I remember most. We missed them so much when they moved to San Diego. Happily, our families enjoyed fun vacations together after they moved.  I was lucky enough to reunite with the Ous when I went UC San Diego. They were my surrogate family when I first moved so far from mine.  Ou Buo Buo and Auntie Roxana, ‘Ou Da Ma’ became my godparents.  Alan & Lily are like cousins to me.  I didn’t have a car, so they would bring me to their home for dinner and drive me back to my dorm afterwards. They attended my wedding. Even after I had my own family, we all vacationed together when our son was four years old. He’s been a wonderful father figure for all my life. I wish him peace, love and happiness, like he always showed to us.  Thank you for all the great memories.  Much Love and Gratitude to you, Ou Buo Buo. 

I will always remember Steve as the man that believed in me and hired me at Brooktree. There, I had my dream job, which also became for me and I'm sure others our second family. Steve would brighten any day with his smile. 

Steve was one of the happiest people I've ever met, he brightened many a stressful day.   

My whole family is greatly indebted to Uncle Steve.  He (and Aunt Roxanna) were so generous in opening their home to me and my sister Miami, then only 14 and 16 years old.  He enabled us to enter the U.S. when we were in high school.  He and Roxanna took good care of us, introducing us to American culture and society, enrolling us in high school, and taking us out on trips to the beach, public parks, shopping, and San Francisco.  He also had his mother, our grandmother stay with him, and this just shows his generosity.  Later, after we moved out, my mother and my younger sister Mary also benefitted from his hospitality and stayed with him too.  Uncle Steve was a kind and cheerful man, who, despite his demanding work in Silicon Valley, was also  involved in the domestic sphere, participating in family outings, entertaining at home, and even in cooking.  I remember he made excellent smoked duck with a contraption he assembled in his garage.  I wish him peace in the other world.  

Steve played an enormous role in my career. He gave me an opportunity to make a change that ended up with my becoming a Brooktroid, one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. He was such a good man and I considered him a friend long after our career paths went different ways. He will be missed.

I first met Steve when I was 17 yrs old, I would work part time on the Brooktree test floor on weekends to earn extra money.  On Monday mornings he would stop by in the Brooktree Accounting  dept. where I worked Mon - Fri and he would pat me on the back and tell me what a good job I did over the weekend testing parts.  He had a way of making you feel good about yourself and always had a smile on his face.  Years later whenever I would see him, he would still have that wonderful smile and be so happy to see me.  I wish there were more people on this earth like Steve, a kind word, a meaningful gesture .......what a wonderful place this would be.  Steve, you will be missed! 

OBITUARY

Steve Teh-ming Ou

December 17, 1933 – June 10, 2018

El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley & Memorial Park

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