Keum-Sook Chon

Born in Pusan, South Korea on February 2, 1932, Keum, or Kay as she became known, lived her youth in a tumultuous world. A baby during the time of Japanese Colonial Rule, her youth spanned the liberation of Korea in 1945 and the Korean War from 1950 until 1953.

These were not frivolous times and Kay was a serious student at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul. During college she recalls fleeing the communist advance by climbing on the back of a departing train. Compelled by the hardships facing all Koreans, Kay excelled in her studies and graduated from Ewha with a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy. It was also during her Ewha years that she met her future husband, Wan-yong Chon who she married on April 29, 1954. Almost immediately after their wedding the eventual Dr. Chon departed for the United States as a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 1958 Kay emigrated to the United States to be reunited with her husband who was by now a PhD candidate of Nuclear Engineering at The University of Michigan. Their reunion after 4 years resulted in having 3 children within 26 months: Margaret in November of 1958, Richard in December of 1959, and Robert in January of 1961.

Now the wife of a university professor, Kay and family lived in a succession of college towns as her husband established himself in both academics and industry. From Ann Arbor, Michigan the family moved to Narragansett, Rhode Island, Fredericton, New Brunswick, and Montreal, Quebec where their youngest child, Michelene was born in October of 1965. From there the family moved to Buffalo, New York where Dr. Chon was a Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo for 13 years. During these years (1968-1981) Kay was the active mother of 4 children who were engaged in school, private music and dance lessons, recitals, and sports. Being the wife of a prominent professor, Kay regularly hosted parties and opened her home to faculty members, members of The Korean Students Association (of which Dr. Chon was faculty advisor), and other international students stranded during the holidays. Kay and her husband were also at the center of a growing community of Korean faculty members at the university. For many years they were members of the Tuscarora Yacht Club in Wilson, NY. Within all of these circles, Kay was a beautiful, prolific, charming, and tireless hostess.With her trademark grace and kindness she fed, housed, and entertained people of all ages, stations, and backgrounds.

In 1981 Kay and her husband realized a lifelong dream and moved to California. This coincided with the departure to college of their 3 oldest children. Now virtually a California empty nester, Kay was able to set aside duty and pursue activities for fulfillment and enjoyment. For the first time in her life she was able to work in her chosen field at the pharmaceutical company Syntex, in Palo Alto. However Kay was truly defined by the activities she chose in her leisure time. One of her great legacies is being a lifelong learner and Kay took computer classes where she helped coach other students. She also threw herself into Spanish and line dancing classes. She was an active and longtime member of The Peninsula Hiking Club. As a lifelong lover of music, Kay satisfied this greatest passion by volunteering as an usher at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts at DeAnza College. She was also a volunteer member of the West Bay Opera and at the Peninsula Symphony where she managed a scholarship fund for area high school students.

Kay’s greatest passion however was her family and friends. She is again reunited with her late husband of 58 years, Dr. Wan-yong Chon.

Kay is survived stateside by daughters Margaret and Michelene Chon, sons Richard and Robert Chon, grandsons Nicholai Diamond and Gwynfryn Williams, granddaughter Chloe Diamond, great-granddaughter Athena White, sister Sung Ja Chung, niece Jennifer Chung, nephew Thomas Chung, and many dear and wonderful friends.

A visitation and reception will be held on Sunday, September 20th, at 11:00 AM at Oak Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park (in the Chapel of the Oaks). The address is 300 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, 95125. All friends of Kay and her family are welcome to honor her memory and celebrate her life.

Wishes to remember me by

I came here long ago from far away, to this new world

unfamiliar, uncertain, and excited.

Few had come before me

and I was young.

I looked not to the heavens for meaning or answers. I found

meaning in every day life. I found answers in my duties…

family duties… duties of sacrifice… duties with no pay…

duties with no thanks.

Duties of love.

I found meaning knowing my loved ones needed my hand to

keep them balanced… my nourishment to make them

strong…my toils to teach them love… and my

laughter to teach them joy.

Through my life I asked for little and gave my all so do not grudge

this wish… that you also ask for little and give your all.

You will be rewarded beyond words.

This is my promise.

And this is my wish.

Remember me also for doing my duty and doing my best, and for

forgiving and finding reasons for

laughter, love, and life.

Remember these things so I have not lived in vain.

Remember my wishes.

Remember me.