Hugh Tan Nguyen

He was born in Việt Nam, the eldest son of Hạnh Nguyễn and Hội Nguyễn.

Hugh joined the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) in 1978. After the fall of Sài Gòn, he escaped communist Việt Nam for the United States with his soon-to-be wife, Kim (Hải) Thủy Mai, in 1979, using a small fishing boat. After months on the open ocean, they traveled from Việt Nam to refugee camps in Jakarta, Indonesia and Singapore, before finally arriving in the United States as refugees in April of 1980, and setting roots in Kansas.

Hugh married Kim in 1981, with clergy officiating. They celebrated nearly forty years of marriage. They both became U.S. citizens in 1985. Kim preceded him in death in 2021. Together, they are survived by their three sons and four grandchildren.

Hugh graduated from Wichita State University in 1986, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. While completing his degree, he worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL) and Math instructor.

Thereafter, Hugh began his career as an Electrical Interface Engineer for Boeing in 1987. In 1989, he and his family relocated from Wichita, Kansas, to Canyon Country, Santa Clarita, California, where Hugh continued his career with Lockheed Martin. He concluded his career as an Associate Survey Engineer at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) in Los Angeles, where he had started in 1990.

The family relocated to Fontana, California, in 1991 and later to Rancho Cucamonga, California, in 2004. Hugh retired in 2019 after nearly 30 years at MWD.

Hugh proudly owned and operated Angel City Audio and founded HTN Enterprise in 2009. Angel City Audio was the manifestation of his deep passion as an audiophile for high-fidelity sound reproduction that he used as a vehicle to share his enthusiasm with others.

Hugh’s passion for audio was closely followed by his love for music, which further translated into his admiration for ballroom dancing. He cherished nothing more than sharing this joy with his wife, Kim. Hugh had a keen interest in learning the inner workings of the world around him, especially regarding the latest technology. He was also known to be an avid car enthusiast, always keeping up with the newest developments in the automobile industry.

Hugh dreamed of traveling the world from a young age and fulfilled this dream with his wife, children, and grandchildren. In retirement, he spent his time traveling, volunteering in Vietnam, India, and Nepal, as well as showcasing Angel City Audio at audio expos around the world. Hugh’s memory and legacy will forever live on through his sons and grandchildren.

“A father’s tears and fears are unseen, his love is unexpressed, but his care and protection remains as a pillar of strength throughout our lives.” — Ama H. Vanniarachchy