| Nam To was my father-in-law. My first times meeting him were while becoming close to his daughter, my wonderful wife, Phuong. I did a few small repairs around their first house, and he gained a lasting favorable impression.
My father-in-law was a man of few words. He did not have much to say to me or to my children when he cared for them over summer break and school holiday. He was happy to watch his grandchildren whenever the opportunity arose. His actions spoke louder than his words. He never owned a car or drove one; he hired a car and driver when the family would take vacation in Vietnam, and rode a motorbike around Saigon when he need to run an errand. He had great will power. He quit his life long smoking habit cold turkey, when Phuong and I were married. When he decided to do something, like his morning walk from the house to McDonalds, nothing would stand in his way or slow him down. My father in law introduced me to the exquisite refined taste of good Cognac after our wedding, and I would often return from a trip to Asia with a bottle of Martell Cordon Blue for him to enjoy. One bottle would usually last a year or so. A fine pleasure to be enjoyed in small doses. He was always motivated and ready to go – up before the curfew was lifted, to start his quick walk to the park to exercise with colleagues before the work day began. Nam was a traveler, as you can see in many of the photos. He traveled with us by car on family vacations from Austin to Denver, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Seattle; from Washington DC to New York City, Boston, Maine, and New Hampshire; from Calgary to Banff and Vancouver. He was always a patient passenger, enjoying local cuisine and the occasional Chinese restaurant, no matter where we stopped for the night. Once he became a US citizen and got his US passport, he visited friends, family, and colleagues all over the world – Europe, Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan. He enjoyed playing Mah Jongg with neighbors and friends on weekends when folks were available, He was partial to a grilled steak and pan fried macaroni on special occasions, always with a glass of red wine. On more casual occasions, he enjoyed fried chicken with ketchup. When his health started to fade in the last few years of his life, he marched on with few complaints, doing things his way, at his pace, for as long as he could. He was predictable, steadfast, and strong-willed, characteristics that served him well for 96 years. He lived a long, productive, and fulfilling life, with successful children and grandchildren, a life that we can admire and envy. |
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