Richard Eng's Obituary
“Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.” - Brene Brown
Mr. Richard Eng, 75, died recently after living in a full vegetative state for close to 20 years. He will always be remembered for his devotion to education and to social justice activism to support the international Chinese community.
Richard Eng was born in Rangoon, Burma. He had a hard childhood and struggled throughout his young adult life, but after completing his university studies, he found an amazing woman to spend the rest of his life with. In 1970, Richard and his wife Rosy fled a civil war in Burma and settled in New York City. Richard worked two jobs, enrolled in college and earned a Master’s degree in Chemistry while raising three daughters with his wife. After Richard encountered traumatizing crimes in his Brooklyn neighborhood, he packed his entire family into a brown Dodge Duster and drove cross country to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1980. Richard opened up a paint business in the East Bay which he held for a few years. He then worked in the corporate world where he utilized his expertise in Chemistry. His endeavors were varied- he enjoyed music from the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. One of the songs he enjoyed singing while he cooked was Perry Como’s version of “Que Sera, Sera.” Some of his favorite musical artists included Elvis Presley and The Beatles. He was a great self-taught artist and was linguistically gifted. When his children were young, he beautified one of his daughter’s drawings and shared with her that he used to draw when he was a young boy. He spoke at least five languages and read the Chinese newspaper to keep up his Mandarin practice. While his daughters were growing up, Richard emphasized spending weekends together as a family walking, hiking, swimming and playing sports. In his mid-life he enjoyed having dim sum monthly with his family, doing tai chi, working out at the gym and taking bicycle rides with his wife (and the family dogs who rode in the bicycle baskets). He loved walking in nature and frequented a trail near the home that he shared with his wife in the East Bay. He enjoyed traveling with extended family and friends from Burma who he had known since his high school and university days. Richard was a follower of Taoism since the 1990s.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother and two sisters. He is survived by his two sisters who live in New York City. His surviving nuclear family includes wife Rosy, daughters Daisy, Jennifer, Monica (their partners/spouses), and three grandchildren. Also, he has extended family on the west coast, east coast and Asia.
His service of remembrance will be held at the Chapel of the Chimes, 32992 Mission Blvd, Hayward, CA 94544 on Sunday, March 6, 2022. The viewing and funeral will begin at 11am and the burial will begin at 2:15pm. Interment will be at the Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery in the Garden of Tranquility.
For family and friends who cannot attend the funeral in-person here is the March 6, 2022 live streaming information: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85919059374 or www.zoom.com and type in this Zoom Meeting ID: 859 1905 9374
There will be a food reception held at a family friend's backyard a mile away from the cemetery. Please text daughter Jennifer at 650-346-3598 for the address of the reception.
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If you would like to give a condolence gift please make a tax deductible donation to a local grassroots non-profit that is near and dear to our hearts:
http://aacsn.org/support/
Thank you so much for your support and love during this challenging time!
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