Quan Anh Nguyen

1969 - 2014

Nguyen, Quan Anh, 45, passed away suddenly at his home on March 13, 2014 after several years of struggling with encephalopathy, and other health issues. He was with the love of his life and domestic partner of 23 years, Bob Tucker. Quan's never ending love touched his partner, family, friends and the LGBT community during all of his short life on earth.

Quan was born on March 9, 1969 in Saigon, Vietnam to Thuy and Hung Nguyen. At the end of the Vietnam war his family tried many times to come to America. Everyone finally made it except for his father, who he loved so much, who was lost at sea among the other 60,000 Boat People who never survived the journey to America. His father, once wrote Quan from a Vietnamese prison, stating, "I want you to feel proud and satisfied with what you achieve for yourself, or done for others, knowing that you've done right."

In America, Quan took to heart his father's message, excelling in school and ultimately graduating Suma Cum Laude from UCI in 1992, majoring in Sociology. As an "out" and proud gay Vietnamese man, Quan chose to write his Masters Thesis about the LGBT revolution that began at the New York City Stonewall Inn in 1969. He and his partner traveled to NYC in 1994 for the 25th Anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion where he met and interviewed many of the early LGBT civil rights advocates of the time. He was in awe of their courage and carried that torch forward in his own life. Quan was particularly proud of the time he and his partner kissed while marching in the 2010 Tet Parade in Little Saigon. He was also very proud of the young Vietnamese LGBT activists who picked up the torch again to ensure LGBT inclusion in the Tet Parade in 2014.

Quan loved the music from the 60's, 70's and 80's. Some of his favorite bands were the Turtles, Donna Summer and Boy George. He loved good Vietnamese food and befriended many restaurateurs in Little Saigon.

He lived a full life always in the spirit of love. Quan leaves behind his partner, mother, brother, many friends and an extended loving family who loved him dearly and who accepted him for the loving, caring person he was.

Quan's Memorial service will be held at Peek Family Funeral Home, 7801 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683, Saturday March 22nd 2014 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Memorial service will start with a visitation, then eulogy, followed by a Buddhist ceremony.