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1963 - 2015

BORN

1963

DIED

2015

FUNERAL HOME

Chapel of the Highlands

194 Millwood Drive

Millbrae, California

Edward Suen Obituary

Name: Visitation for Edward Suen
Start: 2015-08-22T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2015-08-22T22:00:00.000Z
Location: Chapel of the Highlands

Edward (Ed) Suen

September 11, 1963 ~ August 15, 2015

A man of extraordinary talent, dedication, selflessness, and kindness, Edward (Ed) Suen of Burlingame, California, passed away on August 14, 2015. He was 51 years old.

Ed was born in Tainan, Taiwan on September 11, 1963 to Robert Yahdong Suen and Bonnie Jauhuei Lin, and spent his childhood in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. From his youth through his late teens, Ed was an avid competitive table tennis player, becoming the Canadian National Junior Champion and competing internationally as a member of their National team. He attended Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where he received his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Computer Science.

Ed began his professional career in Canada building artificial intelligence based data-analysis systems and creating one of the first commercial data mining products. Ed moved to the United States in 1987 and went on to become a highly accomplished hands-on software development executive, with his professional efforts resulting in many incredible products, patents, innovations and breakthroughs.

Since 2008, Ed served as chief technology officer (CTO) at eLAB Analytics, a privately held company that he co-founded and a leading provider of cloud computing based industry-specific analytic applications. Ed also was the co-founder of nQuire Software where as CTO he led the design and development of what many believe to be among the most innovative and significant Business Intelligence (BI) software products of it's time. Upon nQuire's acquisition by Siebel Systems, Ed was Vice President of Engineering, responsible for all of the company's business intelligence products and analytic applications. Preceding his co-founding of eLAB Analytics, Ed was Senior Vice President of Development at Oracle Corporation, leading the development of all Oracle business intelligence technology products and BI applications. Ed joined Oracle as part of their acquisition of Siebel Systems and he remained there until shortly before his co-founding of eLAB Analytics.

Ed's work has had a profound and lasting impact in the Business Intelligence and Analytics world, and his legacy will without a doubt live on for many, many years to come. His incredible level of commitment, legendary work ethic, and genius -- together with his caring and selfless character -- made him a special and remarkable colleague to all those who worked with him.

Beloved by his family and everyone who knew and worked with him, Ed was a gentle soul who cared deeply about all those around him. There was no kinder or more loyal friend. No more trusting or compassionate colleague. And no more loving father and brother. There was absolutely nothing that Ed valued and cherished more than spending time with his family, especially his two children. While his mind was near constantly engaged in creating new software innovations, his soul gathered solace from skiing in Lake Tahoe, hanging out with dear friends after squash and spending time with his children and family.

Ed's passing is an unfathomable loss for all who have known him. There are no words to adequately describe just how deeply he will be missed.

In addition to his parents Robert and Bonnie, Ed is survived by his beloved children Dylan and Christine, brother John, and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and nephews.

A funeral service for Ed will be held at 3pm on Saturday August 22nd at Chapel of the Highlands, 194 Millwood Drive, Millbrae, CA. Friends and family are invited to a visitation period starting at 2pm.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Aug. 19 to Aug. 20, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Edward Suen

Sponsored by Chapel of the Highlands.

28 Entries

Pete Steeves

July 25, 2021

I concur with Shelley Corona. 6 years have passed, Ed, and you are still sorely missed.

Shelley Corona

July 22, 2021

Ed...
You cross my mind often. You were a great activities partner. The smile you gave. I´m glad you had a spark. I was so lucky and didn´t even know it. Keep your eyes on me

January 11, 2018

Hi Ed, Ron from Winnipeg checking in. Was thinking about you over these past holidays and the time we went skiing at Mount Cascades way back in 82-83-84? Table Tennis & those Carleton University road-trips with Derrick Black. Sad you are not around to recount the days of our youth.

January 10, 2018

Very sad to hear of the passing of this Great and brilliant man. I met him at my first job in Ottawa. Although, he was going over my head with AI programming and theories he was always motivational and mentored me to develop one of the first applications that I still take pride in building.
May God bless your soul Ed. I pass my condolences to his family. A great loss indeed.

Ron Edwards

January 5, 2016

Wow, very sad to just hear of Ed's passing. So many great memories of Ed back from the Carleton University table tennis days...the numerous road trips to the Ontario University Table Tennis Championships, Canadian National Exhibition Championships first in his old beater of a car and then later in mine (I vaguely remember we had to climb in the front windows as the doors didn't work?), the Gladstone "gatherings", Ed's first time ever skiing at Mount Cascades where for his first run he insisted on trying to go down the hardest hill. My condolences to his family and more recent friends.

Derek Peper

September 6, 2015

So sorry to hear, many fine memories of Ed on and off the squash court in Ottawa.

Jeff Butler

September 2, 2015

I met Ed only once briefly but we were internally connected through technology. We shared words together in Mandarin, we both laughed at my accent. What a tragic loss to this world.

Jerry Houston

September 1, 2015

Sorry to hear of Ed's passing. I enjoyed working with him, and felt his passion for life. My condolences to his family.

Sid Goel

August 28, 2015

Ed was one of those rare people who was both brilliant and kind. I worked with him at Siebel where he helped me numerous times. Sincere condolences to Ed's family.

John Suen

August 28, 2015

John Suen

August 28, 2015

August 27, 2015

I'm so sorry to learn of your loss. My condolences go out to the family and friends of your Dear Edward. May you find comfort from our Heavenly Father. (Psalm 9:9)

August 27, 2015

To my dear old friend Ed:

We became fast friends the day we first met in residence at Carleton University and best of friends as we lived together on Gladstone Ave over the next few years. You, Tom (Murph) Murphy and I were a trio to be reckoned with - at once terrorizing, tenderizing, and trivializing.

Terrorizing as we became infamous on campus and off. On campus you quickly demonstrated your prowress in the burgeoning field of Computer Science (once I convinced you to switch from your original course of Math & Physics.) Off campus, our house soon became central station for friends new and old (Panda Game parades, St Patrick's Day celebrations, Canada Day gatherings and otherwise all seemed to start at our place), you welcomed all with the same verve, you were never quick to judge and you were fully engaged with everyone. And while you were happy to take part in any prank, you never carried it too far and you were always magnanimous if the joke was on you.

Tenderizing as we bonded over our mutual love for food, introducing each other to our personal favourites both as cooks and diners. The Hong Luck became a weekly visit, where you taught Tom how to use chopsticks - and he learned quickly or he didn't eat!

Trivializing because Trivial Pursuit had recently been introduced. I remember many nights playing in teams, or one on one, and the rivalry was fierce (and it continues to this day as Pete (Steeves), Mike (Mac) McDermott and I played several rounds this past week.) You played every game, sport and competition with the same gusto. I remember you had a fear of heights but you didn't let that stop you from climbing a cliff with us on a camping trip in Bancroft. You lived by the motto "Go Big or Stay Home." And it is quite evident given all your business accomplishments you continued to live that motto.

Especially as a father. Dylan and Christine will feel as loved as any children could, because you will have done that to it's fullest as well. My heartfelt condolences go out to them and all your family. And as Bob (Mainguy) said, as your friends, we will do whatever we can for your daughters, all they need do is ask.

And it is also quite obvious, seeing the outpouring of grief from people in your personal, recreational and business lives that you continued to treat everyone you met as a true friend. As some of your oldest friends we had various plans to get together with you in the near future knowing that our relationships were only on hold, maybe even for a decade, but that when we did meet up we would simply continue were we had left off. We would catch up with what we had missed and discuss where we were going. And if silence fell, it was a comfortable silence that only true friends can share. Recently, Pete, Mac, Steve (Vance) and I all drank (many) toasts to you in Humarock. And you will continue to be with us in all our future adventures wherever in the world we meet. We will never forget to raise a glass to as true a friend as ever there has been. "To Ed."

Khalid Jatoi

August 26, 2015

Sad news.

Pete Steeves

August 23, 2015

Ed was a peaceful and good natured friend. I am privileged to have known him, and am a better man for it. I love how he contemplated key points in any discussion and in doing so, took said discussion to a deeper meaning, which opened new doors and windows to a topic that could have easily been ephemeral, but instead had morphed into the realm of profound. Ed connected you with the moment at hand. His genuineness gave me a feeling of hopefulness and relevance.

When Ed passed away last week, it was a coincidence (or perhaps not) that a group of us old East Coast friends were reuniting for a week in the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts. At times, the week was heavy with our common sense of loss, but our reunion was for the most part therapeutic. We shared our stories and toasted to our friend. And what fantastic stories we had to tell: Ottawa and Hull and Quebec City and New York and Massachusetts and Holland and Belgium and France. There were weddings and camping trips and festivals and everything in-between. My hope is we can share them all one day with Ed's children.

Ed was a very successful man, and his success was on full, magnificent display in his obituary. I'd like to share a few other angles on him. One was cheek pinching. Way back when, you knew you were on Ed's endearing list when you got your cheek pinched. It was a painful, but at the same time oddly soothing feeling. I recall a party at Gladstone in Ottawa back in the mid 80's when I spotted Ed eyeballing me from across the room, fingers slightly tucked in a pinch-like position. It was a packed house, and I was lucky to have taken this in while conversing with someone. Ed was moving slowly in my direction and so I logged the thought, coming back to it just once when he was half-way in my direction. My discussion distracted me for a moment however, and the next thing I knew my cheek was getting pinched off. It was awesome and terrifying at the same time.

Ed also had a great exclamation: Ya! (pause) Ya! (pause) Yahoooooooo!!!!! . This was expressed at moments of shear exhilaration, and I think it should be copyrighted. We all love to connect with people who have unique ways of expressing themselves. Ed was one of those people.

God Bless you Ed Suen. I love you and thank you for your friendship.

-Pete

Carolynne (TuTu) McAlister

August 23, 2015

I'm devastated hearing this news.I did not know Ed in the smart ways and was surprised to read of all the brilliant inventions and contributions he made to technology.I only knew this humble man on his off hours skiing in Tahoe,ice skating, having family fun around a fire when all daily concerns were put aside to be present for his children.A humble man,a devoted father to Christine and Dylan, his pride and joy.My heartfelt sympathies for the loss these children are suffering and to all of his family.Rest in peace,dear Ed.

Adham Sharara

August 22, 2015

This is really sad news. Ed was a genius. To pass the time on the way to a table tennis tournament I would challenge him with the most complex differential equations. He would solve them orally while I was driving. He was a kind Islander, super intelligent, and had a great mind. I miss his chuckle, I will miss his look of bewilderment when he would miss a shot in table tennis or squash. We will stay alive in our memories forever. May his soul rest in peace. My deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family.

Wayne Fraser

August 22, 2015

Sad to hear this. Eddie was an extraordinary talent in so many ways. His table tennis accomplishments here are legendary. I was fortunate enough to witness and be the target of his talents. His business career extraordinary. His attention to friendships and family values were admirable. My sympathy to his family. He was a great Islander.

brian wong

August 21, 2015

i would see him at the bay club nearly every day. he was always very active. sad i wont be able to bump into him at the gym no more! bless Ed's family in this very difficult time!

Benny

August 20, 2015

Ed was an amazing person. I was so proud to work for him back at Siebel. He taught me a lot. I'll never forget all the time we spent talking about BI and technology.

August 20, 2015

Rideau,lockmaster,good music,playing squash,my best friend. Mike

August 20, 2015

My sympathy to the suen family,an awesome person,mike ouellette

August 20, 2015

Rideau, lockmaster, listening to Bob Dylan,NeilYoung and playing squash.the best times.my best friend ed. Mike

Rob and Brenda Stewart

August 20, 2015

Truly a great loss. Ed was a wonderful person and great friend. He will be sadly missed. RIP Ed.

August 19, 2015

Truly a sad news. Ed will always be remembered for his good work, RIP...

August 19, 2015

I am stunned to hear this terrible news. It is almost impossible to believe that Ed has passed. He was so full of life; I just spoke to him a few weeks ago at the Bay Club. I knew him both as a co-worker (at Siebel Systems) and as a fellow squash player at the Bay Club Redwood Shores. I had the highest regard for him. I feel gutted for his children and family. He thought the world of them.
Carolyn

Rhonda Sexton

August 19, 2015

A kind, thoughtful, beautiful soul...RIP

Rakesh

August 19, 2015

Incredibly talented and dedicated world-class technologist and a heartwarmingly compassionate and helpful person, Ed was a model human anyone would want to emulate. This is a huge loss for all who knew him and for the world of BI technology!

Rest in peace, Ed!

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