EDWARD CHOW JR

CHOW EDWARD CHOW, JR. Died peacefully at home July 22, 2016 of pancreatic cancer. Born in New York City and raised in Seattle, WA. Following graduation from Seattle University, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Army; served in Germany and then volunteered for service in Vietnam where he served as a Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star. He credits many of his accomplishments to the training and guidance he received from his parents, Ruby and Shu Ping Chow, and to four Colonels and a number of very good Sergeants who taught him discipline, leadership, the value of loyalty and organizational skills. Following his military service, he was registered with the New York Stock Exchange and worked in the securities industry as a portfolio manager and investment advisor. He successfully ran private businesses, first a family owned venture and later was a self-employed business consultant. He served as a Cabinet official in Washington State where he managed the state''s response to natural and other disasters including the Mount St. Helens eruption. He was City Administrator for the City of Kent, WA from 1989 - 1992 and then was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the US Department of Veterans Affairs in 1993. He retired from DVA in 2001. From 2007 - 2009, he was Director of Programs for the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. He most recently was Maryland Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 2009 - 2015. Ed was active in advocating for veterans for over 30 years. He served as Washington State President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) in the 1980''s and on the VVA National Board of Directors. In 2001 he was elected National Vice President of VVA and re-elected in 2003. From 2006 to 2009 he was President of the VVA Maryland State Council. In addition to VVA, he was a member of the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Hispanic War Veterans, Japanese American Veterans Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars and received the Legion of Honor Award from the Chapel of Four Chaplains in 2000. A longtime member of the American Contract Bridge League, he became a Gold Life Master in 2015. He is survived by his life partner, Sara McVicker; son, Dr. Ward K. Chow (Cynthia) of Spokane and Seattle, WA; daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Chow (Dr. Aaron Smuckler) of Pittsburgh, PA; five grandsons and a granddaughter; and brothers, Shelton, Brien and Mark of Seattle. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations in memory of Ed''s life of service may be made to: Charlotte Hall Veterans Trust, 29449 Charlotte Hall Road, Charlotte Hall, Maryland 20622 (www.charhall.org) or Georgetown University''s Ruesch Center to support pancreatic cancer research (ruesch.georgetown.edu).