Edward Suey Seid

Edward Suey Seid Bay Area Leader, a civic and business leader in San Francisco's Chinatown for a half century, died on December 5, 2006 of heart failure at age 91. He was born in 1915 in San Francisco, the son of Seid Buck Sing-a community leader and founder of the Chinese Hospital and grandson of Seid Jun Chong, a pioneer from Guangzhou, China to California in 1863. The eldest of six children, Mr Seid grew up in San Francisco's Chinatown. After he graduated from Commerce High, he studied abroad at the renowned Lin Nam University in Southern China, upon return to the United States; he completed his collegiate study at Lincoln University. Mr. Seid and his late wife Grace Lee raised four children to value education, hard work, civic responsibility, social justice and altruism. Testament to their success are the careers of the four: Derald, a doctor specializing in endocrinology and metabolic diseases; Allan, a physician practicing psychiatry and neurology; Melvyn, an environmental health specialist and the trainer for the City and County of San Francisco and Syndi, founder of "Advanced Etiquette" and professional trainer on international business and social etiquette protocol. Mr Seid began work as a waiter and elevator operator at a time when there were limited opportunities for Chinese Americans. At the beginning of WWII, Mr. Seid was hired because of his bilingual capability by the Navy and assigned as an office assistant to the Commander at the Mare Island Shipyard in Vallejo. Mr. Seid and wife, Grace later owned a restaurant in an upper-middle class San Francisco neighborhood; shortly thereafter a large wholesale foods corporation recruited Mr. Seid to develop and supervise all product sales to Chinese Businesses in the entire S.F. Bay Area. He served as president, board member and senior advisor to the Chinese Six Companies, an influential group of Chinatown leaders, the Kong Chow Benevolent Association, the Chinese Hospital Foundation, the Fung Lun Family Association, the Bow On Tong and the Chinese Cemetery Association. He also established the Kong Chow Association building and temple and the Fung Lun Association building, implemented fiscal accountability at various associations, and raised funds for the Chinese Hospital and the Chinese Cemetery. Mr. Seid also instituted annual youth scholarship programs in many organizations. At his 90th birthday celebration, Mr. Seid received commendations for his lifelong community achievements and service from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, State Senator Joe Simitan, State Assemblyman Mark Leno, Oakland and San Jose Mayors Jerry Brown and Ron Gonzales, San Francisco Board Supervisors Fiona Ma and Aaron Peskin and Santa Clara County Supervisor, Liz Kniss, president of the Kong Chow and Fung Lun Chinese Benevolent Assoc. and other distinguished organizations. Mr. Seid loved ballroom dancing, listening to "Big Band" music and songs by singers such as Frank Sinatra, socializing and traveling with groups such as Wah Ying Club. Mr. Seid is survived by sons, Derald (Patricia) and Melvyn (Deanna) both of San Francisco; daughter, Cynthia Hildebrand (Ronald) also of San Francisco and Allan (Mary) of Palo Alto; sisters, Diana Yuen of Oakland and Pearl Hing of Burlingame; brother, Jack of Sacramento; 11 grandchildren and 10 great- grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to attend a Wake Service on Wed., Dec. 27, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and Funeral Service on Thurs., Dec. 28, 2006 at 11 AM, both at HALSTED N. GRAY-CAREW & ENGLISH, 1123 Sutter St., S.F. Interment at Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, CA. Complimentary Parking 415-673-3000