Ben Van Nguyen

Ben Nguyen (birth name, Binh) was born on November 7, 1969, in Binh Tuy, a fishing village in South Vietnam. Ben was insatiably curious and an avid learner throughout his life. His special passions included astronomy, physics, advanced technology, history, and music. And he was a teacher, too - sharing what he learned with everyone willing to engage. He believed this cycle of learning, self-reflection and improvement was why the universe imbued him with consciousness, and he carried out his mission to "help the universe understand itself" until the very end; December, 29, 2025.

Ben's path began in Vietnam. He vividly remembered running through the jungle with his brother Toan; being chastised in school for talking too much - a quality that made him a magnetic storyteller; being loved by his mother; marveling at the bounty his father and brothers brought in from the sea after their fishing expeditions. At just eight years old, he survived a dangerous escape by boat from Vietnam with ~50 aunts, uncles, cousins and two of his brothers. He remembered everything. Ben talked often about the bravery of his family who organized the escape, the marvels (and discomforts) of life at sea, and the sacrifice his parents made to send three of their sons on that journey. They did not know where they would land, or where their new home would be, but sent them with faith that they would find a better life and more opportunities than they had in Vietnam.

Ben's voyage brought him into the path of a British supertanker, which rescued them at sea; then a refugee camp in Brunei; and from there to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was fostered into an American family in 1978. As a teenager he joined his brother, Tuy, and sister in law, Lan, in St. Paul, MN, where he attended Highland Park High School. There, he became best friends with Kirk Calph, who introduced him to his family. They welcomed Ben as one of their own - Phyllis and Ed Calph became Mom and Dad to him, and Kirk and Eddie Calph, his brothers.

While studying at the University of Minnesota in 1992, he gave a speech commemorating Coming Out Day during a campus event. It was there that he met Brian Welle, a fellow undergraduate student. They fell fast in love and embarked on a 33 year long adventure together. They moved to New York City in 1995 where Ben - completely self-taught on technology - spent a decade working at the United Nations. His contributions towards their information, computer and server technology garnered an award presented to him by then-Secretary General, Kofi Annon. He went on to join the Information Technology team at a global bank, HSBC, in their Manhattan offices. Illness eventually forced him to retire, but he remained a technologist for the rest of his life.

Ben battled health challenges throughout his life, including Leukemia as a teenager and kidney failure as an adult. Through relentless treatments, complications and pain, he never gave up. He fervently believed that technology would soon solve these problems and provide a higher quality of life and independence to those with disabilities. He was a master at understanding systems and solving complex puzzles - and he applied those skills to his own treatment.

There was no hurdle that Ben couldn't clear somehow. When his leg was amputated in 2019, he lost his ability to walk and to bicycle. So he bought a scooter, which he drove at top speed through the streets of Manhattan - getting himself to doctor's appointments, taking joy rides through Central Park, and exploring every grocery story and restaurant in Chinatown.

In 2021, as Ben's illnesses became more severe, he and Brian moved from New York to Minneapolis to reconnect with their families. The residents of Minneapolis soon got used to seeing a small guy with an infectious grin, whipping by on his scooter as he explored the bike trails, lakes, and parks - but slowing down enough to enjoy performances at the Guthrie, soaking up the sunshine in Gold Medal Park, or having a picnic with family at Minnehaha Falls.

Ben leaves behind a community of friends, family, in-laws, and neighbors who will remember him as someone who loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was caring and generous, bringing food to neighbors and friends; supporting causes he was passionate about; and lending a helping hand however he could when he saw others in need. Ben loved not just people, but shared a deep bond with animals as well. He cared for four beloved cats - Missy, Wednesday, Ponyo and Freya - like daughters. This love extended to local wildlife; there is a flock of neighborhood sparrows that will miss Ben deeply. They knew him by sight - gathering excitedly when he came rolling by, waiting for the birdseed he'd leave for them on the sidewalk near his home.

Ben will be greatly missed by the people - and birds - he's leaving behind. Among those are his husband, Brian Welle; brothers Trung (Thái), Cứu (Kim), Tuy (Lan), Huy (Liệu), Toan (Melissa), and Long (Nhung); his mom and dad, Phyllis and Ed Calph and brother, Eddie Calph (Anita); and his mother-in-law, Sharon Welle, brothers-in-law Keith and Craig Welle, and sister-in-law, Kayla Welle (Brett). He's preceded in death by his mother, Kinh Nguyen, father, Tan Nguyen, his brother, Kirk Calph, and his father-in-law, Leon Welle.

Please join us for food, drinks and conversation to celebrate Ben's life on January 31, from 1pm to 4pm at the Garden Mausoleum, Lakewood Cemetery; 3600 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55408. A private service for family-only begins at 11am at the same location.

In honor of Ben's passion for our planet and the creatures on it, as well as for the dignity, freedom and protection of everyone in the country that Ben was so proud to call home, donations in lieu of flowers are welcome to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society or to the American Civil Liberties Union.