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BORN
1938
DIED
2015
David Kreng Obituary
In the 1970s and 1980s, Kreng was instrumental in organizing help for Cambodian refugees escaping government brutality and also lobbied American leaders to relax their immigration laws so that Cambodians can start a new life in the United States.
Memories and Condolences
for David Kreng
9 Entries
Mary Jo Kearns (nee Orehovec)
July 10, 2016
I met Viradet on a sidewalk on the Ohio University campus. I was a new freshman, and it was the autumn of 1962. Delighted to hear French spoken, I pursued a friendship with him because he was willing to speak a language I was learning at the time. He introduced me to his brother, and we had a Cambodian meal at his apartment.
Over the course of my years at OU, I lost track of Viradet. However, after the fall of the country's government, I often wondered what became of him. Just happening to look him up in an electronic search, I found a video of him talking about his work to bring Cambodian refugees to safety in the U.S. The next news I found was his obituary published just months ago. I cannot write him a letter to tell him I fondly and distinctly remember him, but I can at least put into words this memory of a very friendly and kind person encountered many, many years ago.
October 25, 2015
Mr. David Kreng was a caring and helpful individual, who touched our lives in the late 1990s when he visited my family in Chicago and drove us all the way to Minneapolis to reconnect my parents with their Cambodian friends. He encouraged young people to stay in school by talking about science and math or shared his work memory photos with them. He spoke about Cambodia in such a beautiful way that he influenced me personally to visit the beautiful Angkor Wat temple in 1999, hence, Cambodia, for the first time. I would like to say thank you for all his help posthumous on behalf of my family. Our condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed dearly. Sincerely yours, Sothy Tep, Member of Parliament Cambodia
Andy Elliott
August 15, 2015
I was a student at Ohio University, in the electrical engineering program, when I met Viradet Kreng, or Vittie as he was known to us, around 1965. We became good friends, and he visited with my wife and I in our apartment in Athens, Ohio. Linda and I became very fond of Viradet, and when Vittie and I graduated in 1967 we lost contact with each other. Linda and I often thought about Viradet and worried that he may have returned to Cambodia and faced the terrible situation there, where educated people so often faced death. Today I was reading the alumni magazine from Ohio University "Ohio Today" and I was amazed to see, in the "In Memoriam" listing, the name of David V. Kreng, BSEE '67. While we are sorry to learn of his death, we are thrilled to learn that not only had he not perished in Cambodia, but he went on to live a very full and wonderful life supporting the refugees from Cambodia! Knowing Viradet as we did in our college days, it is not surprising to learn that he went on to do such great things!
February 18, 2015
Goodbye my dearest Uncle. I will greatly miss your wisdom, knowledge and your always smiling face forever. A true patriot of Cambodia that can never be replaced. Rest in Peace Pou Det.
Nini - London
C. Wilson
February 16, 2015
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
pola soth
February 15, 2015
May your soul R.I.P Mr.David
February 12, 2015
I am saddened to hear the passing of David Kreng. David played an important role during the formation of Cambodia Town. He donated generously - He was one of the first to sign up as member of Cambodia Town Ambassador Circle of Giving which established a $150,000 endowment fund for the Long Beach Public Library. Rest in Peace my friend. Pasin Chanou-Chairman of Cambodia Town, Inc.
Larry yanez
February 12, 2015
R.I.P. Mr Kreng.
Larry Yanez
February 12, 2015
My Condolences go out to the family of Mr David Kreng.
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