Norman Chen

Norman Leslie (Su Kang) Chen, 95, of San Leandro, California, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family on November 24, 2024. Beloved husband of the late Constance Chen who now joyously reunites with him in heaven. Loving father of Lei Hsia Chen; I-Fan Chen-Hall and her husband, Robert; Mei Lan Chen and her husband, Robert Kline; An Tuan Tabor and her husband, Joel; Lu Shan Gordon and her husband, Robert; his only son, Norman Hsiang Chen; Su Lan Shediac and her husband, Eric; and Su Fan Jacqui Gerbracht and her husband Jeffrey. Proud grandfather and great-grandfather, known as 'Baba' and wholeheartedly adored by all. Dear brother of John Chen of Fujian, China and the late Ruth Ellen Chen, Bradley Chen, and Robert Chen. Cherished brother-in-law of Rose Chen, Virginia Chen, and Carole Wagland, and dear uncle to many.

He will be forever loved and missed by all of us.

Norman was born in Shanghai, China on December 26, 1928, and raised in Nanping, Fujian Province, China. His mother, Martha Huffaker, was a Californian who, after graduating from UC Berkeley in 1917, traveled to China to serve as a missionary with the Methodist Church. Working as a nurse in China, she met and married Norman's father, Norman Leslie (Yu Ling) Chen, a Chinese doctor who had built a hospital serving the poor in Fujian.

Norman enjoyed a mischievous childhood and took every opportunity to seek adventure, from climbing to the rooftop of his school to swimming in the river as bombs were dropped nearby. He left home as a teenager to courageously join the fight against the Japanese invasion of China. This was the first of many steps on a path that eventually led to his immigration to the United States in the mid 1950's, where he was naturalized as a citizen in 1962. Along the way, Norman proudly served the United States in his capacity as a civilian and was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the predecessor to the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1953 for his distinguished service.

With great curiosity and a desire to connect with his mother's history, and with a lot of luck and goodwill on his side, he landed in Oakland, California, via Hawaii. He soon enrolled in classes at UC Berkeley. It was on a cross-country adventure that started with his posting on a Cal Berkeley rideshare board that he met the love of his life, Connie. By the time they reached Massachusetts, they had begun what would be their lifelong partnership. Norman and Connie were married in 1958. Together they spent the rest of their lives devoted to the adventure of raising their eight children.

With a dedication to providing for his family, he drove a bus for over 30 years for AC Transit and took pride in doing the job well. He made every commuter's day just a bit brighter and earned numerous recognitions along the way for safely navigating the roads. Norman was hardworking, kind, optimistic, and wise. He had a tremendous love for his family and a genuine faith in God that he lived each day rather than preached. He found joy in the smallest things in nature: cultivating his fruit trees, listening to the birds, finding humor in the activities of the squirrels, enjoying a ripe plum, appreciating a beautiful day. He had a sense of humor and a spark for life that shone through in the twinkle in his eyes. He was an avid fan of his grandchildren and all that they pursued. Though he had no family connection to the high school, he loved a good De La Salle football game on a Friday night. And he loved all creatures, from his days as a child bringing home rabbits as pets, convincing his mother to buy a cat during wartime despite scarce resources, to more recent years patiently cultivating trust with "Boo Boo", the stray cat who showed up in his garden, and especially adoring of his dog, Lucy. Everyone who met Baba loved him.

Norman led an exemplary life, full of love and devotion, and guided by the simple principles of doing what is right, loving and helping others with no expectation of a return, and living in harmony with one another and with a great appreciation for all of God's gifts in nature. His life serves as an example to his family and to all who were blessed to have known him.

All are welcome to join in celebrating Norman's life with a memorial service on December 14, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in San Leandro at 10:30 am. Gifts in remembrance of Norman may be made to the First United Methodist Church, San Leandro, 1600 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577 (https://www.fumcsl.org/blank-2) or East Bay SPCA, 8323 Baldwin Street, Oakland, CA 94621 (https://eastbayspca.org/donate).