Mr. Tonn SooHoo

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce Tonn SooHoo, beloved and devoted father to Van SooHoo and Serena Moy, passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on Monday, October 18th, 2021. Tonn was born in 1932 and spent his first 14 years of life in Kai Ping, China in the family village. In 1946, Tonn, along with his mother, Tom Shee SooHoo left China to join his father, Gim SooHoo in the United States, thanks to the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Tonn's family settled in Santa Cruz, California, where he helped out with the family restaurant business and chicken farm. Tonn attended Santa Cruz High School and would share stories of how he didn't speak any English, learning much of it at school and watching television. After high school dad enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1953-1954. He served as an interpreter and was based in Japan and South Korea. After serving in the U.S. Army Tonn went on to attend Monterey Community College, UC Berkeley to study Engineering and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Tonn met his future wife, Karen Lai Dong, through a mutual family connection. Karen's uncle was one of Tonn's father's best friends so he introduced Karen to Tonn on one of their family trips to Santa Cruz. Tonn and Karen married on June 26, 1960 and settled in San Francisco. Tonn worked in the banking industry in San Francisco as his first job after graduating from college. When the bank decided to relocate their offices to Southern California, Tonn did not want to move his family there and instead found a job as a Corporation Examiner with the State of California. Tonn loved this job, speaking often of how he lucked out getting paid to study budding new businesses and playing a part in helping young companies establish their state licenses. He also apparently enjoyed taking long lunches with his fellow co-workers and sampling the local flavors of San Francisco's financial district and civic center neighborhoods. In 1967, Tonn and Karen welcomed their first born child, Van. While they enjoyed the city life, in 1968, they decided to move their family to a new planned community that was being developed 25 miles south of San Francisco, along the peninsula where there would be more space for their growing family. In 1969, they welcomed their second child, a daughter, Serena. Tonn and Karen were original residents of this new planned community and Tonn lived in the house he bought with Karen up to his last day of life. He would tell folks that one of the best decisions he ever made was moving to Foster City. Tonn was a kind soul with a happy-go-lucky, thoughtful disposition. He was not a particularly religious individual but he always believed that one's life was predetermined. He loved to read, especially anything that involved investments, stocks and finance. He spoke highly of individuals like Warren Buffet and looked forward to the release of Warren's latest book and the Annual Reports from Berkshire Hathaway. Tonn had many interests. He enjoyed playing blackjack and baccarat and made frequent trips every year to Reno and Lake Tahoe with Karen. After he retired from the State of California position with 30 years of service, he and Karen travelled the globe, touching almost every continent, on their many cruises and land tours with old friends and new friends. Souvenirs and knick knacks from their world travels could be found throughout their house. Tonn also enjoyed spending time in his expansive garden which included apple, plum, lemon, kumquat and fig trees. When asked whether he was bored during his retirement years he would reply "I never have enough time in the day to do all the things I want to do". On any given day, you could go to his house and see him watching CNBC, keeping an eye on the stock ticker going across the bottom of the screen. Tonn was a devoted father to his children Van and Serena and a devoted husband to his wife Karen. Before Karen was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2007, he had often shared how he planned out how she was to be cared for after he was gone, thinking he would pass on before she did. When this did not go according to his plan, he was again, always planning to ensure that his children would be well taken care of in the event he would no longer be around. He imparted the importance of a good education and hard work. Van's memories of his father growing up include his father's love of reading, working with him in the backyard on the weekends, and going to his first Oakland Raiders and Golden State Warriors games in the mid-70's. "Some of my fondest memories with dad growing up was watching Monday Night Football with him because he would come home early so that we could watch the kickoff, especially if it was the 49ers. I also spent many Friday evenings watching PBS shows Washington Week in Review and Wall Street Week with Louis Rukeyser. Much of my interest in politics and investments was from this time that we spent together." "When dad gets focused on a subject he puts his whole heart and time into the subject. After retirement, his focus was on ballroom dancing which he enjoyed with mom for which he had dozens and dozens of videotapes. He also mastered blackjack and baccarat. I was always amazed at his ability to foresee trends or anticipate outcomes." "Dad had a wonderful ability to make friends with whomever he came to meet. He was very social and not at a loss for words too many times. He was always focused on doing the best to take care of the family. He never had a problem giving his opinion. Dad, thanks for always looking out for my best interest even when I wasn't looking for it. Hope you are now at peace. Love You!" Serena's memories of her father include rushing into his arms when he came home from work for 10 lifts up and down. She remembers watching what he called "good quality programs" like Masterpiece Theatre or anything else on PBS. He also enjoyed going out for a fine meal from time to time and made it a point to share this love with his family. This love of fine dining must be from all those "work lunches". He passed on his love of travel and took the family on many memorable trips, including road trips throughout most of the Western United States, national parks and visits to extended family members in Canada living in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. Serena remembers many personal tutoring sessions in high school, when higher math just didn't make as much sense anymore. She remembers fondly how he would advise her on the importance of getting a good education, working hard, becoming financially independent and staying close to family and good friends. "I will remember Dad as one of the kindest and gentlest people I ever knew. How lucky I was to have you as a father and a role model in so many ways. I owe so much of what I have today because of what you sacrificed for my benefit. I sometimes described you as selfish to other people, but in hindsight, you were one of the most unselfish people I ever knew. I hope to carry on your legacy with my own children. I love you dad! You will be missed and my memories of our time together will be forever cherished." He is survived by his son Van SooHoo and his wife Bonnie, their two sons Adam and Christian, his daughter Serena Moy and her husband Rocky, their two sons James and Peter, brother Dennis SooHoo, his wife Marsha and their two daughters Sonya and Tanya, his cousins in Canada, Jennie Jim, Harry Jim and Will Jim and his aunt Hum Tai Jim. The family would like to thank all those who've shown Dad friendship and kindness over the years. Tonn's wish was to be cremated and to be laid to rest with his wife Karen. A private celebration with family will occur at a later date to celebrate Tonn and Karen SooHoo.