John Kai-Lam Chan

With great sadness, we announce the passing of John Kai-Lam Chan on November 30, 2025. He will be remembered with honor and affection by family, friends, and all whose lives were touched by his presence.

John Kai-Lam Chan was born in Panyu, Guangzhou, China June 18, 1934. He was born of humble beginnings, lived in his birthplace through his early childhood before moving to Hong Kong during the Second World War Japanese occupation. After the war, he was grateful to be accepted as a boarding student at St. Louis School run by the Salesian Mission for his secondary school studies. There, he formed his hardworking attitude to all things and was grateful to God for His grace allowing him to grow into an intelligent, diligent, and devout Catholic.

He met, became pen-pals with, and developed a romantic relationship with his lifelong partner, Betty Yap, in the early 1960s. They were married in the Philippines on June 2, 1962. They were blessed with five children, two sons, a daughter, then a pair of twin boys! John was a devoted family man and took excellent care of his family throughout his life.

After secondary school, he started his lifelong banking career, known for his integrity, always loved and respected by his peers. He started as a clerk at the Bank of Holland. With passion and perseverance, he advanced steadily through the ranks, ultimately becoming President, CEO, and Managing Director at several international and local banks. Well known in Hong Kong's banking community, he earned multiple honorary titles and was invited to serve on the Board of Directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, a well-known charitable organization in Hong Kong.

Because of his love for his family, he made a life changing decision in 1984. At the age of 50, he brought his entire family to the United States of America and settled down to begin the second half of his life in San Mateo, California. He never forgot his Chinese roots though and made sure his children and grandchildren are all brought up with traditional core Chinese values. Due to his extensive banking experience, he was invited to consult with and provide oversight at a handful of Chinese owned banks in the San Francisco Bay Area, eventually truly retiring at 85! In his retirement, he continued to follow closely the news from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and the Philippines and made multiple trips back with his family to Hong Kong and the Philippines.

John traveled extensively and enjoyed pilgrimages to various important Catholic religious sites throughout his life. He enjoyed being active, playing soccer, bowling, and golf. He is famous in his inner circles for being loud while playing Mahjong with his lifelong friends. He also loved staying connected with his friends, both from school and work near and far. His phone never gets any rest around the Holidays.

John is a passionate, hardworking, diligent, and intelligent father, a pillar of his family with his unwavering dedication. We will all miss him dearly. He will be forever remembered in the hearts of all those he met while at school, at work, at Church and in life. May God hold him in His bosom until we meet again.