Arnold Y.K. Chin

1947 - 2021

Arnold Y.K. Chin

November 15, 1947 - June 12, 2021

San Francisco, CA 94002

Arnold Chin, made his final departure on June 12, 2021, after a life well-lived – experiencing a romance and love story made for a Hallmark movie, making his parents proud with a storied legal career, doting over his children, grandchildren and extended family of nieces and nephews, and touching the lives of countless individuals, families and community organizations. To top it all off, in retirement, Arnold lived an adventurous lifestyle that took him to far-flung destinations around the globe. Arnold would regularly tell his family – “You’ve got to live every day like it was your last”, and he did just that.
The son of Chin Sun Gway who was born in Macau, China and Chew Show Har from Nam Shan village in southern China, Arnold was conceived in Macau. His mother left China five months pregnant with Arnold as she began her journey to the U.S. A few months after arrival, Arnold was born on November 15th, 1947, at Chinese Hospital. Gway Chin and Show Har now had an American-born son. Our father would often joke that he was “Made in China”, but born in America.
Growing up in and around Chinatown, Arnold came from humble beginnings that started in a small apartment on 4 Windsor Place in North Beach. These early years were a fun time for the young Chin siblings: Eddie, Arnold, Raymond and Melanie. They would explore Chinatown and North Beach looking for an alley to play with neighborhood kids.
Arnold learned his strong work ethic from his parents. Gway was a merchant marine, while Show Har worked as a seamstress in Chinatown. Arnold attended Washington Irving Elementary, Francisco Middle School and Galileo High School in San Francisco. Later, Arnold would go on to earn his BA and law degrees from City College of San Francisco and Lincoln University Law School.
Arnold participated in many social activities at Cameron House, which is where he would meet the love of his life, Nanci Elizabeth Ow from Yuba City. In 1968, Arnold was drafted into the US Army and served his tour in Hawaii as a military policeman. The next year he would ask Tommy Ow for Nanci’s hand in marriage. Arnold promised his future father-inlaw that he would “take good care” of his daughter. The two lovebirds would go on to have a son, Ryan and a daughter, Lisa.
Arnold worked for the US Postal Service for 18 years while simultaneously completing his B.A. and law degrees, all the while, raising his young family. Arnold started a growing law practice called Chin and Hitchcock which he ran from 1980 to 2003. Ever ambitious, Arnold was also a long-time community activist, always looking to drive local municipal reform and advocating for a bevy of social causes. Arnold was the very picture of the San Francisco liberal. Arnold also served as president of Yeong Wo Benevolent Association , one of the six family associations that serve on the board of the “Chinese Six Companies”, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Commissioner of the San Francisco Board of Appeals, the Asian Art Museum and the Department of Parking and Traffic. He spent many years working as a community leader, running San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, Flower Fair and Community Fair.
Arnold leaves behind his son, Ryan, and his wife Anna, his daughter Lisa and her husband Victor and their families, as well as his beloved Lhasa Apso, Jakie. Among the breadth of his accomplishments, the title he relished in most, was his role as a grandfather to four grandsons, Ryan Jr. (18), Pharaoh (15), Daedalus (12) and Grayson (7). Arnold was also beloved by the Chin/ Chan and Ow families whom he was a trusted brother/brother in law, uncle, and cousin to so many. He is survived by his brothers Winston, Eddie and Raymond and sister Melanie.
Gone too soon, Arnold leaves behind a legacy of culture, traditions, memories and antics that will live on forever. He uplifted those around him through his generosity and deep desire to be a force for good. Memorial funds in Arnold’s name are being set up for Chinese Hospital and OnLok Senior Services - two organizations that were close to his heart:
Checks can be made payable to Chinese Hospital, Memo: Donation in Memory of Arnold Chin and sent to: Chinese Hospital Fund Development 845 Jackson Street San Francisco, CA 94133.
Or gifts can also be made payable to On Lok and indicate they are in memory of Arnold Chin in the memo line. Checks may be mailed to: On Lok, Attn: Zack Macdonald, Director of Development, 1333 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.
A Memorial/celebration of life service for Arnold will be held on July 18 in San Francisco at Portsmouth Square @ 12:00 PM