Alvin B. Chan

Alvin B. Chan 1920 - 2009 Passed on peacefully in San Francisco on Sunday, February 1, 2009, surrounded by his family. He is survived by Norma, his wife of over 67 years. Together, they have six children: Lionel (Lorraine) (Piedmont), Tyler (Thalia) (Orinda), Camille (Davis), Candy (Gary) (Walnut Creek), Corliss (John) (San Rafael) and Christina (Don) (San Marino); 10 grandchildren: Aaron (Darryl) (San Francisco), Zachary (Tiffany) (Berkeley), Lisa (Chris) (San Francisco), Nicholas (Ecuador), Joshua (Vermont), Lindsay (Colorado Springs), Brett (Los Angeles), Matthew (Santa Cruz), Mitchell (San Francisco) and Ellen (San Francisco): and his great-grandson, Cole (San Francisco). Alvin was born August 27, 1920, in Oakland, CA. Preceded in death by his brother Norman; and sisters, May, Ada and Bertha; he is survived by his sisters Dr. Janet Lee (Oakland), Eleanor McGill (Lihue) and Madeline Wong (Portola Valley). He graduated from the College of Commerce, University of California, Berkeley, in 1940, and attended Stanford Law School. He assumed management of the family business, Gerdon Land Co. Following World War II, he started Alvin B. Chan, Inc., which he built up through active management over the next 60 years. He was a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the San Francisco Commonwealth Club. His great loves were horse racing and stamp collecting. Alvin made possible the building of a modern two story elementary school in his family village in Guangdong Province, China. He also contributed to St. Mary's Catholic Chinese Mission, the University of California, Berkeley, Chinese Alumni Association Scholarship Fund and the Haas School of Business. Friends and family are invited to visit Friday, Feb 6, 2009 from 3PM to 7PM. Funeral Service on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 at 10AM both at HALSTED N. GRAY-CAREW & ENGLISH, 1123 Sutter St., SF. Interment, Mt. View Cemetery, Oakland, CA. Complimentary Parking 415-673-3000