George Koo

1938 - 2024

George Koo
09/24/2024
George Ping Shan Koo, an early pioneer in the development of American-Chinese business partnerships, passed away on September 24, 2024, after a head injury from a fall on the pickleball court. He is deeply mourned by his wife May, his children Denise, Doug, and Alyssa, 7 grandchildren, and his sisters Helen and Linda.
George was born in Changting, China, in 1938 to Ted Swei-Yen and Pei-fen Koo. His family moved to the U.S. in 1949, amidst the Chinese civil war. Although he spoke no English when he landed in Seattle, less than 7 years later he obtained a scholarship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
George first met his wife of 62 years during a visit to Philadelphia his last year of college. A student at Bryn Mawr, May had heard that George's exceptional intelligence was coupled with an overweening self-confidence. However, she warmed to him when on a group social outing he was the only person who jumped out of the car to fix a flat tire. They began dating after she joined him at MIT for graduate school, and they were married in 1962.
George and May had 3 children within 7 years, Denise, Doug, and Alyssa. With 3 young children, the Koos prioritized family time, especially visits to the grandparents, as well as road trips to explore California and nearby states after they moved there. George's fast driving around curves led to many stops for carsickness among the kids.
George initially took research jobs as a plastics engineer with a variety of scientific companies, while also obtaining a ScD in chemical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) and later an MBA from Santa Clara University (CA). However, he found his true vocation after Nixon's visit to China in 1972 led to the re-establishment of a relationship between the U.S. and China. He and May visited China in 1974, reinvigorating his interest in his birth country. His recruitment by Chase Bank in NYC in 1978 to help establish a China trade advisory group marked the start of a 30-year career as a cross-cultural business consultant. George thrived on leveraging his scientific and cultural backgrounds and language skills to build bridges between American and Chinese businesses.
In the early 1990s George became an ardent defender of the civil rights of Chinese Americans, and an articulate advocate of the mutual benefits of U.S.-China collaboration. Both roles continued until his death, through prolific blogging (georgekoo.com), written articles for Asia Times (https://asiatimes.com/author/george-koo/) and New America Media, and many speaking engagements, including as a member of The Committee of 100, a national organization founded by renowned Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei and others (https://www.committee100.org/).
George greatly enjoyed experiencing and learning from other cultures; he and May traveled extensively to over 80 countries spanning all continents except Antarctica. He organized most of their travel, frequently joined by family and friends who commented that George "enlarged their vision of the world."
Racquet sports were another of George's passions. He played tennis regularly until 8 years ago, when he switched to pickleball. He actively took on leadership roles, serving as President of the Mountain View (MV) Tennis Club, and most recently, serving as Interim President of the same city's Pickleball Club. At the time of his death, George planned to present a proposal to the MV Parks and Recreation Department advocating for more dedicated pickleball courts.
George's family remembers him as always being up for a game: card games, board games, and nearly any sport. He took great joy in having multiple generations on the pickleball courts at recent family reunions. He frequently attended his local grandchildren's baseball, softball, and soccer games-and even flew to Minnesota and Canada to watch one grandson play ultimate frisbee in national and international tournaments, and to Atlanta to see a granddaughter's Chinese dance performance.
George is remembered for his brilliance and wit and his independent, innovative thinking about U.S.-China relations. His signature smile and sense of humor, especially his laugh-- often at his own expense-- were treasured by all. Many expressed gratitude for his generosity with his time planning trips, teaching pickleball, and mentoring young entrepreneurs. His pickleball club commemorated his 86th birthday with t-shirts that read, "Be Like George", i.e., active and engaged in life well into his 80s. George wanted his epitaph to read: "He wanted to make a difference." Clearly, George made a difference.
George spearheaded the formation of the Koo Family Fund at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in honor of his parents, both marine biologists. He had hoped to endow this fund so that it would bear their names as a symbol of the contributions of Chinese immigrants to this country. Those who wish may make donations at this site: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/join-give/ways-to-give/honor-a-loved-one In memory of George Koo. The family is planning a memorial service for early 2025.