Gin So

Gin L. So

Gin passed away peacefully at home at the age of 88, on June 22, with his loving wife Hazel and caretakers by his side. He was a second generation native San Franciscan who grew up in Chinatown, and then lived in various homes with his loving family in SF (the Haight, Lakeshore and Sunset) before settling in with his wife of 62 years in a cozy apartment at the beautiful senior living community of Peninsula del Rey in Daly City in 2011.

After Gin graduated from Commerce High School, he joined the US Army Air Corps, where he served as a Radio Operator Mechanic and Gunner from 1943 to 1946. After returning to SF, he then worked at various jobs and attended Golden Gate College, where he studied Accounting.

In 1959, Gin joined the City and County of San Francisco, working in different areas before being appointed the Chief Assistant Treasurer of San Francisco in 1971. At that time, his was the highest position in city government ever attained by a Chinese-American, a position that he held until he retired in 1986.

Besides his wife Hazel, Gin is survived by his daughter Sharon (SF), granddaughter Alyssa (Zurich), his sister Corrinne Chow (Daly City), brothers Tony So (Margie, SF) and James So (Muriel, San Mateo), and numerous nieces and nephews throughout the world. He was preceded in death by his brothers Frank Chew and Bing Chew (Esther) and parents, Quan Chow Chew (father) and Leong Shee (mother).

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration-of-life service on Wednesday, June 26 at 11:00 AM in the chapel at Duggan's Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Ave, Daly City. Committal at Olivet Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gin's memory can be made to Pathways Hospice http://www.pathwayshealth.org/hospice/ or the charity of your choice.