Haruwn Wesley

1956 - 2020

Haruwn Kenya Wesley
December 15, 1956 - December 20, 2020
Born in 1956, San Francisco native, Haruwn Wesley was the first of the five children that would eventually make up the Wesley Family. With his mother, Lucinda Yuen, being of Chinese descent, and his father, James Wesley, being African-American, Haruwn grew up in a multicultural household. This led him to embrace and mix both identities to create his own.
After graduating from Eugene McAteer High School, Haruwn headed to New York city where he honed his craft of pastry making at restaurants such as the highly acclaimed 21 Club in Manhattan. He later returned to his hometown of San Francisco, where he explored a variety of professions. Haruwn found work as a longshoreman and then delivery driver for the San Francisco Newspaper Agency (I.B.T. Local 921 Teamsters), before going back to school to learn Information Technology. He worked for many years as a UNIX analyst (Sun Microsystems, Delta Dental).
Throughout his life, Haruwn truly encompassed what it meant to be a winner. By never giving up in anything that he took on, he succeeded in all his pursuits. From an early age he began practicing martial arts, specifically Tai Chi and Bagua. With his stringent dedication, and attention to detail, he was able to travel to Beijing, China to study the forms "from the masters", as Haruwn would say. His devotion did not go unnoticed, as he received the International Grand Champion for Tai Chi award in 1999.
Haruwn's deep connection to music led him to form the KDM Jazz Band in which he played the upright bass. He performed with many of the jazz greats who passed through the Bay Area, such as the drummer Donald "Duck" Bailey. His passion for music continued, even after he pursued other work.
In 2001, Haruwn sold a pair of show tickets to the popular jazz restaurant Yoshi's, to a woman with whom he would end up spending the rest of his life. In 2002, Haruwn married Margaret Coles, who brought her son Cosmo, and in 2003 their family was complete when they welcomed their daughter, Simone Marie into the world.
Once Cosmo had gone off high school and Simone started middle school, Haruwn decided to become an entrepreneur, after being a stay at home dad for many years. In 2014, Haruwn opened Shampa's Pies in Pacifica, CA. Using knowledge that he had amassed as a pastry chef in New York, and the values that he learned through experience, Haruwn created a pie shop that used organic, locally-sourced ingredients that were "always fresh" and "never frozen". Shampa's Pies quickly grew and amassed a cult-like following. Not only were the pies amazingly delicious, but the experience that Haruwn was able to create for each and every customer had an enormous impact on their dedication for the shop. Beginning in local farmer's markets around the Bay Area, Shampa's Pies was able to branch into specialty grocery stores, and festivals alike.
Haruwn was a deeply spiritual individual, which was obvious to anyone who met him. He was immensely grateful for his family, the bakery, and the life he was able to live. He was a person who never had any regrets, enjoying every moment he was given and doing the things that he wanted to do. He kept playing the bass, even as the bakery grew into his full time job. He continued to practice his Tai Chi, attending classes at Pacific Wushu with his daughter, Simone. Lastly, he continued to surf.
On December 13th, 2020, Haruwn was in a fateful surfing accident at Fort Point, where he was rescued by his fellow surfers and brought via ambulance to SF General Hospital. Here, he fought in the ICU to have seven more days with his family, before passing away peacefully in their presence.
Haruwn leaves behind his wife Margaret, his daughter Simone Marie, and his stepson Cosmo. He leaves his sisters, Uganda Wesley (Everett), Luanda Wesley, Melinda Kanios (Chris), sisters-in-law Katherine Coles, Anastasia Coles, and Bridget Pierson (Sean), beloved nieces and nephews, and many others in his extended family. He also leaves his many close and dear friends. He is predeceased by his parents and brother Anthony Wesley, and his mother-in-law Sheridan Coles and brother-in-law Bryce Conrad.
The Wesley Family is so very grateful for the outpouring of love and support they have received, not only from close friends, but from the community as a whole. They are deeply touched to see the vast impact Haruwn had on others. Arrangements for his memorial are being finalized at this time. The San Francisco surf community is also planning a memorial "paddle out" in the new year.