Jackson Yu

1939 - 2025

Jackson Yu
03/22/1939 - 03/10/2025
Jackson Yu, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, Air Force officer, and accomplished chemical engineer, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2025, at the age of 85, surrounded by his family. A resident of Oakland, California, for 51 years, Jackson leaves behind a legacy of love, adventure, and innovation. Jackson was born on March 22, 1939, in Beijing, China, as a U.S. citizen and moved to the United States at the age of 12. His family settled in San Francisco, where he attended Washington High School. Jackson earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley and his M.S. in Chemical Engineering from San Jose State University.
Jackson began his career as a chemical engineer at Bechtel. He was then called to active duty in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a lieutenant based in Texas. After his service, he joined Royal Dutch Shell before transitioning to Zoecon, where he contributed to research on controlling disease-borne insects. An innovator ahead of his time, Jackson became vice president at Ultrasystems, an alternative energy startup focused on developing new fuel sources. For a decade, he commuted between Irvine and his home in Oakland. He later rejoined Bechtel as vice president of international development, which took him to many overseas destinations, including Saudi Arabia, where he worked on the master plan to create Jubail, the largest industrial city in the world. He concluded his professional journey as vice president of consulting at Stanford Research Institute. After nearly four decades of contributions to the field of engineering and energy, Jackson retired at the age of 59. In addition to his civilian career, Jackson dedicated 28 years to the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1989.
Jackson met the love of his life, Mayo Soo Hoo, when they were teenagers in San Francisco. They married on September 11, 1960, and spent 64 wonderful years together. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Tinn Hugh and Juilien Yu, and his sister, Nelly Ku Li. Jackson is survived by his wife, Mayo, and their children, Dr. Gregory Yu (Cindy), Dr. Clifton Yu (Cecilia), and Natalie Henrich (Ed). He was a proud grandfather to Christina (Matthew), Maria, Alyssa, Christopher, Emily, Cole, and Lucy. He is also survived by his sisters, Judy Tang and Helen Woo. He will be deeply missed by his extended family, including many nephews, nieces, and lifelong friends.
A true adventurer, Jackson and Mayo cultivated a love of travel in their family and friends. Their journeys took them across six continents and to multiple states and national parks throughout the U.S. Jackson was known for organizing elaborate group trips-for example, leading 30 friends through Russia, meticulously planning every detail, from accommodations to transportation. His last major trip as tour planner was to Iceland with 20 friends. Immediately before his passing, Jackson and Mayo had just returned from a Hawaiian cruise-a testament to his enduring passion for exploration. An avid golfer, Jackson enjoyed time with his friends at Tilden Park and Chabot. He was also a dedicated walker, making it a daily ritual unless he was on the golf course. A hands-on craftsman, Jackson took great pride in his woodworking skills, creating beautiful totem poles displayed in and around his home. He also poured his creativity into meticulously assembling and captioning photo albums, preserving cherished memories of his family and travels.
Jackson Yu lived with purpose, curiosity, and an unyielding sense of adventure. He was a devoted family man, a brilliant engineer, a dedicated patriot, a mentor to many, and a world traveler who brought people together. His presence, wisdom, and energy will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.