Kirby K.P. Chu

CHU, Kirby K.P. - Of Daly City, CA, age 80 years, passed peacefully in his sleep in San Francisco, August 12, 2005, with his family at his side. Born in Canton, China, May 5, 1925, K.P. was already a police captain by his early 20s, when he was sent by the Police Academy to the University of California at Berkeley to study Criminology. Upon completing his studies, he was hired by the U.S. Department of Defense, as an instructor for the Defense Language Institute in the Presidio. He went on to a distinguished career in the State Department as a United States Diplomat, deployed in Southeast Asia at the U.S. Embassies of Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore. During these years, he met and married May Tang in 1961, in Washington D.C., with whom he had three children. Kirby retired from the State Department after 25 years and returned to the Bay Area with his family. He and his wife owned and operated the successful May Kong Restaurant in Daly City, and he had a second retirement after 18 years in the restaurant business. After their retirement, Kirby and May continued to devote their time and their dedication to many local community organizations. Kirby's deep commitment throughout his life to the S.F. Bay Area Chinese American Community includes serving as president of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, president of the Hoy Sun Ning Yung Benevolent Association, and as president of the Gee Poy Kuo Association. He also served as the regional president of the Central Police University Alumni Association. Upon his passing, he was an advisor for the Gee Poy Kuo Association and an honorary president of the Central Police University Alumni Association. He cared deeply for his wife, May and his three children, David, Sylvia (Brendan) and Rolanda (Grant), and was known for his integrity, commitment and dedication to his family, friends, and colleagues. A Memorial Service will be held this Saturday, August 20, at the Green Street Mortuary, 649 Green Street at Columbus in San Francisco, followed by interment at Hoy Sun Cemetery in Colma.