Young Han Yi

Young Han Yi

Young Han Yi, of San Rafael, passed away on Saturday, December 11, at the age of 53, succumbing to cancer after many months of battling heroically and with total and complete support of his many family members and friends. Young is survived by his wife, Sylvia (Park) Yi and son, Logan, and his three older sisters, Chrys, Sheri and Meme. Young's numerous extended family members include his brothers and sisters in law, nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Young made lasting friendships quickly and easily and was blessed to have many, including those dating from his childhood and early adult life in Maryland, as well as the many he befriended in the bay area after relocating to Marin County in 2001. Regardless of one's background or circumstances, he embraced all with a kind, generous, sharing spirit and inimitable sense of humor.

His passions included a love of food, most notably manifesting itself in his restaurant, Pearl's Deluxe Burgers in the city of San Francisco, where he served patrons with an ever-present positive greeting and smile. A tribute to Young's nurturing and caring spirit is that most of his Pearl's team have been with him for years, one as long as 18 years! His gift was making customers feel like friends and friends feel like family.

Known for his prowess at the monstrous grill in his backyard, he enjoyed entertaining family and friends on countless weekends and holidays. Always quick to lend a helping hand on any front, he pitched in to do whatever was needed with the best of attitudes, armed with his arsenal of tools and equipment, if needed, as well as his usual quick-witted enthusiasm. He was a devoted Star Trek fan, particularly of DS9- Quark was his favorite character, if that tells you anything. Young also was an avid angler and golfer.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 23, at Valley Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Home, 650 Bugeia Lane, Novato, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the honor of Young Han Yi to The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation at cholangiocarcinoma.org.