Clive Chu Obituary

Clive Chu of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida died on April 11, 2021. He was 88 years old. Clive was born in Shanghai, China on November 25, 1932 and came to the United States in 1949 to attend prep school. When the communists took over the country his family could no longer support him. He remained in the US but was forced to support himself by washing dishes and working as a janitor. After prep school he enrolled at Cornell University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. At Cornell he held multiple jobs to pay his tuition and living expenses. He lived in the home of a retired university administrator where he worked as an aide. In addition, he tended bar at the hotel on campus and with a group of friends started and ran a catering business. Clive discovered that he was better suited for the hospitality industry rather than mechanical engineering, so he switched his major and transferred to the world famous Cornell Hotel School. After graduating from Cornell in 1957 and serving in the U.S Army he began his distinguished career in the hospitality industry. He held executive positions with Trader Vic's, headquartered in San Francisco and the Jockey Club in Miami. Subsequently he opened and managed the Palm Beach Polo Club and was the managing director of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Clive joined Phillips Petroleum as President of their only hotel Pier 66 in Ft. Lauderdale. His mission was to turn it into a luxury operation with a multi-million-dollar transformation, which he accomplished. After, he was the Managing Director at the Wequassett Inn on Cape Cod before moving to the four-star Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia as vice president and general manager. While at Kingsmill he became chairman of Preferred Hotels Worldwide an association of the world's best hotels that included the Kingsmill Resort. He was married to Elizabeth Barclay (deceased) and they had three children, Sharon Kersh Carlson of San Antonio, Brian Chu of Fort Lauderdale and Andrew Chu (deceased). Up until a few years ago and for almost 20 years Clive was engaged in hotel consulting in Hong Kong and China.

Clive was a jokester who loved to play pranks. He will be missed by family and friends throughout the world.

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Published by Sun-Sentinel on Apr. 25, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Clive Chu

8 Entries

Willie Davis, III

September 11, 2024

We are saddened and sorry for your lost. My dad and he were in the Army together and shared many challenges in those days.

My brother is named after your dad. His name is Clive Chu Davis and lives in Winston Salem , NC.

Please reach out to us at your convenience.

Our prayers are with you and your family.

Willie Davis, III

Sally Abreu

April 10, 2024

I was Mr
Chu's assistant at Wequassett Inn, Chatham, ma

Iris Hsu

May 6, 2021

Uncle Clive - always smiling, joking, making people feel welcome in your presence. May you Rest In Peace
Love always, your , Iris

Thomas L Cubbage II

April 30, 2021

When Clive was at Pier 66, I was a in the Phillips 66 legal department and one of my duties was to act as the Pier's attorney whenever there was a need. I spent several years working with Clive to defend the hotel and marina. I really enjoyed working with Clive. He was a great head of the Pier and his fine leadership made defending the Pier very easy. I send my condolences.

Chantal

April 26, 2021

Good-bye Mr. Chu. I can just hear him telling me just now "Call me Clive, please" but I always told me that I couldn't. My upbringing would have never allowed me to do that. He was a great person and an exceptional individual, a man of the world, very perky and full of life, even when I met him, even though he didn't think so. I met him almost 4 years ago when he started physical therapist with us. A fine man and full of stories to share. We actually use to go out to lunch once in a while; he really enjoyed that. He will be missed by many and he certainly left great memories with me, even in the short time I've known him. RIP Mr. Chu. Chantal

paul jameson

April 26, 2021

RIP my friend. Paul Jameson

Ware Cornell

April 26, 2021

I have seen Clive in nearly thirty years. I had the privilege of representing him and Pier 66 and then later when he was in charge of the hotel division at Anheuser-Busch. He was an exceptional individual who added excellence to every undertaking. Without knowing this sad news, and although it had been many years since I’d seen Clive, I was telling a colleague about him just the other day. Clive left his mark on his profession and his several communities. He will be missed but never forgotten.

Frederick H.L.Fung

April 23, 2021

Clive was my college room mate at Cornell University for a year in 1956. He spent a summer as a guest of our family in Colorado Springs, Colorado while working at the Broadmoor Hotel as a summer intern. I saw him often after graduation at his various hospitality industry positions. He was an early role model for my son, Frederick D. Fung, who is today, a successful hospitality industry executive. I treasure the memories of the wonderful and fun times I had with Clive. He was a gregarious, hard working, warm and fun loving person. I will sorely miss him. Frederick H.L. Fung

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