Donald Henry Cheu Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Donald Henry Cheu passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on July 15, 2022 at the age of 90. The oldest son of Henry Docfoo Cheu and Nellie Ruth Ohn, Don was born on June 7, 1932 in San Francisco, California. He attended Commodore Stockton Elementary School, Francisco Middle School and Lowell High School, then Stanford University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 1955 and his master’s degree in Medical Microbiology in 1956. While at Stanford, Don met his first wife, Lily Ginn, at a Cal-Stanford Halloween mixer in October 1953. Lily and Don were married on July 22, 1956 and shared 51 wonderful years of marriage together. After their wedding, Don and Lily moved to Buffalo, New York where he began medical school at SUNY Buffalo. After two years, they returned to the Bay Area where Don completed his medical education at UCSF and residency at French Hospital in San Francisco and Kaiser Hospital in Oakland. From 1965 to 1968, they lived in Wurzburg, Germany where Don served as a Captain in the U.S. Army and Chief of General Surgery. After returning from Germany, Don and Lily moved to San Mateo, where they raised two children, Brian and Linda. Don joined the Surgery Department at Kaiser Permanente in South San Francisco where he practiced from 1968 until he retired in 1994.They enjoyed traveling and visited many places including China, Japan, Spain, New Zealand, Italy, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Alaska. Lily passed away in 2007, and in 2008, Donald’s grandson Lucas was born. A few years later, Don reconnected with Jennie Wong, with whom he had attended Lowell High School. Don and Jennie married on July 13, 2010 and together shared 12 years of happy marriage. They traveled throughout the United States and internationally and enjoyed spending time together with children and grandchildren. Don held many volunteer civic leadership positions throughout his life, as he strongly believed in the importance of giving back to the community. He served in leadership positions for many organizations including: American Red Cross Bay Area, California Medical Association, State Office of Emergency Services, San Mateo County Medical Society, Governor’s Earthquake Task Force, California State Special Olympics, Stanford Asian Pacific American Alumni Club (SAPAAC), and the Phoenix Society. He received many awards for his service, including: American National Red Cross Cynthia Weidel Leadership Award, State of California EMS Distinguished Service Medal, SAPAAC Distinguished Service Award, NBC Bay Area/AACI Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Award, United States Civil Defense Council Pfizer Award of Merit, and Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Outstanding Services Award. Don was an avid Stanford football fan, longtime member of the Stanford Buck Club, and manager of the Stanford Chinese Clubhouse, having followed in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Henry Cheu who was one of the earliest Chinese graduates of Stanford. He was a member of Stanford’s El Capitan Eating Club and continued his lifelong friendship with the friends he made in college. Most of Don’s friends and family are very familiar with his warmth, wisdom, and sense of humor. Don loved cracking jokes and even used to sometimes carry around a card in his pocket with the word “JOKE” written on it just to emphasize it to the friends with whom he was having a fun time. Don was also an excellent photographer and often the official photographer for family and community events. Donald is survived by his wife, Jennie Taam Wong; his two children, Brian Henry Cheu (Padric McCaig) and Linda Ann Cheu (Andrew Yan); his grandson Lucas Henry Yan; his brother Richard Cheu; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.He was preceded in death by his former wife Lily Ginn Cheu. Services will be private for family and friends only. Donations in his honor may be made to the American Red Cross Bay Area, Chinatown YMCA, or First Presbyterian Church San Mateo.

Donald Henry Cheu

June 7, 1932 - July 15, 2022