Vinh Q. Pham

Vinh Q. Pham

Passed: March 28, 2020

Obituary

In Loving Memory of Vinh Q. Pham

Vinh Q. Pham passed away on March 28, 2020 surrounded by his family at home in Trabuco Canyon, California, after a valiant battle against esophageal cancer, though his diagnosis did not define the nearly 64 years he spent as a loving husband and father, and devoted son and brother.

He is survived by his wife Kathy; daughters, Kristina and Caroline; son-in-law, Bradley Ross; mother, Nien; brothers, Phat, Hanh, Tam, and Hue; and sister, Thu. He was preceded in death by his father, Kinh Pham.

Vinh was born in 1956 to Kinh and Nien Pham in Saigon, Vietnam. A natural athlete, he excelled at tennis from a young age, spending his days playing at Cercle Sportif Saïgonnais and earning numerous accolades, including junior national champion of Vietnam as a teenager. He left Vietnam in 1973, landing at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point in 1974, where he played on the collegiate tennis team. He majored in business administration, though it might as well have been ping pong, foosball or pool, for all the time he spent in the student union’s game room. It was at UWSP where he met and fell in love with Kathy Isherwood. Though decidedly opposite, they were also somehow perfectly suited to one another, and would marry in 1981. In 1983, a job offer for Vinh led them to southern California. In 1986, they welcomed their first daughter, Kristina, and then their second, Caroline, in 1988.

Vinh was, in every respect, a simple guy. He was a man of his word. He valued family, peace, order, and brevity. (He would likely say this obituary should have ended by now. “Too much,” he would always say, with a wave of his hand.) He worked hard to build a good life for his family, spending 12 years of his career as a systems analyst for Pacific Life in Newport Beach, where he continued to work throughout his treatment. Though reserved, he had a sly, often surprising, sense of humor and impeccable comedic timing. He had a warm, beaming smile that came most easily while having a laugh with his siblings over a meal or a beer with his tennis friends after a good day at the courts. He will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his quiet strength, and his laid-back, easy spirit. All his life, he led by example, in his own calm, selfless way. He will be missed enormously.

We will celebrate Vinh’s life with a memorial service at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 9:30am. Flowers may be sent to O’Connor Mortuary and donations may be made to the Hoag Family Cancer Institute in memory of Vinh Q. Pham.

Click to view our memorial video tribute to Vinh, which will also play during his service.

 

Funeral Service

  • Date & Time: April 8, 2020 (9:00 AM)
  • Venue: O'Connor Mortuary
  • Location: 25301 Alicia Parkway Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (949) 581-4300

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20 responses to Vinh Q. Pham

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  1. Giang Duong says:

    We have been very fortunate to have Vinh in our life. With his passing, we have lost a wonderful, loving, genuine, and gentle Cousin, with whom we shared so many happy and precious memories, from our childhood in Vietnam, to our mature life overseas, in different continents.

    We will always remember Vinh, a handsome, cool, calm, collected and humble guy, with a gentle smile. Vinh will always be in our thoughts, and forever in our hearts.

  2. Thanh TranViet RIP my friend

  3. Dang Nguyen says:

    We all re goong to miss a great, true, kind and loyal friend. I am going to hold the special memories of fun time spending with Vinh in my heart forever. Good bye, my friend ,Vinh!

  4. Denise Torok says:

    My sincere condolences. I know his memories will strengthen through time and will be remembered for his values and strength. My prayers are with your family through this time and pray you find peace.

  5. Frank Tran says:

    I have known Vinh for over 30 years. We were tennis partners in the ’80s then again in the last 7years. On the court, he was always kind, humble, calm, always had a smile on his face, and always punctual. These traits Vinh carried with him off the court as well. I can always count on his honesty and friendship.
    Seeing this video has brought back so many good memories, and I feel so fortunate to have shared a part of Vinh’s life. It is heartbreaking that Vinh left us so early, and he will be greatly missed, but I do believe that he has lived a good life and has left a legacy in the Vietnamese tennis family.
    Vinh, I cannot begin to describe how much you have impacted my life and how much you will be missed.
    Rest In Peace, my dear friend.
    Frank Tran
    Q. Pham
    Khue Quan

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