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

  1. We would like to send you our deepest condolences. Our hearts go out to all your family. I will always remember Uncle Vinh as a kind and smiling person.
    Thanks for welcoming me in your home in 1998, what a fabulous time I had with you and your family.
    We want you to know that we are with you in thought.
    With caring thoughts,
    Geraldine Mougamadou and Cyril Beuf, Annecy, France

  2. So sorry for your loss.

  3. To my dearest cousin Vinh Phạm, I haven’t had time to say goodbye then you already gone, I miss you man. Never can I forget time we were together eventhough it’s short but memorable, in my mind keep repeating what you called me :” Người anh em” , so simple but meant so real, yes man : we were brothers since childhood until we met again after so many years apart , we were still close as brothers. May your soul be happy and peaceful in heaven, man. Bye forever.

  4. Ngoc trinh says:

    Vinh is in a better place now. RIP.

  5. Dear Kathy, Kristina and Caroline,
    I am so sorry that we could not be with you at this time to give you each a big hug . Like all the eulogies described anh Vinh, he was such a gentle man. Thank you so much for setting up the virtual service. At least we can feel that we could be there with you.
    Lots of love and hugs. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
    XOX Nini

    1. Minh says:

      Dear Aunt Kathy, Kristina, and Caroline,

      We wish we can be there with you now. Please know that you are in our thoughts. Bác 2 was always able to bring joy and laughter to any room here was in and he will be missed greatly.

      With lots of love and hugs,
      Minh, Vince, and Clara

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