Be Quang Nguyen

Our beloved Be Quang Nguyễn, the heart of our family, passed away peacefully at home on June 1, 2026, surrounded by the love of his wife and children. He was 82 years old.

Born on October 10, 1943, in Long Xuyen, Vietnam, Dad was preceded in death by his parents, Nguyen Van Can and Tran Thi Qui.

He leaves behind his cherished wife and lifelong companion, Nguyen Thi Dong, the woman he loved and cared for every single day.

He is survived by his four children who meant the world to him:

• Nguyễn Quang Hung (Robert) and his wife Mỹ Liên Pham

• Nguyễn Quang Dung (Doug) and his wife Nguyễn Sinh Cindy

• Nguyễn Thị Xuân Quang (Susan)

• Nguyễn Thị Thanh Quang (Jasmine) and her husband Ding Gerard Mesina Raymund

His greatest pride and joy were his grandchildren: Nguyễn Quang Kenneth, Nguyễn Quang Nathan, Nguyễn Quang Andrew and his wife Nguyễn Mae Casey, Nguyễn Mai Katelyn, Lee Quang Joshua, Lee Quang Anthony, Lee Quang Matthew, and Watson Link David — and his precious great-grandson, Nguyen Quang Kai, whom he was able to hold in his arms just days before he left us.

Dad was a civil engineer through and through. He started his career as a City Transportation Engineer in Saigon and later poured his heart into his work as a Bridge Engineer with the California Department of Transportation. He retired after a long and fulfilling career, but what he valued most were the lifelong friendships he made along the way — friends he continued to laugh and talk with right up until the end.

At home, Dad was happiest living simply. He turned his five-acre piece of land into his little paradise — planting fruit trees, growing vegetables, and raising sheep and goats. He was our real-life MacGyver, the man who could fix or build anything with whatever he had lying around. We still smile remembering the time he “repaired” the front bumper of his car with 3M double-sided tape. It actually held for a few days — classic Dad!

More than anything else in this world, Dad loved his family. He lived a selfless life, never spending money on himself so he could provide for Mom, us kids, and all the grandkids. In 1978, he risked his life escaping Vietnam on a small fishing boat just so we could have a better future in America. That courage defined him.

Nothing brought him more joy than our weekly Sunday night dinners. He loved having the whole family around the table — laughing, eating, and simply being together. Seeing his grandchildren grow and succeed filled his heart with pride, and holding his first great-grandchild was one of the happiest moments of his life.

A memorial service to celebrate Dad’s life will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at East Lawn Memorial Park & Mortuary in Elk Grove, California.

Dad, we will miss you every single day. Thank you for teaching us what it means to love, to work hard, and to always put family first. Your spirit will live on in all of us. We love you forever.