Ben Bing Quan Xiang

Ben was born in Guangzhou, China on May 21, 1955, as the 2nd of five siblings: three brothers and a sister. He worked to support his family from a young age, through an era of political and economic turbulence.

In 1972, the government’s Down to the Countryside movement displaced him and many other city-born youths from their homes; he labored in the rural village of Aotou, Conghua, and there met Nancy Huang, a fellow teenager from Guangzhou. Their natural synergy and mutual trust soon grew into a long, enduring relationship.

They were finally able to return to Guangzhou city in 1980, and Ben became a ferry operator on the Pearl River.

Nancy and her family emigrated to the United States in 1989, and as soon as she was settled abroad, she returned to marry Ben that same year.

In 1992, Ben emigrated to the US as well. He cared for his wife, in-laws and extended family with just as much unfailing devotion as he continued to do for his parents and siblings overseas.

In 1993, Ben’s daughter Helen was born, and he proved to be as doting as a father as he was loving as a husband and son.

Family vacations, trips back to China, and simple everyday quality time were precious to him, and he created and embraced these “Family Days” as often as he could.

In 2011, Ben was diagnosed with lung cancer. His determination and love for his family never wavered. Ben, Nancy, and Helen relied on each other and held tightly onto the love, hope, and determination to share as much time together as possible.

He persevered through incredible odds and contributed to years of cancer research on a clinical trial with UC Davis Health.*

As Ben passes into rest, he leaves behind Nancy, his wife of 36 years; Helen, his daughter, who will never forget the depth of his love and strength of his heart; his brothers and sister, nephews and nieces whom he cared for and protected as much as he could at all times; and many more beloved relatives and friends.

May his loyalty, determination, and most of all, his love, always be remembered.

*https://health.ucdavis.edu/cancer/news/headlines/cancer-center-clinical-trial-gives-lung-cancer-patients-hope/2023/11