Relishing the memory of their father, Sing Kee and his heroism fighting as a U.S. soldier in World War I, Herbert Kee, along with sister Margaret Marr, visited the exhibit in his honor placed in San Jose’s Ng Shing Gung Museum of Chinese American history recently. The Kee family had loaned the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project their father’s Congressional Medal of Honor to be included in the display of his service record. Herbert and his wife Virginia’s visit to California from their home in New York was to join the celebrations of Margaret and Gilbert Marr’s 60th wedding anniversary in the East Bay.
When Frank Ching celebrated his recent 70th birthday, his friends were treated royally to a weeklong series of activities hosted by the Birthday Boy. Forty-eight relatives flew in from Hawai‘i to be whisked around via private Ching coach bus for a San Francisco city tour, Beach Blanket Babylon show, California Culinary Academy birthday dinner, spa treatments and a tour to Pebble Beach Area and the Monterey Aquarium. Among the hundred-plus of honored guests were Charlie Kearns, brother Clinton and Alice Ching, Norman and Malcolm Ching, Kathy Wong and Rev. John and Karen Grussi.
From the young to the old, Colton Gregory Crouch, son of Karen and Greg Crouch, celebrated his entry into the world with a red egg party hosted by grandmother Carolyn Ow at the Empire Buffet of Livermore. … At the other end of the spectrum, 90-year-young Art Yim celebrated that milestone birthday with his family, but wife Blossom is throwing a big bash for him this month at Empress of China in San Francisco. … One-year-old Kyle Chinn was feted with a luncheon prepared by his Culinary Academy alumnus dad Matthew Chinn at his grandparents Camilla and Tom Chinn’s home in Newark.
Fun in the Sun
Escaping the weeks-long California heat wave, I sought refuge in cool Colorado to rest and relax under their blue southwest skies and found the Four Corners area a great spot for families to vacation. Children and adults alike were fascinated seeing the Ute Indian cave dwellings of Mesa Verde. I enjoyed lounging in the 18 healing mineral pools in Pagosa Springs, and visiting the old mining town of Durango. Met former pro football defensive coach for Denver, Chicago, New York and New Orleans teams, Zaven Yaralian, who had just bought the beautiful Rio Grande Golf Club.
Dedicated golfers Sylvia and Roger Eng dodged thunder and lightning storms to enjoy Rio Grande’s spectacular golf course.
Cathay Bank held its annual Invitational Charity Golf Tournament benefiting Self-Help for the Elderly Sept. 5 at The Lodge at Corde Valle in San Martin. Cathay Bank’s Veep Dominic Li, chairperson along with Gerald and Jerry Lee (no relation), planned a great golf day all the way around. The 140 players brought in over $150,000, ‘tis said — so good play for good cause!
Another chance to have a great golf day and help a good cause will be the Twelfth Annual Chinese Hospital Golf Tournament to be held October 9 at the Olympic Club of San Francisco. “Chinese Hospital has served San Francisco’s Chinese Community since 1899. It has previously brought in over $200,000 annually according to Ed Lee and Rose Pak, tournament co-chairs. Entry is $5,000 for 4 people on famed Lake Course and $500 per person entry fee for play on the Ocean Course. For more info, contact Karen Chow at (415) 677-2490.
Congratulations to Richard Konda, who recently received the 2006 Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Leadership Award at its recent fundraising banquet in Cupertino. Major sponsor Co-America Bank Foundation CEO Michael Fulton and Mike Shen expressed to the 400 attendees their enthusiastic support. Executive Director Michael Chang announced that in addition to its three college-level programs, the Roundtable Senior Fellows Program premiered in March. Kicking off in January is a new Civic Leadership Program, a 10-week session with emphasis on Latino and Asian Pacific American communities and public policy led by East Palo Alto Mayor Ruben Abrica and Chang.
Kudos to Margaret Liu Collins, who chaired the San Francisco Symphony Gala September 6, which draws a sell-out crowd of thousands to launch the new season. Having served on the Symphony Board of Governors, Liu has been an active community volunteer and successful real estate businesswoman since emigrating from Shanghai as a UC Berkeley college student.
Mark Your Calendar
Francis Jue has brought back — to standing ovations — his award-winning performance in the TheatreWorks production of M. Butterfly at the Mt. View Center for the Performing Arts though Sept. 23. Check out the intricate opera dance/sword fight scene with Jamie Guan and son Nicholas, who debuted on Broadway when he was 21 days old as the baby Song PiPi in the original 1988 M. Butterfly production. For tickets, call (650) 903-6000. If you miss Francis, you can see him in The King and I with Debbie Boone in San Jose’s American Music Theatre in October.
Honorable Leon Panetta will keynote Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation’s dinner, “America’s Pacific Gateway” Sept. 29, at Far East Restaurant in San Francisco Chinatown. www.aiisf.org