SAN FRANCISCO — George Leong Young Suey, Asian American trailblazer during the 1960s to the 1990s, passed away on Jan. 14. The San Bruno resident was 91.
Suey was active with the Chinese American Citizens Alliance since the early 1960s, where he became president of the San Francisco lodge in 1972 and then first national executive director from 1977-79.
Pushing for adoption of the first Asian Pacific Heritage Week, Suey met with President Jimmy Carter to encourage his support of the resolution drafted with the help of Rep. Phil Burton (D-San Francisco). Carter signed the resolution in 1978. Today, an expanded observation is celebrated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Suey was part of the generation of Chinese Americans pushing to liberalize immigration quotas. “In 1965, the Chinese American Citizens Alliance was driving the civil rights agenda in the community,” said attorney Doug Chan.
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“He’s an important figure in terms of bridging the Chinatown that had existed prior to 1965, when it was a small village, prior to the great changes of the community would undergo because of the 1965 Immigration Act,” said Chan.
Chan served with Suey on the Chinese American Cook’s School board of directors during the late 1970s and the 1980s, where he fundraised and organized support for immigrants and low-income trainees.
Suey epitomized public service, said Virginia Gee, a former S.F. lodge president of CACA. “George, my one word for him is trailblazer. He was of high energy, needed no guidance, he was a self starter.”
Before Suey retired in 1978, Suey became the first Chinese American lead mechanic and inspector during a 37-year United Airlines career. He was also the first Chinese American mechanic hired by a scheduled airline in 1940.
Born in Hannibal, Missouri, he was raised in St. Louis where his parents ran a grocery store, restaurant and laundry. As a teen, he was schooled in China, where he learned Chinese culture and language.
Suey was the eldest and patriarch of over 160 family members. His “if he could do it, we could do it” spirit was a “presence was felt by all,” said niece Nancy Suey Castles. Family members strived to be high achievers, or else “Uncle George” would have labeled you a “knucklehead” — a word Suey often favored.
His humor showed when daughter Marilyn Suey recently uncovered a Valentine’s Day card to her future mom, Pearl.
“Dear Valentine, I wonder. … My last dime. Now, I know you’re satisfied. I can’t help it if you aren’t. What a Valentine, broke again,” joshed Suey.
Suey is survived by wife Pearl of 67 years, daughter Marilyn (Stephen) and granddaughters Nicole and Chloe Diamond, brothers Thomas Young (Lucille) and Richard Young (Ludy) along with sisters Ann Ho (Joseph), May Yee and Margaret Ho.
A celebration of his life, including praise from U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Assemblyman Lou Papan, Carolene Marks — wife of the late State Senator Milton Marks and Justice Harry Low, was held on Jan. 21, after which he was laid to rest at Greenlawn Cemetery in Colma, Calif.
The family has requested that donations in his name be made to the American Diabetes Association or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. More details about a family scholarship foundation can be obtained by contacting msuey@diamondgroup.net.