Luong Uy Quan

Luong Uy Quan, 74, died surrounded by the love of his family on November 7, 2024.

In loving memory of our dad, who passed away surrounded by his devoted family, we reflect on a life marked by sacrifice, humor, and a spirit that was as strong as it was youthful. He leaves behind his cherished wife, three proud children, and five adoring grandchildren. His legacy is one of love and selflessness, a testament to the unbreakable bonds of family.

Our dad’s story is of quiet heroism, beginning with unimaginable trials and tribulations. In his unwavering pursuit of the American dream, he made the harrowing decision to move our family from Vietnam to America. It was a journey that tested his strength and resolve: weeks spent crammed together on a small, overcrowded boat, drifting from Vietnam to Indonesia, with hundreds of people sharing the same uncertain hope. He never wavered, enduring fearsome storms, endless stretches of open sea, and the shared struggle for survival until we finally reached the refugee camps. This hard-won milestone marked the beginning of his fight to build a better future for all of us.

Once in America, he approached life with an unrelenting spirit. He took on every odd job imaginable—line chef, landscaper, handyman—doing whatever it took to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. His sacrifice was measured in hours worked and the countless ways he prioritized his family.

He endured grueling 12-hour night shifts, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., so he could be there for us in all the moments that mattered. He was there when we needed rides to and from school or when sickness kept us home. He patiently waited for hours in Newark so we could get orthodontic work done, dreaming of perfect smiles—only to see them undone in old-school Taekwondo matches that left our teeth a little misaligned (a setback he always took with good humor).

Despite the exhaustion and unending demands, Dad’s spirit never wavered. His heart stayed young, a quality his grandchildren will always cherish. Nowhere was this more evident than on our family trips to Disney and the waterparks in Orlando. He kept up with the kids, bounding through Aquatica’s splash zones with boundless energy and laughter. His most memorable moment came when he tackled The Toilet Bowl, a massive water ride where riders swirl around in a tube before flushing into a giant mixing bowl. Watching him spin around, laughing like a kid and clinging to his tube for dear life, left us all in stitches—a moment we will treasure forever.

Our dad’s life was a tapestry of acts of love, big and small. We are profoundly lucky to have had such a father—a man who made unthinkable sacrifices so we could flourish and a grandfather whose youthful exuberance lit up our lives. His story reminds us that real strength is born from selfless love, and true wealth lies in shared laughter, even over a crooked smile from Taekwondo or a wild ride down The Toilet Bowl.

We will carry his legacy forward, forever grateful and endlessly inspired.

A memorial visitation will be held on Monday, November 11, 2024, from 3:00 to 5:00PM at Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Avenue, Somerville.