Đồng Xuân Phạm

In dreams and in life, nothing is impossible.

Obituary

Dong X. Phạm, (Phạm Xuân Đồng) devoted husband, father, brother, friend, and mentor, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2024, at the age of 76 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dong was born in a small northern Vietnam rice village known as BỒNG HẢI, on April 24, 1948. He inherited steadfast work ethics from his father, Trac Van Pham, and a tenacity to persevere against all odds from his mother, Hong Bui.

After being forcibly displaced from their home in north Vietnam, his parents settled in Saigon where Dong attended the prestigious Chu Van An high school. He graduated salutatorian in a class of over 1000 boys and scored among the top 1% in the nation on the tú tài hai exam. This achievement earned him a coveted spot to attend college in the U.S.A. He went on to study Chemical Engineering at A&I Kingsville, where he met Viki. Shortly after graduating, Dong began a distinguished engineering career serving as an owner and President of BHP Engineering & Construction for 41 years.

Dong and Viki married in 1972, and generously opened their one-bedroom apartment to ten family members who fled Saigon as refugees prior to the collapse of their motherland. This included his parents, six younger siblings, a cousin, and two children from his eldest brother. Together, they worked to support their family and eventually expanded it to include three beautiful daughters-Angela, Monika, and Erika. Dong was a devoted husband and fun-loving father, balancing the demands of project deadlines with little league softball practices, high school basketball games, and decades of dance recitals. For Dong, whether at the office or at home, a problem presented him the opportunity to flex his most powerful muscle-his brain. He loved the challenge of a new project and derived great pleasure in mastering something new, including restoring antique cars, building houses, creating a mini-citrus orchard on his property, improving on his favorite recipes, and finding the perfect bowl of phở. He thrived on solving complex engineering dilemmas while overseeing the successful operation of an engineering firm, and raising three rambunctious girls.

Dong is survived by his wife of 51 years, Viki; his children, Angela (and wife Jenell, aka the fourth daughter), Monika (and partner, Matt), and Erika (and longtime family friend Jerrod). His seven siblings Du Phạm, Bach Yen Nguyen, Thuat Phạm, My Hanh Nguyen, Minh Trung Phạm, Ngoc Diep Ly, Kim Chi Phạm, and over 30 nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, nephew Minh Phạm, and cousin Hien Phạm.

A Memorial Service for Dong will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery with visitation and storytelling on July 11, 2024 at 6:00 PM, and funeral services on Friday July 12, 2024 at 9:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dong’s memory to Sunflower Mission, a charity that provides education opportunities for children in rural Vietnam.

Dong’s legacy of generosity, inquisitiveness, and dedication to family and community will be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He moved through the world with a fearless entrepreneurial spirit and a resourcefulness that will remain unparalleled. Those fortunate enough to know Dong understood he was a living embodiment of the words he encouraged others to believe, “In dreams and in life, nothing is impossible.”

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When Dong and Viki were still dating, he would return to El Paso in the summers to teach Vietnamese to US soldiers.  While they were apart they would write several letters to each other and Viki had written this poem to Dong around 1970:

An Atheist to the God of Love,

My friends were earth and sky above.

But then you ripped into my life,

To bring me joy and pain and strife.

And now you leave me all alone,

To cry and weep and sometimes moan.

I know we're bound by destiny,

And so I'll wait again for thee,

To do the things you have to do before,

We meet again on common shore.

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July 11, 2024

In 2016 when I was freshly out of school and searching for that start in my career, Mr. Dong and his daughter Angela Pham were the first to give me that platform of lessons, career boost and a positive hope.

After moving to Corpus Christi for two years, not only did Mr. Dong helped me understand the world of engineering through his words but also looked after myself as he knew it was my first time living by myself away from my family.

I am forever grateful for his belief in me, his positive attitude in life, and helping me start my career. In Hinduism we call a mentor "Guru" who shows direction and leads everyone from darkness to light. Mr. Dong was that person, who led individuals towards light with his caring personality, words, and knowledge.

Sending my deepest sympathy and caring wishes to your family.

Akshar Patel

July 11, 2024

I am very fortunate to have spent time with the Pham's on many occasions, and Mr. Pham always had such a charitable spirit and made family friends feel extremely welcomed. Whether it was a crate full of homegrown citrus, a transport remedy, or believing you didn't need that fork the waiter surreptitiously placed next to only your plate of noodles, Mr. Pham graciously supported everyone around him. I will always hold dear memories of finding 'real' soul food and exploring Graceland with him and his family, and hope peace surrounds you all during this time of incredible loss.

Lauren Ritchie

July 8, 2024

Dong was a man of the utmost integrity with a passion for doing the right thing and hard work. Having worked with Dong off and on since 2009 in EG, Nigeria, and Ghana Dong was ALWAYS a pleasure to work with, seeking the best out of people and focused on delivering the best of every project. Even when times were difficult, Dong kept a positive and driving attitude that we all fed off of. What I learned most from Dong is that you give your people the responsibility to deliver and help them remove the roadblocks while always having their backs when the situations got tough. I will truly miss Dong. His smile, wit, and work ethic were catchy and for that I will always believe my life is better because I knew the man Dong Pham.

Rick Mitchell

July 6, 2024

My uncle Chu Dong was a progressive man, innovative, creative, and an out-of-the box thinker… a pioneer in our family. When I think of Chu Dong, I see how wonderfully made he was, a creative work in the image of a creative God. After leaving his native land and coming to the U.S. to study in the challenging field of engineering, he was instrumental in making sure the rest of his family- parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews had the best opportunity to succeed in the U.S. as well. He settled us in Houston, providing a home for all of us- 8+ immigrants, set up Ong and Ba with a way to make a living and take care of the family through “Ong’s Store.” Chu Dong and Aunt Viki taught us how to speak English and registered us for school, which was the beginning of our education and even our livelihood here in the U.S. He and Aunt Viki took us to buy clothes and school supplies for school every year. It was such an exciting time we looked forward to.
My childhood memories and most of the first experiences included Chu Dong…. riding go carts along the beach, fishing, camping, having pets (he had dogs), swimming at his house, riding the boat, horseback riding, and many other adventures. He loved to live life, have fun, and tried to include as many of his loved ones as possible. We couldn’t wait to go to Chu Dong’s house in the summer. He had such a positive, adventurous spirit, and an infectious laugh.
He was also an entrepreneur and saw potential everywhere, especially in people. He wanted to give us the best opportunity to be the best version of ourselves.
His departure is such a devastating loss, but the mark he leaves behind will live on in all of us, certainly those he enabled to flourish after coming to the U.S. The footprint of his influence is great. He was always busy working towards something, and never was much for resting. But may he rest now in peace. We will carry on what he started with us.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭

Uyen Cantrell

July 5, 2024

Recently, Erika sent me a photo from our childhood, when the Phams came to visit us in Southern California. We went to Disneyland, a rite of passage for any young visitor. The photo instantly brought me back to that moment in time. I was scared and refused to set foot on Splash Mountain: a “big kid” ride. Bac Dong reassured me that he would be right behind me the whole time, and he insisted he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. He stayed true to his word, and made me feel confident that I could conquer all of the big kid rides moving forward. He seemed to always know what to say, and how to make anyone feel supported and confident. I’m grateful to have known someone so generous, kind, and loving. My family and I hold so much respect and admiration for Bac Dong. He truly personified some of the Pham family’s most prominent values that I’m sure we see in all of our ambitious parents (his siblings) : integrity, perseverance, and determination, with a common goal of paving a path forward for future generations, and in turn, leaving an impressive and inspiring legacy.

Nichelle Nguyen

July 5, 2024

Sisters Mỹ Hạnh Nguyễn , and Bạch Yến Nguyễn .

(Cô Yến added a paragraph to complete cô Hạnh’s story )😘

Bạch Yến Nguyễn

July 4, 2024

My brother always challenge himself, he knew his abilities at the early age!! He had to take four exams: first one called Đệ Thất exam; this test was taken at the end of his fifth grade. He passed this exam and was accepted to the 6th grade at Võ Trường Toản one of the few best high schools in South VN. At the end of his ninth grade, he had to take an exam called bằng Trung Học , instead, he took this exam at the end of his 8th grade one year earlier than usual He passed with honor points he got to skipped grade night and transferred to Chu Văn An High School, up grade to be in ten grade (Ông Bà was extremely proud of the achievement). At the end of his eleventh grade, he had to take an exam called tú tài một exam, he passed this exam to be a senior in high school. Then at the end of his senior year, he took tú tài hai exam. This was a very important exam; those who failed this exam would go to the army with a low rank in the army; those who passed would get accepted to colleges in Vietnam; those who passed with a high score, plus passing an additional English proficiency exam called TOEFL would get to attend college in the US. He was one of those bright kids who got accepted to college in the US.

Bach Yen Nguyen

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