Tan Duy Phung

October  22nd, 1956 April  3rd, 2024
Irvine, CA
Tan Duy Phung

Tan Phung lights up every room with his personality, his infectious laughter, and his engaging, talkative nature.

Obituary

TTan Phung, beloved father, husband, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2024 surrounded by family at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Irvine CA. Tan was born on October 22, 1956, a man whose presence and warmth enveloped all those around him.

Tan is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen Phung, whom he married in 1981 in Santa Monica CA. Together, they created a beautiful family and instilled in them the values of love, respect, and integrity. His legacy is carried on by his devoted children, Theresa Vuong and Tan Phung Jr., and cherished grandchildren, Davin and Audrey Vuong.

Tan's life was punctuated by moments of joy - the successful startup of his company, Modern Information Systems in 1982, the birth of his first child in 1983, the arrival of his second in 1987, and becoming a grandfather in 2016 and 2018. His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy and he was celebrated as the "World's Greatest Grandpa."  Warm, friendly, and always full of stories, Tan was someone who brought light into every room he entered. Known for his jovial nature, he was a talkative jokester who never failed to bring a smile to those he interacted with.

Tan enjoyed simple pleasures of life. His pastime included being with his grandchildren, fishing, and capturing precious memories through his lens. His favorite game to play was Chinese Chess - a testament to his strategic mind, and ping pong - he was a champion. A fan of Kenny Rogers’ music, Tan often filled the house with his favorite tunes. And, his favorite movies were Bruce Lee's, which he would watch over and over again.  Tan also enjoys writing poetry for his wife, who when asked rolls her eyes and lovingly complains ‘all the time’. During his cancer journey, Tan realized his gift at sharing emotions through prose and expanded to writing impactful poems to share with the cancer community.

Tan is proud of the life he built.  Coming to the United States in 1975 as a refugee, he overcame the obstacles of language and culture.  He pushed himself to grow personally, professionally, and adapt to the completely new world.  He relied on himself and his life was filled with joy, warmth, and lots of laughter, qualities he passed on to his beloved children and grandchildren. His spirit will live on through the love and memories he has left behind. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Here is one of Tan Phung's poems titled Embrace of Solace: 

In a room where silence speaks,
A soul endures, both brave and weak.
O cancer, unbidden, why choose me,
To bear this burden, this relentless sea?

Eyes, once the home of hopeful gleams,
Now harbor quiet, pain-filled dreams.
In each pang, a constant fight,
Yet in the depths, a flicker of light.

Through this storm, I seek a grace,
A gentle peace in this harsh place.
In every pain, in every sigh,
I look for strength, as days go by.

The clock's hands march, relentless, true,
Marking moments, both old and new.
How long must I endure this test,
To find some rest, to find some rest?

Yet, even as tears trace sorrow's line,
A glimmer of hope, subtly divine.
Life, in its fleeting, fragile span,
Reveals the depth of the human clan.

To those who read, with hearts that feel,
Know this journey is profoundly real.
In each word, a silent cry,
For compassion, for a tender sigh.

O cancer, though you've taken much,
You've not dimmed the human touch.
In struggle, in pain, in quiet defiance,
Lies a soul's unyielding resilience.

Timeline

1975
Phung family immigrated from Vietnam to the US
During a time of turbulent civil war, the Phung family was sponsored and came to the US.  
1977
Joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 
Tan Phung dedicated two years of his life to missionary work, demonstrating unwavering devotion. His journey lead him to adventures in North Dakota and California. Through these experiences, his spiritual and personal growth became evident, shaping him into the individual he was destined to become.
1978
Meet his future wife
During one of his missionary visits, Tan knocked on a door that would change the course of his life forever. It was there that he encountered his future wife, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey together.
1981
Got married
On June 20th, 1981, Tan and Kathleen exchanged vows in a sacred ceremony in Santa Monica, California. Their wedding was a grand celebration with a four-tiered wedding cake and the presence of 180 guests. Amidst the joy and nervousness of the occasion, Kathleen's excitement led to a humorous mishap during the cake feeding, as she accidentally directed the fork towards Tan's nose instead of his mouth!
1982
Founded Modern Information Systems
Together with his wife, Kathleen Phung, Tan established Modern Information Systems, a pioneering company at the forefront of technology. As one of the only Asian individuals in the field in the US during that era, Tan forged valuable connections with Japan, introducing Fujitsu technology such as RAM chips, hard drives, and floppy disks to the early landscape of computer hardware. 
1983
Daughter was born
Theresa Vuong was born on October 1983 and was delivered two weeks after her expected delivery date.  Tan was immensely proud of having his first healthy child and was happy that he recently purchased his first new house.  He was living the American dream!  
1987
Son was born
Tan Phung Jr was born on November 1987 and was gifted what his father cherished most - his name.  In Vietnamese culture, a name holds significant symbolism, reflecting the importance of family and status.  Tan bestowed upon his son a powerful name, ensuring that he would begin his journey in the world with strength and honor.
2016
Grandson was born
Davin Vuong was born on May 2016, 6 weeks before his due date.  In a moment of need, Tan Phung, stepped up as retired grandpa to take care of his grandson while mama went back to work.  We all had our concerns and hesitations with the setup, but Tan was a natural and absolutely amazing to take care of Davin.   Their bond as grandpa and grandson flourished.
2018
Granddaughter was born
Audrey Vuong was born on April 2018 and grandpa was one of the first to hold her.  He was amazing trying to juggle watching two kids and taking them to Gymboree and the park!  

Gallery

Share your pictures, videos, and memories!

Please share all the pictures, videos, and memories. We would love to hear any stories that accompany them as well! 


April 15, 2024
Christmas season December 2016
Kenneth Buu

Family tree

Hong Van Le
Mien Duy Phung
Kathleen Phung
Dinh Phung
Van Ha
Theresa Vuong
Tan Phung Jr
Van Nga
Dinh Phung
Van Ha
Van Nga
Kathleen Phung
Theresa Vuong
Tan Phung Jr
Tan Phung

Favorites


What was Tan's favorite Drink?
Pina Colada and Louis XXIII Cognac
What was Tan's favorite Game to play?
Chinese Chess and Poker
What was Tan's favorite Movie?
Bruce Lee movies and The Godfather
What was Tan's favorite Quote or Saying?
"It's never too late to change your life for the better."
What was Tan's favorite Music / Song?
Kenny Rogers and Julio Iglesias

Service


Tang lễ
Hãy tham gia cùng chúng tôi để kỷ niệm cuộc đời của Tân Duy PhùngTang Lễ sẽ bắt đầu đúng vào lúc 11 giờ sáng.

HOA
Xin vui lòng Không gửi hoa! Chúng tôi cảm tạ sự chân thành của bạn nhưng vui lòng yêu cầu đề nghị các khách mời không gửi hoa. Chúng tôi sẽ không chấp nhận bất kỳ chuyến giao hoa nào tại nơi tổ chức lễ và nhà riêng của chúng tôi. Sự hiện diện và sự tham gia của bạn là đủ. Thay cho hoa, mời các bạn cân nhắc quyên góp bên dưới để ủng hộ gia đình và giúp Tân thực hiện ước mơ xuất bản tập thơ ung thư của mình. Độ lượng của bạn, dù lớn hay nhỏ, sẽ được đánh giá cao. Cảm ơn bạn đã tôn vinh tưởng nhớ về tâm hồn của Tân Phùng và dành tấm lòng nhân ái hỗ trợ cho gia đình chúng tôi.

SỰ THAM GIA
Chúng tôi muốn tang lễ của Tân Phùng phản ánh sự ảnh hưởng mà anh ấy đã để lại cho những người xung quanh. Chúng tôi mở lời mời cho bất kỳ ai muốn chia sẻ vài lời hoặc thể hiện sự tôn trọng bất kỳ cách nào trong suốt lễ tang. Nếu bạn muốn tham gia hoặc nói vài lời, vui lòng gửi email cho Theresa tại địa chỉ vuongtheresa@gmail.com. Sự hiện diện và sự tham gia của bạn được chân thành cảm tạ.

XÁC NHẬN THAM DỰ
Nếu bạn dự định tham dự, vui lòng xác nhận tham dự tại đây. https://www.evite.com/event/006FRPGQHZYEBI3D6EPO6VUDLLU5Rl

Địa điểm
Nhà thờ Jesus Christmas Latter day Saints
2150 Bonita Canyon Drive, Newport

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Please join us to celebrate the life of Tan Duy Phung. 

SERVICE
Service will start promptly at 11AM.  All are welcome to attend regardless of religious affiliation.  

FLOWERS
Please DO NOT send flowers! We appreciate your heartfelt intentions but kindly ask that guests do not send flowers. We will not be accepting any flower deliveries to the service site or our personal homes.  Your presence and involvement is enough.  In lieu of flowers, we invite you to consider making a donation below to support the family and help fulfill Tan's dream of publishing his own book of poetry. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.

INVOLVEMENT
We want Tan Phung's service to reflect the impact that he has had on those around him.  We extend an invitation for anyone who would like to share a few words or show their respect in any way during the funeral service. If you wish to participate or say a few words, please email Theresa at vuongtheresa@gmail.com. Your presence and participation are deeply valued.

RSVP
If you plan to attend, please RSVP here. https://www.evite.com/event/006FRPGQHZYEBI3D6EPO6VUDLLU5RI

Location
Chapel of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints
2150 Bonita Canyon Drive, Newport Beach CA 92660
Date/time
Saturday April 20, 2024
11AM

Donate

In memory of Tan Phung, we humbly ask for your support to help with end of life arrangements and to support our family fulfill his last wishes of publishing his poems into a book.  

Your generosity, no matter the size, will be deeply appreciated. Thank you for honoring Tan Phung's memory and offering your kindness and support to our family.
Share

Secure payment

First Lastname donation
Order total: $ 0
Your host will receive your funds within 24 hours.