Jesus J. Chao

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Loving Legacy of Jesus J. Chao

Exceptional, Selfless, Generous, Hardworking, Honest, Driven, Energetic, Caring, Intelligent, Gentleman

Husband – Papi - Abuelo

With feelings of sorrow, yet pride, we reflect on how magnificent Jesus J. Chao, our dad, is not only to us, but to his community. Dad was an outstanding role model and inspiration. We would like to share a glimpse of his amazing life story with you.

Imagine one day waking up and finding out that your government has taken over your business, your bank account, and a military official is living in one of the bedrooms in a home which is no longer yours in order to keep surveillance on your family. Can you imagine that in a democratic, economically wealthy, highly educated society? These events prompted our dad to leave everything and restart life here in the United States. This is the life of our dad…

He was born and raised in Havana, Cuba, son of Spaniard immigrants who had moved to Cuba in the mid 1900s, the land of opportunity. Back before the tyrant Castro over-threw the government, Cuba was a prosperous democratic country of highly educated people and as economically sound as the United States. Dad as a child loved to read, especially poetry, and he loved to travel and explore the world. He studied engineering and excelled in school but had to leave his college studies to run the family business when his father passed away. He married a lovely school teacher, our mom, Angela Casanova-Chao. Mom was a beautiful flamenco dancer in her teens and in one occasion actually performed in the U.S. with her dance group.

In Cuba, Dad’s business thrived and he was blessed with a healthy happy family. Then in 1959, Castro changed all of that. Much to the amazement of Cubans and the world, the most economically sound country in the Caribbean fell to a dictator and all liberty and prosperity collapsed. No one could speak against Castro or practice their faith for fear of execution, and people found themselves treated as second class citizens in their own country as tourists and government officials were the privileged for want of nothing. The government seized everyone’s assets. Dad’s store was now Castro’s.

In 1967, Mom, Dad, Grandma, and the four kids (Maria, Jesse, Jose, and Olga) somberly boarded a plane and left our beloved homeland en route to Spain. Six months later, our family settled in Houston, Texas where family awaited us. We arrived November 3, 1967 and found ourselves welcomed by the Catholic Church with food and donations upon our arrival. Every time we recall our arrival, we are touched by the generosity and comfort we received from the community.

We came not knowing English and started our lives over with very little but the support of Americans and our newly acquired freedom. Dad did not accept any monetary assistance like welfare, instead he accepted car rides from neighbors and worked several jobs. Mom worked also and Grandma took care of the children. Dad’s first job came from the Catholic Church who not only warmly welcomed us upon arriving to this country, but also offered Dad a janitorial position at the school. Dad was very thankful to the church for having been able to go to work so quickly. From there he continued his second job working the remainder of the day at the warehouse of Credit Bureau. Neighbors would drive Dad and Mom to work until they could afford a car. Five years later, Dad started his own jewelry business.

Dad had an impeccable reputation for honesty and hard work. A Cuban friend who knew Dad back from his business in Cuba called a friend of his in the jewelry distributorship business in New York. This American businessman gave Dad jewelry on consignment to start his business purely based upon Dad’s reputation because he did not have any collateral to back up the merchandise. Dad went on many sales calls and long road trips for the next several years until he was eventually able to open up his own store, Gems by Chao, in the Galleria, in 1972. Dad likes to recount an experience in the store of a little country girl with freckles and pigtails who couldn’t believe that dad could have a job in the store with such “bad” English. Dad explained to her that he could work there because he was the owner. It still tickles him to remember her astonished expression. Although he never lost his strong accent, his command of the English language was impressive. Remember encyclopedias? Dad invested in over 3 sets all of which he read, I believe multiple times. Then he discovered the internet and the computer pretty much never left his side.

As you can understand, to survive and rise above such an ordeal, Dad was a very driven person who followed his passion and beliefs. His faith, family and friends were his priority in life. His hero is Jose Marti who was a Cuban revolutionary and poet. In tribute to his hero and support to his community, he founded the Jose Marti Scholarship program which provides merit scholarships to students pursuing a college education. Dad was very active in writing political and religious articles and he was the proudest American you would ever meet. Dad always instilled in us the importance of education because as he would say in his strong Cuban accent, “your mind is the one thing no one can take away from you and whatever may happen you can overcome your obstacles.” Dad supported all four of his kids through college and two through graduate school. He worked six to seven days of every week up until his body could no longer withstand the trajectory from the parking lot to the store. But with his genius mind and will to run the store from afar, he persevered. To the end, the cancer overcame his physical being but dad stayed determined, strong willed and however difficult his day he always happened to blend in some wit and humor and heartfelt gratitude for those he loved and appreciated in his life. His faith gave him peace and he was grateful for a long fulfilling life always surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and friends.

Dad, you are our inspiration and may your example inspire others. Papi, te queremos mucho. Maria, Jesse, Jose, and Olga.