Minh Q. Tran

Minh passed away unexpectedly from an abdominal aortic aneurysm, leaving his family and loved ones in shock and grief. His family finds solace in the fact that he passed peacefully and quickly, as he had always wished. His life was a testament to resilience, courage, and kindness, leaving a legacy of love and strength for all who knew him.

Minh was born on January 9, 1948 in North Vietnam, the only son in a family of six sisters. From a young age, he showed exceptional talent in mathematics and pursued higher education in Vietnam. At the age of 20, he was drafted into the Vietnam War, where he dedicated himself to the study of navigation and rose to the rank of Lieutenant in the South Vietnamese Navy.

In 1972, Minh traveled to Rhode Island, United States for advanced naval training. However, longing for the comforts of his culture, and the Vietnamese food he loved so dearly, he returned to Vietnam to continue serving his homeland. In 1975 when Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese communists, Minh was sent to a re-education camp. Despite initially being told he would only stay for three days, days turned to months and months turned to years. For the next ten years, Minh endured unimaginable hardship, surviving the grueling conditions with the help of his family who brought food to sustain him.

Upon his release, Minh’s determination led him to escape Vietnam by boat to Malaysia. During their journey, the boat’s captain became lost at sea. At that point, Minh stepped up and took control. Using his navigation skills, he safely guided the boat and its passengers through dangerous waters to reach Malaysia. His leadership during this journey earned the trust and admiration of everyone aboard.

At the refugee camp in Malaysia, Minh’s charisma and natural leadership skills emerged once again. While he was working and transporting materials, a man blocked the road and forced him to take a detour, leading to a confrontation between them. During this exchange, one of the leaders observed his boldness and leadership qualities and chose him as a personal assistant before eventually appointing him as the coordinator overseeing supplies for the thousands of refugees in Malaysia. These experiences became the foundation for his later success.

In 1991, Minh finally reunited with his family in Sacramento, California, after being sponsored by his parents. He worked as a landscaper for several years while staying with his sister, Helen. He enjoyed purchasing classic Sacramento logo shirts from Old Sacramento, a place he loved to visit. In search of better opportunities, he relocated to New York in 1995, where he married Khan Thi the same year. Minh worked at a bakery for a few years, then secured a job at the Hilton Hotel in Pearl River as a Banquet Houseman, a position he held for over 25 years. He cherished his work, his coworkers, and the supportive environment his boss provided.

In November 1999, Minh became a father to his daughter, Julia Tran, a role he embraced with endless love and pride, bringing her for music lessons, swim practice with the Condors swim club, art classes, and eventually celebrating her acceptance into college and dental school.

Known for his carefree “everything will be okay” attitude, Minh brought positivity and light into the lives of everyone around him. Whether offering advice, support, or simply a listening ear, he was a constant source of comfort and strength. He always knew how to liven up any gathering, whether with an interesting story, funny jokes, or the photo slideshow reels that he was always proud to share. He was an integral member of the household, one that everybody relied and depended upon.

During the spring, Minh was a prolific builder, evidenced by the various chairs, benches, garden planters, shelves, and rolling tables that adorn his home. During summer, he loved lawn mowing and gardening, growing endless amounts of chives, veggies, and tomatoes. During the fall, he enjoyed watching sports, and during the winter, he would shovel snow, drink green tea, his favorite hot beverage, and attending Christmas service at the local church.

Minh enjoyed the simple pleasures in life: fried chicken and yang zhou fried rice, a pack of Milano cookies, a plate of freshly sliced oranges, bun thit nuong cha gio (Vietnamese noodle salad with spring rolls), crispy skin chicken, leung mien wong, and of course his favorite Sriracha hot sauce.

Minh is survived by his wife, Khan Thi, his daughter, Julia Tran, many loving sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends. His warmth, humor, and unwavering kindness will be deeply missed but fondly remembered.

A visitation service to celebrate Minh’s remarkable life will be held at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home 321 South Main Street, New City, NY, 10956 on December 29th, 2024 from 7–9 AM. Following the visitation will be a funeral service and cremation from 10AM to 11AM at Garden State Crematory, 4101 Kennedy Blvd, North Bergen, NJ, 07047.

Minh Tran’s journey was one of perseverance, hope, and love. Though his passing was sudden, his memory will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him.