De Manh Tran

At the age of 16, he escaped the country by himself, leaving on a small fishing boat then taking refuge at a camp in Singapore for several months before arriving in Seattle, Washington. Despite cultural and survival challenges, De graduated from Chief Sealth High School in Seattle. He later graduated from Seattle University with a BS in Electrical Engineering and earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. De’s career led him to work at companies like Quantum, Allied Signal, Honeywell, ending at The Boeing Company.

A self-motivator and dedicated family man, De sponsored his mother, and many of his siblings to the US, making the Pacific Northwest his family's new home.

De and his wife, Mai-Tram Huynh, met as part of a wedding party and were married in March 1998. De lived a simple life. He loved to sing karaoke, debate about life in general and gather around family and friends. He was diligent at exercising, and was an avid soccer and ping pong player over the years. During quarantine, he took up tennis to be outdoors. More importantly, he started learning a new sport because he wanted an activity that he and Mai-Tram would enjoy together as soon-to-be empty nesters. One of the many attributes that he passed on to his children was his athleticism. Players and parents alike can always count on him to proudly cheer from the sidelines, shag balls for the team and engage in conversations regarding questionable referee calls. De also loved to sing, travel and enjoyed his last family vacation on their European cruise during the summer of 2022.

He is survived by his wife, Mai-Tram, son Vinh, daughter Mai-Vy, parents Tinh Tran and Nhan Manh, two sisters, seven brothers, eight nieces and nephews, and five great nieces and nephews.

De was deeply respected and loved by those who spent time with him. A self-motivator and hard-working man, De Manh Tran is remembered for his wholehearted commitment to family, strength, independence, and pride in hard work.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your charity of choice in his memory