March Fong Eu's Obituary
The Honorable March Fong Eu, California’s former Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, passed away December 21, 2017 at the age of 95. Born on March 29,1922, to Hoy Yuen Kong and Shee Shuey Jue in Oakdale, California, March Kong was the youngest of five children. Educated in Richmond public schools, she was a graduate of UC Berkeley (1943), earned her Masters of Education from Mills College (1947), and received her Doctor of Education from Stanford University (1954).
A professional dental hygienist by trade, Dr. Eu served as the first female and first American of Asian ancestry Chair of the University of California San Francisco’s Department of Dental Hygiene, as well as the first dental hygienist for Oakland public schools and the Alameda County schools. Her active participation in the American Dental Hygienists Association, which she served as President from 1944-1947, coupled with her regularly testifying before the Legislature in Sacramento on behalf of education and dental health issues, led to her running for, and being elected to the Alameda County Board of Education (1956-1964) and then to the California State Assembly, 15th District (D), where she served from 1966-1974.
In 1974, Dr. Eu was elected California Secretary of State with more than 3.4 million votes, surpassing her closest rival by more than 1.2 million votes. She was proud to have been the first female Secretary of State and the first woman of Asian ancestry to be elected to a constitutional office in California. She was re-elected Secretary of State for four more terms by overwhelming margins. In 1994, she resigned her position to accept an appointment by President Bill Clinton to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. During retirement, Dr. Eu became an accomplished artist and calligrapher.
At an early age, Dr. Eu realized that education would be the key to success and, despite little encouragement from home, became an accomplished student who was active in school government, cheerleading, the honor society, and tennis. Becoming a self-motivated and self-confident girl and woman, she refused to let common perceptions and stereotypes deter her from her goals. She often said when life gave her lemons, she made lemonade, which aptly described her attitude about life’s hurdles and overcoming them. A recognized trailblazer in many fields, not just politics, Dr. Eu was an advocate for equal rights for women and minority citizens long before it became common to do so. She often reflected on how pleased it made her that her commitment to honesty and public service was readily recognized and acknowledged by Californians and beyond the state’s borders. She often led the charge or willingly lent her backing to causes in which she strongly believed, from education and dental health to consumer rights, environmental protection, agricultural and international trade promotion, voting rights, streamlined government services, increased notary public oversight and education, and the preservation of California’s rich history.
First married to the late Dr. Chester Fong, Dr. Eu had two children – Matthew Kipling Fong and Suyin Fong. Dr. Eu later was married to overseas businessman, the late Henry Eu. Dr. Eu is survived by Suyin and husband, Jim, and their two children Alaric and Melody, as well as Matthew Fong’s two children, Matthew, Jr. and Jade Freeman, great grandchild Samuel Freeman IV, stepchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Dr. Eu will be greatly missed by many, but her legacy will live on. The Secretary of State’s Office Complex in Sacramento will be renamed in her honor. She was the driving force behind the successful construction of the complex, which consolidates all the divisions within the Secretary of State’s Office, including the California Museum and the California State Archives.
Private Burial Service has been requested by the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Eu’s honor to the Friends of California Archives, 1020 “O” Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
A Celebration of Life is being planned for March 29th, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
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