Thomas S. Chew's Obituary
With his big heart full of love, Thomas S. Chew took his final breath and left us to join our Lord on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2026. Thomas resided in San Leandro, CA with his family for 45 years after having lived in Oakland, CA since 1947. He was born in El Paso, TX on June 30, 1931. Although he lived there for only the first four years of his life, Thomas was always proud to call himself a Texan.
When he was young, Thomas left the States to live in China with his family. After much hardship abroad, he returned in 1947, acclimating quickly. Within the next 10 years, he attended the Oakland public school system where he met his lifelong best friends - Willie Ong, and brothers Robert Quan and Walter Quan; served in the Korean Army from 1952-1953 as an interrogator and interpreter; received a technical degree with highest honors in Architectural Drafting and Building Estimating; began his career as a successful draftsman with eventual retirement after 33 years with CE Toland & Son; met and married his wife, May Hung Hom.
Much joy was derived from many things in his life that he greatly loved - his family, God, food, music, inventing, being outside in his yard, and watching wrestling. To all who were blessed to know him, Thomas was a most loving, kind, humble, easy-going, hardworking, respectful, dutiful, and sincere man who always lived with a heart of gratitude. One of his favorite sayings was “If you have your health, you have everything.” Although he finally succumbed to health issues, Thomas lived a long life with overall good health, despite battling illnesses in his later years.
Thomas is survived by his loving family - wife of 68 years, May Hung Chew; daughters Diane, Norma Andres (Jeff), and Donna; grandchildren Laura Fei Lan Andres, Kate Andres, and Doug Andres. Along with 19 nieces and nephews, many of whose children also have families, Thomas’s life was blessed by many. He is preceded in death by his parents Chu Chee and Wong S. Hong; in-laws Moon S. Hom and Sin Oy Lee; his sister, Flora Louie; godsister Anne Chew; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
The family would like to thank the Asian Network Pacific Home Care & Health Organization for providing excellent care during Thomas’s last days under hospice, as well as the many caring staff members at the Hayward Gardens Post Acute Care Skilled Nursing Facility, where he stayed after being discharged from the hospital.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, with interment afterwards at Mountain View Cemetery.
Rest in peace, dear Thomas. You are in our loving hearts always.
"Everything flourishes; each returns to its root. Returning to the root is called 'tranquility’.” Lao Tzu
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