Dad’s Eulogy
January 14, 2004
God is good, God is kind, and God is wonderful. When God created man, he created man in His
likeness, in His image.
My father, Mang John Nguyen, was born on January 17, 1940. After 63 years, he has touched the
lives of many around him.
My father was a good man. He was a man of discipline. He demonstrated this discipline at work and
at home. During the 28 years of working at CNA Insurance, he has never ever once called in sick or
was ever late to work. He was a curious man. He always wanted to learn more. During family
gatherings at the dinner table, he would always ask questions about computers, about the Internet, or
about anything that he had an interest in. He never ever hesitated to ask simple questions because he
knew the importance and the value of knowledge. He always wanted to stay in good physical health.
Before going to work, he would always spend a few minutes doing light exercises, and after work he
would spend time walking or jogging a few miles no matter what the weather condition was like. He
never really complained about anything: He did whatever was asked of him. When his company
asked him to work overtime, or when he was asked to work during the holidays, he would just do it
without question or hesitation.
My father was a kind man. He was a man that always wanted to give but never expected anything in
return. He was a self-sacrificing man. He thought of others before he thought of himself. He always
placed family first before everything else. He worked hard to provide for his family and made sure
that everyone was well cared for until the day of his passing. He was a humble person in that he was
always happy with whatever was given to him without ever asking for anything more. He was nonjudgmental. He accepted others for who they are no matter what they do or have done.
He was a wonderful man. He was a simple man, but yet always seemed to amaze everyone. He
always took up new challenges. Four years ago, my father entered into the Good Samaritan
Hospital’s “Run for the Roses” marathon with my younger brother John and surprised us all when he
finished the marathon within the top few of his age bracket. He made us proud because he was the
oldest runner in the marathon and because he out-ran some of the younger competitors. This truly
displayed his energetic character and his desire to be the best that he can be.
During his last few hours, we were all very fortunate to have been there at his bedside to hold him and
to care for him for the last time. Every time I close my eyes now, I see my dad running: running to
work, running home from work, or just running to stay in good health. Now when I open my eyes,
rather than seeing him hang up his shoes and resting, I see my father still running, running to God.
This coming Saturday would have been my father’s 64th birthday. As a gift to my father, let us not
look at his death as a loss but as a new beginning of his eternal life in Heaven. Dad, we love you,
we’ll miss you, you are our hero!