I would like to begin by thanking everyone who came from near and far for taking the time out of their busy lives to come join us today to remember my father. I would also like to thank those who could not make it but whose thoughts and prayers are with us now. Your compassion and friendship are very much appreciated.

I would like now to share a few thoughts and feelings about my father.

He was the kind of good father who encouraged his children. He gave us the freedom to pursue whatever our hearts desired and lent us his unconditional emotional support. In particular, when it came to our education, he was always interested and involved giving us what advice he could. He wanted the best but never pressured us too strongly. Yet we strived to do our best to make him proud.

He was also a giver who cared about his family, never asking anything for himself. He was constantly thinking about and doing what was best for us, often making his own sacrifices in the process. When it came to his family, if there was anything that he was able to do or provide it would be done without hesitation. He would also be proactive, giving advice on how we could improve our physical and mental health. We were continually in his thoughts.

Lastly, he was not one who gave up easily. When he faced hardship in his life he adapted. Always the optimist he did not dwell on things that went wrong in the past. He would look toward the future, thoughtful of what he could do in the present to make a situation better. If one thing failed, he would try the next. Even towards the end when we expressed concern for him he insisted: “do not worry because I will get better and come home.” He never lost hope.

I have been fortunate enough to have some successes in my life. I have no doubt that they were possible only through the wisdom my father passed on to me. But what I value most is what I learned from the way he lived his life: to find joy in the joy of others and most importantly to remain optimistic, never giving up when times are bad. I will keep and cherish these lessons for the rest of my life.

I would like to end by expressing my gratitude towards everyone who helped my father through difficult times and shared his happiness in good times. To all of the Vietnamese foreign students that studied in Japan who shared a similar path as my father and the countless others who lent their support while my father was ill, on behalf of my family, thank you very much! He received support from many parts of the world - Canada, America, Japan, Vietnam, Europe, and Australia. He truly appreciated receiving each and every word of encouragement. They were a great source of hope that gave him the strength to continue fighting his illness and to continue believing that he would get better. On behalf of my father and from the bottom of my heart, thank you! He was very fortunate to have such good friends.

We all loved him very much. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Robert Hideki Nguyen