TAM TRUNG NGUYEN
October 31st, 1942 – August 16th, 2021
Passed in peace, surrounded by his family on a beautiful sunny morning on Monday the 16h of August, 2021, after a long 15 year battle with Parkinson’s.
Tam was born in Saigon, Vietnam on October 31st, 1942, to loving parents Nguyet Thi Pham and Thom Van Nguyen . In 1944, he made his first trip by boat and twin engine planes to visit his family in Paris which ignited his love for travel. He returned to Vietnam where he finished high school, and in 1959 he left his homeland and set out on the adventure that would be his life. He attended school in Paris, and was able to spend his summers traveling around Europe by Vespa with his big brother Chan. He eventually studied electrical engineering in Damstraat Germany, where he met Uwe Schwenk, his longtime friend, and godfather to his daughter.
Upon completion of his studies, Tam immigrated to Montreal, Canada in 1967, where he met his first wife, Bonnie Vincent. While on a two year work contract in Maidenhead, England in 1969, their first child and daughter, Mai-Lynn,was born, and by the time they returned to Canada to settle, in 1972, their son Nam was born in Ottawa. Phyllis Vincent, Bonnie’s mother moved to Ottawa to be with them, and remained a big part of Tam’s life until her death in 2010.
Tam built a lengthy career in his adopted city of Ottawa and was a contributing member to the development of the global telecommunications industry. His work took him around the world allowing him to nurture his passion for adventure and exploration of new environments. He loved camping and the outdoors, being on the water in a boat of some kind, activities he cherished with his children. He organized family trips, in Canada, and abroad, took his children camping, organized exciting voyages on wooden sailboats, took them to explore caves, rivers.
He also loved cooking, and amongst his favourite meals were Pho, grilled salted pork ribs with steamed rice, escargot, Moroccan couscous, sauerkraut, steamed fish Chinese style. Sundays in the 1970’s were reserved for eggs fried in a cast iron pan served with baguette, home brewed Italian espresso, sipped from a bone china cup, all while lounging around in a black satin and gold striped kimono, next to the family dog Duffy, a giant fluffy Scottish Deerhound brought all the way from Vermont on one snowy December night in 1976.
Being an engineer, he was forever curious about the mechanics of how things worked, and constantly trying to repair whatever machine had broken down. He was also an artist, who loved to paint, work with leather, carve wood and bone, and play his mandolin. Tam will be remembered most of all for the importance that he placed on family and the people around him. He loved his children and his family with all his heart, and throughout his years he helped numerous refugees establish themselves in Canada following the aftermath of the Vietnam war.
Hoa Thi Duong, Tam’s second wife has been by his soul mate for the last 40 years, and they have lived together and cared for each other ever since. She is and remains his true love. His family are grateful for all the love, and excellent care she has given him throughout his long and debilitating fight with Parkinson’s.
Tam is survived by his brother Chan, his sister Anh, his son Nam and his wife Hanh, his daughter Mai-Lynn, his grandchildren Sophia and Connor, his friend Bonnie and most of all, his devoted wife Hoa.
A private family service will be held however friends and family are welcome to attend a visitation at the West Chapel of
Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Avenue (at Richmond Road), Ottawa on Friday, August 20th, 2021 from 10am -12noon. Due to covid protocols, attendance will be limited to registered visitors only. Please RSVP at the bottom of the obituary page. The visitation will be followed by a Celebration of Life BBQ commencing at 1PM hosted by friends and family at Tam’s son Nam’s house at 22 Empress Avenue N., Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7E8 (613 327-0617). In lieu of sending flowers, the family asks that any donations be directed to the Parkinson Society of Canada.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Tam Trung Nguyen Monday August 16th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Ottawa, Province: Ontario