George Leong Young Suey, Asian American trailblazer during the 1960s to the 1990s, passed away on January 14. The San Bruno resident was 91.
Suey was active with the Chinese American Citizens Alliance since the early 1960s, where he became president of the San Francisco lodge in 1972 and then first national executive director from 1977-79.
Pushing for adoption of the first Asian Pacific Heritage Week, Suey met with President Jimmy Carter to encourage his support of the resolution drafted with the help of Rep. Phil Burton (D-San Francisco). Carter signed the resolution in 1978. Today, an expanded observation is celebrated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Suey epitomized public service, said Virginia Gee, a former S.F. lodge president of CACA. "George, my one word for him is trailblazer. He was of high energy, needed no guidance, he was a self starter."
Before Suey retired in 1978, Suey became the first Chinese American lead mechanic and inspector during a 37-year United Airlines career. He was also the first Chinese American mechanic hired by a scheduled airline in 1940.
Born in 1915 in Hannibal, Missouri, he was raised in St. Louis where his parents ran a grocery store, restaurant and laundry. As a teen, he was schooled in China, where he learned Chinese culture and language.
Suey is survived by wife Pearl of 67 years, daughter Marilyn (Stephen) and granddaughters Nicole and Chloe Diamond, brothers Thomas Young (Lucille) and Richard Young (Ludy) along with sisters Ann Ho (Joseph), May Yee and Margaret Ho. (Source: AsianWeek, Jan 26, 2007