Nguyễn Huy Vũ (1975-2009)
A Viet man whom the Bolsavik considers if not the best then certainly one of the best Vietnamese-American journalists, has passed away on Friday night as a result of a heart attack.
Vu Huy Nguyen, 34, who often wrote his byline the Vietnamese way Nguyen Huy Vu, suffered a heart attack while playing soccer on Sunday and slipped into a coma from which doctors said he would not be able to recover.
Last night, surrounded by friends, his family made the painful and heartbreaking choice of turning off Vu’s artificial life support.
Vu came to the U.S. as a 2-month-old baby, clutched in the arms of his father Chuyen Nguyen, a community leader and former aide to State Senator Joe Dunn.
Over the years, Vu has proven himself to be an awesome journalist, both ardent and levelheaded. Vu was one of the main people featured in the documentary film “Saigon U.S.A.”
As an intern at the OC Weekly, Vu covered the the Hi-Tek flag protests, and wrote a passionate essay (here) explaining to the world at large exactly why Vietnamese, despite all their differences about everything else, are anti-communist.
While still an intern, Vu won a share of the OC Press Club Award for an investigative report on the toxic effects of the Disneyland fireworks shows.
Vu then went on to work at the Seattle Times, the OC Register, the AP. Vu also wrote occasionally for Nguoi Viet 2, the English-language supplement to the Nguoi Viet Daily News.
In 2008, Vu also took a short leave and completed his Master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting at the University of Illinois.
Returning to California after graduate school, Vu began working at the Daily Breeze as an education reporter, a beat that covers all schools in the South Bay including the colleges such as El Camino.
The latest controversy was, of course, all the rumors of swine flu in the schools, but the Bolsavik’s favorite was his feature, here, of middle school students learning to care about issues around the world in the “Democracy In Action” program.
The Bolsavik also likes this feature about immigrant children learning and acting in Shakespearean plays. “All the world’s a stage,” Vu quoted the Bard.
Indeed it was. The world was Vu’s oyster, and he truly lived.
Vu is survived by a grandmother, both parents, a younger brother and his wife of six months, Deputy Attorney General Heather Hua (pictured with Vu).
The following is a KCAL/KCBS TV report on Vu Huy Nguyen’s passing.
This is a shocking sad story. He is too young!
My parayers are with him/his family. May God Bless them with healing hands. Vu Nguyen will be greatly missed here.
Vu was a great reporter but an even-better man. Damn, this is tough to take.
This is a great loss to our community, my condolences to his family.
Vu is in heaven now and we are here on his funeral.
While we grieve his sudden departure, we want to celebrate his happy life. Don’t ever forget Vu. He wanted to make everyone happy.
How good Vu was as a person.
We should all be thankful that we were given the chance to have known a man named Nguyen Huy Vu.
Vu was one of a kind. I remember almost a decade ago when he first arrived at OC Weekly as an intern. He’d colored his spiked hair orange! And he had so much idealism and energy to make a difference as a journalist. As painful as this loss is, it’s comforting to know how incredibly fortunate he was to be surrounded in his life with a loving, supportive family. My thoughts go out to them and his wife.
Requiem Mass in D Minor” by W.A. Mozart.
For you, Vu. I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrtOXih-myU
It’s a sad news. I learn it when watched the CBS News last night. My heart go out with him and his family.
Rest in peace.
Looking at an old photograph
and see your smile.
As I feel your presence anew,
I am filled with warmth
and my heart remembers love.
…
Where are you now,
Where did you go,
When the body is left behind
and the spirit is released to fly?
…
Perhaps you are the morning bird
singing joyfully at sunrise,
or the butterfly that dances
so carelessly on the breeze
or the rainbow of colors
that brightens a stormy sky
or the fingers of afternoon mist
delicately reaching over the mountains
or the final few rays of the setting sun
lighting up the skies
edging the clouds with a magical glow.
I miss your being
but I feel your presence,
In whatever form you choose to take,
however you now choose to be.
Your spirit has become for me
a guardian angel on high
guiding, advising, and watching over me.
I remember you.
You are with me
and I am not afraid.
Kirsti A. Dyer, MD, MS
Journey of Hearts A Healing Place in Cyberspace
He might be temporarily away from us now but he’s with Jesus now. May God take care of him. Rest in God’s heaven.
Tears from an angel :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZThARSv69Rg
Rosa Elvira Sierra -Pie Jesu- Requiem- Fauré
With this sorrow, I thee miss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFFHaz9GsY
Verdi: Requiem, Dies irae
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSAUUXdW78M
Rest in peace, Vu!
Any news on when and where the memorial will be?
Hi Bolsavik readers,
This is Vu’s father.
1- Visitation is on Sat from 5PM to 9PM, and Sun from 6PM to 9PM.
at Melrose Abbey Memorial Park, 2303 S. Manchester, Anaheim, CA 92802
2- Funeral mass is on Mon at 10AM.
at ST. Callistus Catholic Church
12921 Lewis St., Garden Grove, CA 92840
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.
Chuyen Nguyen
Anh Chuyen, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Vu is dearly missed.
QXP
Mr. Chuyen Nguyen,
My sincere condolences to you and your family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmWLyp_o7S4
Frederic Chopin – “Funeral March” (Played by Andrei Nikolsky)
Chuyen, my deepest condolences on the loss of your son. My thoughts are with you and your family during this very difficult time.
Mr. Chuyen Nguyen, we are praying for your family.
Your loss of a good son is very painful ….. but you will meet him again as it is written in the Bible. May Jesus bring peace and comfort to your family members and in due time….. we shall all return to Him.
Dear Anh Chuyen,
I just learned of the unfortunate timing of Vu’s passing. Please accept my deepest condolence and sympathy to you and your family during this difficult time. May your family find comfort in Vu’s positive imprints on the shortened path that he traveled.
JQD
This love song is dedicated to the wife of Mr. Vu Nguyen,
Mrs. Heather Hua.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYZWbzEmWY0
Anh Chuyen, I am shocked and so sad with the news. The world just lost a great person. My heart and prayers to you and all in the family.
HO VAN XUAN NHI
Funeral mass is on Mon at 10AM.
at ST. Callistus Catholic Church
12921 Lewis St., Garden Grove, CA 92840
About 1,000 attended. Father Nguyen Van Truyen (his uncle) spoke about the life of Mr. Vu Nguyen.
Funeral mass is on Mon at 10AM.
at ST. Callistus Catholic Church
12921 Lewis St., Garden Grove, CA 92840
About 1,000 attended. Father Nguyen Van Tuyen (his uncle) spoke about the life of Mr. Vu Nguyen.
Chuyen,
Our deepest symphaty and condolences to you and your family upon the sudden passing of you son, Vu Nguyen.
Loc H. Pham
Your friend in the 518th VNAF Fighter Squadron
To all relatives, friends and readers,
On behalf of my family and particularly my daughter-in-law Heather Hua, I would like to express our gratitude to all the thoughts and prayers, the flowers, the symphathy cards, the phone calls, the emails, the messages, the writing articles, the tivi news clips, the hugs and the hand shakes of consolation that had been offered to our family in the last four weeks.
It has been very difficult and it will remain so for a very long time. But with the blessing from above and all the support and caring we know we have amongst us and with the encourage from Vu’s spirit, we will be strong and we go on.
May God Bless You in return for for all the good things you’ve done for us. Sincerely.
Chuyen Van Nguyen
Vu’s father
714-767-1647cell