Nguyen Van Thanh

Nguyễn Văn Thành, 76, of West Valley City, reunited with his wife on January 9, 2024, while he was surrounded by his loving family. His life was a testament of optimism, kindness, strength, and honor.

Born on April 9, 1947, in Đà Lạt, Vietnam, Thành was the fifth of nine children of Nguyễn Văn Tý and Đỗ Thị Nữ. After graduating from the College of Electrical Engineering, in the Center of National Technologies of Phú Thọ, Saigon, Thành attended Thủ Đức Military Academy, Class 1/1969, and served in the Army Corps of Republic of Vietnam as a warrant officer. In 1970, he attended the Signal School of the Army Corps of Republic of South Vietnam, in Vũng Tàu, and served as a Lieutenant of Communication Office at Long Binh Post, a former U.S. Army base.

After the Fall of Saigon, he was arrested and imprisoned in the communist hard-labor concentration camp. Upon his release in 1980, he reunited with Trần Cẩm Hồng, whom he met in the spring of 1973. They were engaged and the invitations were printed, but since Thành was captured and confined to prison camp, they had to postpone their wedding. With his release the two were finally able to wed and start their life together. They remained married for forty-two years until her passing in April of 2023.

In 1991, Thành immigrated with his family as refugees to Salt Lake City, Utah. He obtained his technical degree at ITT Technical Institute and worked as an electronics technician until he retired. He loved music and helped organized many Vietnamese concert events for Văn Nghệ Utah. Dedicated to creating a legacy for the following generations of Vietnamese Americans, he established himself as a cornerstone in the community and served as the President of the Vietnamese American Community of Utah from 2014 to 2017. He retired to focus on his well-being and quality time with his family. 

Known to his family as Bé Lớn, his friends as Thành Đui, and the Vietnamese community at large as Chú Thành, he possessed a magnetic grin and an even more engaging character. His optimism and enthusiasm for establishing connections endeared him to the community he served. Regardless of circumstances, he consistently radiated positive energy and a perpetual smile. He always maintained his optimism and high spirits, and often affirmed that his positive outlook is what sustained him during his internment in the labor camp.  He loved music and continued to play the guitar despite his bouts of dementia. In his concluding years, he continued to wear a smile, attesting to how happy and lucky he is, exclaiming that he has a good and happy life.  If the world mirrored even a fraction of his positivity, it would be a better place a thousand-fold.

Thành is survived by his daughter Nguyễn Hồng Loan (Eric), son Nguyễn Thành An, his niece Nguyễn Hoàng Anh (Ramon), nephew Nguyễn Phước An, and extended family and friends worldwide. As a poignant parting gift to his granddaughter, he attended her birthday before his peaceful passing, and she was able to have her smiling Ngoại present for her first birthday.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, his elder brother and sister Nguyễn Văn Xuân and Nguyễn Thị Hoa, and younger brothers Nguyễn Văn Tài and Nguyễn Văn Phước. As we grieve the loss of our father, uncle, brother, and friend, we find peace in knowing he is once again united with his beloved wife.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on January 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 7405 S Redwood Rd, West Jordan. A viewing will begin at 8:00 AM, before mass. 

“Người đi chiều ấy áo nhuộm bụi đường. Chiều nay về giữa kinh kỳ say hương.”