Jesse & Betty Chan Family
Members
- Parents: Jesse Chan (1929-2022) & Betty Chan (1935-2022)
- Married: 1957 (65 years together)
- Children:
- Rose Chan Loui (b. July 14, 1960)
- Meg Chan Feitelberg (b. April 14, 1963)
- John Louis Chan (b. May 2, 1965)
- Michelle Chan Ng (b. September 27, 1968)
Residences
| Place | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Mesa Compound | 1957-1965 | 60-person compound, 4 generations |
| Eastern Textile Factory, Manila | 1965-1968 | Factory house |
| Taipei, Taiwan | 1968-1990 | 22 years, business ventures |
| Los Angeles, California | 1990-2022 | Near children and grandchildren |
Pets
| Name | Type | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar | dog | 1968-1980s | Guard dog at Taiwan construction sites |
Family Journey
Manila Years (1957-1968)
- Married in traditional Chinese engagement ceremony
- Lived in 60-person family compound (Santa Mesa)
- Both worked at Eastern Textile Factory
- Rose, Meg, Louis, and Michelle all born in Manila
- Board split in 1967 prompted move to Taiwan
Taiwan Years (1968-1990)
- Jesse opened nightclub/supper club
- Real estate development: Cherry Hill, Houses on the Hill
- Betty managed bakery
- All four children attended Taipei American School
- All received scholarships to US universities
Los Angeles Years (1990-2022)
- Retired near children in Southern California
- 8 grandchildren across four children’s families
- Jesse died August 2022, Betty died November 2022
Grandchildren
Through Rose: Nicholas Loui, Ryan Loui, Samantha Loui Through Meg: Zachary Feitelberg, Ariela Feitelberg, Jacob Feitelberg Through Michelle: Kaitlyn Ng, Giselle Ng Through Louis: (none)
Family Timeline
| File | date | type | description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 Betty Flees Japanese | 1940 | war-event | Betty Chan (age 5-10) fled Japanese invasion of Philippines multiple times with family, hiding in forest caves, fishing village island, and mother’s hometown village |
| 1940s Jesse and Colonel Friendship | 1942 | war-event | Jesse Chan befriended a Japanese colonel during occupation who gave him food and special pass, potentially saving his family from starvation |
| 1945 - Liberation Day at Betty Home Manila | 1945 | war-event | Liberation Day at Betty’s family refuge in Sulu - Japanese soldiers came asking for food (mother gave them Palitaw dessert), then about an hour later American soldiers arrived with MacArthur’s liberation |
| 1957 - Marriage Jesse Betty Chan | 1957 | marriage | Jesse Chan and Betty Lo Kuchiam married in traditional Chinese ceremony, one year after engagement within 100 days of Betty’s father’s death |
| 1960 - Birth Rose Loui | 1960 | birth | Rose Chan born in Manila at Santa Mesa Compound where 60 people (4 generations) lived together, first child of Jesse and Betty Chan |
| 1967 - Business Eastern Textile Board Split | 1967 | business-venture | Eastern Textile Factory Board of Directors split into two opposing factions over business disagreements, creating untenable governance situation. Jesse’s faction sold shares at par value plus 20%, providing capital for family’s relocation to Taiwan and entrepreneurial transition. |
| 1968 - Relocation Chan Family to Taiwan | 1968 | relocation | The Chan family relocated from Manila to Taipei after board split at Eastern Textile Factory, beginning 22-year chapter in Taiwan |
| Late 1960s - Jesse Opens Nightclub Taiwan | Late 1960s | business-venture | Jesse opened nightclub/supper club in Taiwan with restaurant during day and entertainment venue at night featuring orchestra, MC, singing, magic shows, open until midnight or 1 AM |
| Jesse Disarms Worker | unknown | rescue | Worker came to factory gate with knife intending to stab someone after Jesse refused loan request, Jesse confronted armed worker and talked him into surrendering knife peacefully |
Sources
- Betty-Chan-Lolas-Story-80th-Birthday
- Betty-Chan-My-Story
- Betty-Chan-Obituary-Forest-Lawn
- Cheng-Tee-Chan-Family-Tree-Database
- Jiaji-Village-Taihai-Magazine-Article
- Lolo-Interview-Jesse-Chan
Notes
Remarkable Partnership
Jesse and Betty both survived WWII as children:
- Jesse: Fled Japanese occupation, befriended Japanese colonel for survival
- Betty: Fled Japanese invasion with family, hid on islands
”The General and the Tyrant Mother”
- Jesse was “The General” - ultimate authority
- Betty was the “tyrant mother” - managed day-to-day
- Traditional Chinese family roles adapted to modern circumstances
Educational Legacy
All four children received elite education:
- Rose: Stanford, NYU Law
- Meg: Stanford
- Louis: University of Houston, Cranbrook Academy (Architecture)
- Michelle: Whittier College
Business Legacy
Jesse’s entrepreneurial spirit:
- Purchasing Manager → Nightclub Owner → Real Estate Developer
- Betty contributed as Payroll Supervisor and bakery manager
- Children continued professional success