United States of America
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Overview
The United States represents the final chapter in the Chan family’s diaspora journey spanning four generations: Philippines → China → Philippines → Taiwan → USA. What began with Jesse’s grandfather’s import/export business connecting Philippines to America culminated in the family’s permanent settlement, with all four Chan children attending US universities and building professional careers.
Geographic Information
- Location: North America
- Capital: Washington, D.C.
- Coordinates: 37.0902° N, 95.7129° W
- Key family locations:
- California (Los Angeles, Alhambra, Stanford)
- Texas (Houston)
- Michigan (Cranbrook)
- New York (NYU)
Family Migration Timeline
First Connection (1920s-1930s)
- Jesse’s father ran import/export business between Philippines, China, Hong Kong, and USA
- American goods imported to Philippines
- Commercial ties established generations before family migration
Children’s Generation Arrives (1978-1990)
Rose Chan → Stanford (1978)
- First family member to study in USA
- Stanford University undergraduate
- NYU Law School
- Met Warren Loui at Stanford (1978)
- Settled in Los Angeles area
Meg Chan → Stanford (1981)
- Stanford University, Economics degree
- Followed sister Rose to same university
John Louis Chan → University of Houston (1983)
- University of Houston undergraduate
- Cranbrook Academy of Art (Architecture Masters)
Michelle Chan → Whittier College (1986)
- Whittier College
- Youngest of four siblings
Remarkable Achievement: All four children received scholarships to US universities
Parents Arrive (1990)
- Jesse and Betty Chan moved to Los Angeles area
- Joined their four children who had settled in USA
- Retired/semi-retired after Taiwan business success
- Lived in Los Angeles area until deaths (Jesse 2022, Betty 2022)
Third Generation (Born in USA)
Through Rose and Warren:
- Nicholas Loui - American citizen by birth
- Ryan Loui - American citizen by birth
- Samantha Loui - American citizen by birth
Through other children:
- 5+ more grandchildren (Meg, Louis, Michelle’s children)
Family Places in United States
| File | type | parent_city | time_period | significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alhambra, California | city | - | 2022 (death) | City where Betty Chan died on November 9, 2022 |
| Cranbrook Academy | city | - | Louis: Late 1980s-early 1990s (approximate) | Prestigious graduate art and design school where Louis Chan earned Master’s degree in Architecture |
| Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale | cemetery | - | Burial site | Final resting place for Jesse and Betty Chan, and Wallace and Florence Loui - two generations of the family |
| Honolulu, Hawaii | city | - | 1959-present | Home to Florence Chinn Loui’s medical practice (1959-2017) and where she raised her five sons. Current residence of William Loui’s family and location of Punahou School. |
| La Canada Flintridge, California | city | - | Warren & Rose: current residence; Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha: childhood/teenage years (~1990s-2010s); Michelle & Denis: current residence; Kaitlyn & Giselle: childhood/teenage years | Primary residence of Warren and Rose Loui family, where Nicholas, Ryan, and Samantha grew up; also home to Rose’s sister Michelle Chan Ng and her family |
| Los Angeles, California | city | - | 1990-present | Current family hub for three generations - Jesse and Betty relocated here after children graduated from US universities, grandchildren born and raised here |
| New York, New York | city | - | 2023-Present | Current residence of two Loui generation-2 siblings pursuing legal careers |
| NYU Law School | city | - | Rose: 1980s (approximate) | Elite law school attended by Rose Loui after Stanford, leading to her legal career |
| Stanford University | city | - | Warren: JD/MBA (graduate), Rose: 1978-1982 (undergraduate), Meg: 1981-1985 (undergraduate), Samantha: 2016-2020 (undergraduate, class of 2020) | Elite university attended by Warren Loui (JD/MBA), Rose Chan (undergraduate), Meg Chan (undergraduate), and Samantha Loui (undergraduate) - spanning three generations and representing both educational investment success and family legacy |
| United States | country | - | 1978-present (family connection) | Final destination in the Chan family diaspora journey. Children came for university education (1978-1990), parents followed (1990). Represents culmination of three generations of displacement, education investment, and upward mobility. Home to third generation (Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha) born as American citizens. |
| University of Houston | city | - | Louis: 1983-1987 (approximate) | University attended by Louis Chan with scholarship for undergraduate degree before pursuing architecture at Cranbrook Academy |
| USC Law School | city | - | Warren: Professor (current/recent) | Where Warren Loui teaches secured transactions as professor while also practicing law |
| Whittier College | city | - | Michelle: 1986-1990 (approximate) | Liberal arts college attended by Michelle Chan with scholarship, fourth and youngest child to receive US university scholarship |
| Kamehameha Schools | school | Honolulu, Hawaii | 2009 (event location) | Site of 2009 ILH Track and Field Championships where Thomas Loui won pole vault for Punahou |
| Punahou School | school | Honolulu, Hawaii | 1960s-present | Prestigious private school attended by multiple generations of the Loui family, including all of Florence Chinn Loui’s sons except Terry, and later her grandchildren Thomas and Natalie |
| Bryn Mawr College | college | Bryn Mawr | 2017-2021 | Women’s liberal arts college where Natalie Loui earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and began her research career |
| Flintridge Prep | school | La Cañada Flintridge | Early 2000s-2014 (students); Board service (Rose) | Private preparatory school attended by all three Loui children (Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha). Rose Chan Loui served on the Board of Trustees. |
Educational Institutions
Universities Attended
- Stanford University (Rose, Meg, Warren)
- NYU Law School (Rose)
- University of Houston (Louis)
- Cranbrook Academy of Art (Louis - Architecture MFA)
- Whittier College (Michelle)
- USC Law School (Warren)
Cost of Education
The investment in Taipei American School ($10,000/year by 1986) paid off:
- All four children received US university scholarships
- Professional careers: attorneys, architects, business owners
- Pattern of educational investment continues to third generation
Professional Success in America
Rose Chan Loui
- Attorney at Rodriguez Horii Choi & Cafferata
- Board Chair of East West Players (Asian American theater)
- Co-founder of Cardinal Rule Wines with Warren
Warren Loui
- Attorney and law professor
- Co-founder of Cardinal Rule Wines
Meg Chan Feitelberg
- Economics degree from Stanford
- Career details to be documented
John Louis Chan
- Architecture Masters from Cranbrook
- Career details to be documented
Michelle Chan Ng
- Whittier College graduate
- Career details to be documented
Business Ventures in USA
Cardinal Rule Wines
- Founded by Warren and Rose Loui
- Wine business in California
- Continues entrepreneurial tradition (Jesse’s nightclub and real estate in Taiwan)
Other Family Businesses
- Details to be documented
Cultural Integration
Maintaining Heritage
- Filipino-Chinese identity preserved across generations
- Family gatherings and traditions
- Holiday newsletter tradition (1994-2021)
- Lola and Lolo (grandmother/grandfather) as family names
American Integration
- Third generation born as American citizens
- Professional careers in American institutions
- English as primary language for grandchildren
- Participation in American cultural life
The Complete Journey
Four Generations, Four Countries
Generation 1 (Jesse’s grandparents/parents)
- China ↔ Philippines ↔ USA (import/export business)
- Jesse’s father died when Jesse was 3
Generation 2 (Jesse & Betty)
- Born: Philippines
- Wartime: China (Jesse), Philippines (Betty)
- Adult: Philippines → Taiwan (22 years) → USA (retirement)
- Languages: Multiple (Jesse spoke 7)
- Careers: Factory employees → entrepreneurs → retired in America
Generation 3 (Rose, Meg, Louis, Michelle)
- Born: Philippines/Taiwan
- Educated: Taiwan (Taipei American School) → USA universities
- Careers: Professional (attorneys, architect, business owners)
- Settled: USA (permanent residence)
Generation 4 (Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha, cousins)
- Born: USA (American citizens)
- Identity: American with Filipino-Chinese heritage
- Future: To be documented
Historical Context
Immigration Patterns
- Chinese Exclusion Act repealed 1943, but restrictive quotas until 1965
- Immigration Act of 1965 opened Asian immigration
- Taiwan and Philippines to USA migration increased 1970s-1980s
- Family arrived during favorable immigration period
Asian American Experience
- Growing Asian American professional class (1980s-2000s)
- Rose’s leadership of East West Players (Asian American theater) represents cultural bridge
- Third generation growing up in multicultural America
Economic Opportunity
- US universities attracted international students
- Professional careers (law, architecture) offered upward mobility
- California wine country (Cardinal Rule Wines) offered business opportunities
Events in United States
| File | date | type | participants | location | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - PeakMetrics Founded | 2017 | business-venture |
| United States | Nicholas Loui co-founds PeakMetrics with uncle Ronald Loui and friend Bobby Lincoln, creating AI-powered narrative protection platform |
| 2024 - Nicholas Loui PRWeek 40 Under 40 | 2024 | celebration | United States | Nicholas Loui recognized in PRWeek’s 40 Under 40 list for building PeakMetrics into major player in reputation management and misinformation detection |
Symbolism of the Journey
From Displacement to Stability
- Generations 1-2: War, occupation, economic necessity forced moves
- Generation 3: Educational choice brought to USA
- Generation 4: Born into stability, American citizens
Education as Path
- Jesse sacrificed college for brothers (never attended)
- Jesse worked extremely hard to send children to Taipei American School
- All four children received scholarships to US universities
- Pattern broken and transformed across two generations
Entrepreneurship Across Borders
- Jesse’s father: Import/export (Philippines-China-USA)
- Jesse: Nightclub, real estate (Taiwan)
- Rose & Warren: Cardinal Rule Wines (USA)
- Three generations of business ownership
The American Dream Realized
- Arrived as immigrants/students
- Professional success through education
- Business ownership
- Third generation born as citizens
- Upward mobility across generations
Research Questions
- When exactly did Jesse and Betty move to Los Angeles? (1990?)
- Where in Los Angeles area did they live?
- Immigration status timeline (student visas → green cards → citizenship)
- When did children become US citizens?
- Details of Meg, Louis, Michelle’s careers and families
- Names and details of other 5 grandchildren
- When was Cardinal Rule Wines founded?
- Current family locations in USA
- Third generation education and careers
- Family properties/homes in USA
The United States represents the fulfillment of the educational and economic aspirations built through three generations of displacement, sacrifice, and hard work. Jesse’s grandfather traded with America; Jesse’s children studied in America; Jesse’s grandchildren were born American. The journey from Philippines to USA, through China and Taiwan, spans nearly a century and exemplifies the Chinese diaspora experience and the American immigrant story.