Jesse Chan Life Timeline

Overview

This timeline traces the remarkable life of Jesse Chan (1929-2022) across four countries and nearly a century. His life exemplifies resilience through war, displacement, entrepreneurial success, and family devotion. From losing his father at age 3, surviving Japanese occupation, sacrificing his own education, to building multiple successful businesses and ensuring all four children received US university scholarships.

Life Stages

1. Childhood in Philippines (1929-1932, ages 0-3)
2. Hong Kong and Wartime Displacement (1932-1945, ages 3-16)
3. Return to Philippines (late 1940s-1968, ages ~18-39)
4. Taiwan Entrepreneur (1968-1990, ages 39-61)
5. American Retirement (1990-2022, ages 61-93)

Events Timeline

File	date	type	location	description	significance
1940s Jesse and Colonel Friendship	1942	war-event	Hong Kong	Jesse Chan befriended a Japanese colonel during occupation who gave him food and special pass, potentially saving his family from starvation	One of the most remarkable survival stories in family history - shows Jesse’s charisma and adaptability, complex moral situation of befriending occupying forces for family survival
1957 - Marriage Jesse Betty Chan	1957	marriage	Manila, Philippines	Jesse Chan and Betty Lo Kuchiam married in traditional Chinese ceremony, one year after engagement within 100 days of Betty’s father’s death	United two WWII survivor families, began the Chan family line including Rose Loui and her three siblings
1960 - Birth Rose Loui	1960	birth	Santa Mesa Compound, Manila, Philippines	Rose Chan born in Manila at Santa Mesa Compound where 60 people (4 generations) lived together, first child of Jesse and Betty Chan	Birth of first child, began new generation that would bridge Chinese-Filipino-Taiwanese-American cultures, Rose would later marry Warren Loui at Stanford
1967 - Business Eastern Textile Board Split	1967	business-venture	Eastern Textile Factory	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.	Catalyst for Chan family’s Taiwan chapter (1968-1990), transformed Jesse from employee to business owner, provided capital for TAS tuition investment, taught children about taking risks and adapting to change
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	Pivotal transition that enabled children’s education and eventual move to United States, from employee at factory to entrepreneur and business owner
Late 1960s - Jesse Opens Nightclub Taiwan	Late 1960s	business-venture	Taiwan	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	First major entrepreneurial venture after Eastern Textile Factory, demonstrated Jesse’s willingness to try new businesses, established family in Taiwan business community, required significant time investment
Jesse Disarms Worker	unknown	rescue	Eastern Textile Factory	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	Demonstrates Jesse’s extraordinary courage (“over brave” according to Betty), foreshadows later rescue actions (saving Kaitlyn from drowning, chasing thieves), shows respect workers had for Jesse despite management position

Causation Chains

Chain 1: Father’s Death → Uncle’s Control → Educational Sacrifice

1. Father died when Jesse was 3 (1932)
   • Led to → Mother moved family to Hong Kong
   • Led to → Uncle controlled family finances
   • Led to → Jesse worked while brothers attended college
   • Led to → Jesse’s determination to educate his own children

Chain 2: Japanese Occupation → Survival Strategy → Befriending Colonel

1. Japanese invaded Hong Kong (1941)
   • Led to → Family fled to Fujian province (Jiaji Village)
   • Led to → Mass starvation under occupation
   • Led to → Jesse approached Japanese soldiers for food
   • Led to → Japanese colonel befriended Jesse
   • Led to → Family survived on meat from colonel
   • Led to → Colonel offered to take Jesse to Japan
   • Led to → Mother prevented adoption (Jesse stayed with family)

Chain 3: Board Split → Taiwan Migration → Children’s Education → US Settlement

1. Eastern Textile Factory board split (1967)
   • Led to → Jesse’s faction sold shares
   • Led to → Friend invited Jesse to Taiwan business (1968)
   • Led to → Chan family relocated to Taiwan
   • Led to → Jesse opened multiple businesses (nightclub, real estate)
   • Led to → Funded Taipei American School education ($10,000/year)
   • Led to → All four children to US universities with scholarships
   • Led to → Rose met Warren at Stanford (1978)
   • Led to → Family eventually settled in USA (1990)

Chain 4: Multilingualism Through Displacement

1. Born in Philippines to Cantonese mother
   • Spoke → Cantonese (first language)
2. Moved to Hong Kong (age 3)
   • Maintained → Cantonese
3. Fled to Fujian province (WWII)
   • Learned → Hokkien/Fujian dialect (3 years in village)
4. Moved to Shanghai (after WWII)
   • Learned → Shanghainese
   • Studied → Mandarin
5. Returned to Philippines (teenager)
   • Relearned → Tagalog (had left at age 3)
   • Studied → English (night school while working)
6. Moving between regions
   • Learned → Additional Chinese regional dialects Result: Spoke 7 languages by adulthood

Key Life Themes

Displacement and Adaptation

• Never lived in one place for entire childhood
• Philippines → Hong Kong → Fujian → Shanghai → back to Philippines → Taiwan → USA
• Each move required cultural and language adaptation
• Turned displacement into multilingual advantage

Survival and Bravery

• Befriending Japanese colonel during starvation
• Confronting armed worker at factory
• Chasing thieves in Hong Kong
• Jumping into pool to save granddaughter Kaitlyn
• Betty: “You’re over brave”

Educational Sacrifice and Redemption

• Sacrificed: Only sibling who didn’t attend college (worked so brothers could)
• Redeemed: All four of his children received scholarships to US universities
• Worked extremely hard to afford Taipei American School ($10,000/year)
• Pattern of sacrifice transformed into pattern of achievement

Entrepreneurship

• Started as employee (Purchasing Manager, Eastern Textile Factory)
• Transitioned to owner (nightclub, real estate, import/export, bakery)
• Real estate most successful: “You just look at the land and you like it, you just buy it. Then we build a house.”
• Built financial security for family through multiple ventures

Family Devotion

• Married Betty 1957 (58+ years together as of 2015)
• Both worked at Eastern Textile Factory
• Four children, all highly educated
• Grandfather to 8+ grandchildren
• Family remembered him as “The General” - ultimate authority but devoted

Places Jesse Lived

1. Philippines (1929-1932, ages 0-3) - Born in Manila
2. Hong Kong (1932-~1937, ages 3-8) - After father’s death
3. Jiaji Village, Fujian (1937-1941, ages 8-12) - Wartime refuge, 3 years
4. Shanghai (1941-1945, ages 12-16) - After Japanese surrender
5. Ancestral Village, Fujian (periodic) - Summer genealogy work
6. Manila, Philippines (late 1940s-1968, ages ~18-39) - Adult life, marriage, career
7. Taipei, Taiwan (1968-1990, ages 39-61) - Entrepreneurial success
8. Los Angeles, California (1990-2022, ages 61-93) - Retirement

Total: 4 countries, 8+ distinct locations, constant movement until age 61

Businesses and Career

Manila Phase (1950s-1968)

• Day job: Various shops/stores
• Night school: English education (6-9 PM)
• Eastern Textile Factory: Purchasing Manager, Board of Directors
• Basketball team: Owner/manager (hired players, facilities)

Taiwan Phase (1968-1990)

1. Nightclub/Supper Club (late 1960s-1970s)

   • Restaurant by day, entertainment by night
   • Nightly orchestra, shows, magic acts
   • Open until midnight/1 AM

2. Real Estate Development (1970s-1990s - longest business)

   • Cherry Hill Development (three-story buildings)
   • Houses on the Hill (luxury hillside, rented then sold)
   • Most successful venture

3. Import/Export (details TBD)

4. Bakery (Betty managed, Uncle Henry recommended)

Languages Spoken (7 Total)

1. Cantonese - First language from mother
2. Hokkien/Fujian dialect - Learned in Jiaji Village during WWII
3. Shanghainese - Learned in Shanghai post-war
4. Mandarin - Standard Chinese education
5. Tagalog - Relearned as adult in Philippines
6. English - Night school in Philippines
7. Other Chinese dialects - From moving between regions

Major Relationships

Family

• Mother (Suey Fong Tee Cheng): Moved family after husband’s death, protected Jesse from colonel, maintained family through war
• Uncle: Controlled family finances, made Jesse work instead of attending college
• Betty Chan: Wife (1957-2022), 58+ years together, worked together at factory and in businesses
• Four children: Rose, Meg, Louis, Michelle - all received US university scholarships

Friends

• Uncle George (Zheng Shaojian): Brother-in-law, Happy Dreamers club member, “always fought” with Jesse
• Uncle Henry (Henry Lee): Brother-in-law, business advisor, recommended bakery

Remarkable Connection

• Japanese Colonel (name unknown): Gave Jesse food and special pass during occupation, wanted to adopt him to Japan

Historical Events Lived Through

• Japanese Occupation of China (1937-1945, ages 8-16)
• Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong (1941-1945)
• Chinese Civil War (1940s-1949)
• Communist takeover of China (1949)
• Post-war Philippine recovery (1945-1960s)
• Taiwan Miracle economic growth (1968-1990)
• Martial law in Taiwan (1949-1987)

Legacy

Values Transmitted

• Education as path to success
• Entrepreneurship and risk-taking
• Bravery and standing up for justice
• Hard work and sacrifice for family
• Adaptability across cultures and languages

Achievements

• Survived WWII and displacement
• Learned 7 languages
• Built multiple successful businesses
• Ensured all four children received excellent education
• All four children to US universities with scholarships
• Grandfather to successful third generation

Family Memory

• Known as “Lolo” (Filipino for grandfather)
• “The General” - family authority figure
• “Over brave” - would confront injustice
• Excellent dancer, good swimmer
• Loved Spanish music
• Buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale

Research Gaps

• Exact birth date (currently 1929-04-14, needs verification)
• Jesse’s Chinese given name beyond surname Zheng (郑)
• Father’s full name and business details
• Mother’s full name (called “Amma”)
• Complete names of all siblings
• Uncle’s name (who controlled finances)
• Name of Japanese colonel
• Exact dates of return to Philippines
• Name of friend who invited Jesse to Taiwan
• Details of businesses sold/transferred when leaving Taiwan
• Exact move date to Los Angeles (1990?)

Sources

Primary:

• Lolo Interview Jesse Chan - Firsthand oral history
• Betty Chan Lolas Story 80th Birthday - Betty’s memories of Jesse
• Cheng Tee Chan Family Tree Database - Genealogical records

Supporting:

• Jiaji Village Taihai Magazine Article - Ancestral village information
• Holiday Card Collection 1994 2021 - Family life in America

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Jesse Chan’s life (1929-2022) spanned 93 years, 4 countries, countless displacements, a world war, entrepreneurial success, and the launch of three generations into American professional life. His journey from orphaned child hiding in caves during Japanese air raids to grandfather watching his grandchildren thrive as American citizens exemplifies resilience, sacrifice, and the transformative power of education across generations.