ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Alex Cheng. We will remember him forever. We invite you to share photos, stories, thoughts, and prayers for Alex on this site.

Donations may be made to:
US Sailing: http://tinyurl.com/us-sailing
Defending Our Oceans, Greenpeace: http://tinyurl.com/defend-oceans

Thank you for visiting Alex's site!

April 25, 2023
April 25, 2023
Miss you, Mr. Cheng! Thank you for bringing your wonderful family into my life. Knowing them has been such a blessing. I hope to meet you again one day in Heaven.
much love,
Clare
April 25, 2023
April 25, 2023
Yesterday I recalled how easy it was to retrieve memories yet so difficult to fathom the here and now without you present. Soon I, too will be a memory like you. Perhaps the illusion of my presence will become effortless to fathom in the realm beyond senses that patiently awaits us all…..
April 24, 2022
April 24, 2022
Thinking of you today, Dad! It feels good to know you are still connected with us. Thank you for being such an active part of my dreams. So many more adventures to be had! <3 I love you!
April 24, 2021
April 24, 2021
Dear Eldest Brother,
May your unfettered spirit be roaming free in joy and tranquility. Are you immersed in Infinite Love, networking with the Gods? Or do you occasionally sneak a glimpse of your omniscience in the hearts and minds of your living loved ones? You are with us, but not tethered to us. We hold you in our thoughts like a butterfly resting for a moment on her long migration in our palm.
January 30, 2021
January 30, 2021
Happy birthday, dear Daddio! It's a beautiful sunny day and thinking of you. <3
April 24, 2020
April 24, 2020
I love you, Daddy. You are so missed. I am humbled and deeply grateful for all the ways you have shaped who I am today. What a gift you've given...your life lessons continue to inform and inspire my day to day, moment to moment experience. Who you were and who you are continues to be woven through my being, and I am ever grateful. I carry you in my heart, always. Love you, Stephie
April 24, 2020
April 24, 2020
Alex, you are dearly missed. You live on through your beautiful family, which I feel lucky to be a part of. Sending you lots of love Alex. - Josh
January 31, 2019
January 31, 2019
Happy birthday (one day later!), Daddio! We miss you and know you are doing well, wherever you are! Big hug and love, Melanie
January 31, 2019
January 31, 2019
One more joint Birthday my old friend. One more of the many years I keep sharing the wonderful inspirations, enlightening insights and fabulous moments you donated to me you with new friends.
You are still in my heart, still in my mind and still in many friends’ lives. 
Uwe, born January 30th, 1956
January 31, 2019
January 31, 2019
Happy Birthday to my sweet, Papa! You’d be 82 years young today! I love you so much and miss you more than ever!! ❤️
April 24, 2018
April 24, 2018
Thinking of you today, Dad! Thank you for joining our dreams lately. :) love, melanie
January 31, 2018
January 31, 2018
Happy 81st Birthday, Daddy! I miss you so much and miss spending time with you, laughing with you. I love you more than words can say and hold you in my heart forever. Love, Stephie
January 31, 2018
January 31, 2018
Thinking of you, Dad! You would have been 81 now, wow! We love and miss you....
love, Melanie
January 30, 2018
January 30, 2018
Hard to believe that nearly eight years have passed. Alex, you live on in our memories.
April 24, 2017
April 24, 2017
Dearest Daddy, your light continues to shine in our hearts. I miss you so much and give thanks for all the ways you touched and continue to touch my life. Thank you for being you. Love you with all my heart. Love, Stephie
January 30, 2017
January 30, 2017
Dear Alex,
 You live on in our memories of the impact you have had in our lives.
January 30, 2017
January 30, 2017
Hi Daddy! Happy Birthday! Today is your 80th birthday, can you believe that!? Love you so much and miss you tons, as always. You've been in my dreams a lot; it's been so wonderful seeing you. :) Love you! <3
January 31, 2016
January 31, 2016
Our thoughts turn to you again, Alex, despite the years that have passed because of the lasting ways you have touched our lives.
January 30, 2016
January 30, 2016
Thinking of you much, dear Alex, and love and miss you.
January 30, 2016
January 30, 2016
Happy birthday, Daddio!! Thinking of you today and send you a big hug!!
February 1, 2015
February 1, 2015
Another birthday, another year, but the memories of the special person live on in his family, his impact, and our lives.
April 24, 2014
April 24, 2014
Thinking of your smiling face tonight, Dad! I miss you and love you. So much has happened the past four years, I wonder what you are thinking watching us from above and around. :-) I love you and wish you were here to talk with and give me wonderful fatherly advice. I hope you are enjoying yourself wherever you are in the universe and taking care of Shmokey, your favorite black panther, too! Love you both so much.
February 4, 2014
February 4, 2014
I wrote on your Facebook wall already :), but Happy Birthday, wonderful papa smurf! Love you and miss you.
February 1, 2014
February 1, 2014
Dear Alex,
 The days pass but you remain in our hearts and our memories.
January 30, 2014
January 30, 2014
If

If you have been reborn
You are almost four

If you are around
Let us know

in life
    in dream
       in love

Happy birthday, Alex!
January 30, 2014
January 30, 2014
Happy birthday, dear Alex! Love you and miss you very much.
January 30, 2014
January 30, 2014
Happy birthday Papa Cheng! Your are missed and loved by many.
April 25, 2013
April 25, 2013
your soft golden light shines in those lives you have touched.
April 24, 2013
April 24, 2013
Wonder

I wonder
Life after death
Where are you?

I wonder
Future of the human race
Is it what you would like to see?
Is it going anywhere?

I miss your opinion!
We miss you!
April 24, 2013
April 24, 2013
Thinking of you today, Daddio!!! I'm sending you a big hug wherever you are. I love you.
February 4, 2013
February 4, 2013
The years pass. The memories remain. Alex, you are missed and in our thoughts.
January 30, 2013
January 30, 2013
Happy Birthday, Daddy! I miss you so much and feel your presence and light. I love you beautiful, kind, amazing Daddy!!! You live on forever in our hearts and minds. <3
January 30, 2013
January 30, 2013
Still winter
Yet still cold

Still life
And still love

We miss you! Alex
January 30, 2013
January 30, 2013
Happy birthday, Dad!!! I'm thinking of you and am wanting to give you a big hug to celebrate all that's going on with my work! It's all your genes, ya know! Love you and thank you for all your support and guidance over the years!!! :) :) :)
June 17, 2012
June 17, 2012
Happy Father's Day, Daddy!!! I love and miss you so much! I'm wearing the button with your photo all day! You are such a radiant being!!
April 30, 2012
April 30, 2012
This evening Mama and I went to Skate's on the Bay and we felt your presence, Daddy. The setting sun cast its soft golden light over the peaceful water, and I knew you were there. I feel you with me always, and especially when I'm near the water. I'm so excited to be moving back to the Bay that was so dear to you, Daddy. I love you!
April 24, 2012
April 24, 2012
I love you and miss you so much, Daddy. May you be free and at peace in your beautiful ocean of light. Thinking of you always.
April 24, 2012
April 24, 2012
Thank you for shining your beautiful light in this world. It will forever burn so brightly and warm so many people.
April 24, 2012
April 24, 2012
Wow, it has been 2 years... Mom, Brent and I just had lunch at Skates on the Bay with a beautiful view of the water and Golden Gate Bridge. Steph called when we finishing, so we were all present. :) Thank you Dad for all the wonderful memories sailing, eating at new places, and being together! :)
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Recent Tributes
April 25, 2023
April 25, 2023
Miss you, Mr. Cheng! Thank you for bringing your wonderful family into my life. Knowing them has been such a blessing. I hope to meet you again one day in Heaven.
much love,
Clare
April 25, 2023
April 25, 2023
Yesterday I recalled how easy it was to retrieve memories yet so difficult to fathom the here and now without you present. Soon I, too will be a memory like you. Perhaps the illusion of my presence will become effortless to fathom in the realm beyond senses that patiently awaits us all…..
Recent stories

Non-census with Alex Cheng

April 24, 2013

I met Alex when we were both working for the 2010 Census. We were to serve as crew leaders for an operation and had to undergo a week or two of tedious training- long days of someone reading to us from a manual that often didn't really make sense. Not deviating from the training "script" (however nonsensical) was the jewel in the Census' crown. The theory was that a "verbatim" traing produced a consistant result and ensured an unbiased count of the people across the nation. The reality, however, was that there was little room for your questions being answered. (That would mean deviating from the script!)

But I did try and listen. I felt my task important. And Alex, I think, was listening too. He would ask these questions that, at first seemed a bit simple. The instructors seemed to think him impudent. I soon realized that there was a very observant intelligence and irrereverent sense of humor unlying his comments and questions. I remember thinking "I want to be on THAT guy's crew. He's hilarious!"

Well, as it happened, Alex and I did get a chance to work together when another crew leader dropped out. He was my assistant crew leader, my "wing man". As the operation drew to a close and our numbers became small, we started to hold our crew meetings on a sailboat Alex had access to at the Jack London Aquatic Center (conveniently a stone's throw away from my home.) That was great!  Yeah, I'd say we we made the best of it...
Thank, Alex!

Videos from the Memorial

June 4, 2010

To watch the YouTube videos below, simply copy and paste the links (they start with "http") into your browser's address bar and press Return or Enter.

Fu-Tung (his brother) speaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeHUkFojK7g

Jan (his wife) speaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvmlWy_ls1I

Don (his friend) speaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix98ojcjMeo

Eliot (his friend) speaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU1EhIn9KvM

Stephanie (his daughter) sings "Daddy":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYdfZo-q4vc

Melanie (his daughter) speaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdjgkrHJS48

Peter (his friend) speaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a4yzvh1eYM

Stephanie speaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYlgpzP-KGQ

Brenton (his son) speaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhaMMagYOw0

Reverend Mark speaking and closing hymn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNVRkPYnM64

Eulogy

May 29, 2010

My husband Alex was a very wonderful, gentle, kind, creative, positive, smart and prolific individual.  He had a great sense of humor and was a gifted writer.  He was a great husband and father of our three children.  He was there so much for me and our children.  He filled our home with such beautiful music – new age, classical and other types.  And thru the years, not a year went by that I wasn’t learning new things about him.  He had done so many things, e.g., he learned to lasso.  The latest thing I learned about him was that he used to help a friend in Hawaii make ukuleles.

He was also an electronics/electrical whiz.  He didn’t know everything but he certainly knew much and sought to learn what he needed to know to solve a problem.  .He loved the challenge.

Alex was an individual who was not afraid to depart from conventional, traditional ways.  He questioned, he was a trail blazer.  He was unique and creative.  Later in life, he was not a 9-5 kind of guy.  That’s why he loved being a marketing consultant; that role was so perfect for him – he could choose his hours for the most part and which business to connect with.  He sought start ups companies with unusual products.  When he proposed to me many years ago, he did not propose the conventional way, “Will you marry me?”  Instead, he asked, “Would you like to put 'CHE' before your last name?”  You see, my maiden name was Ng.

Prior to his bout with pneumonia, our daily lives were proceeding as usual.  I was busy doing my thing as a psychologist, and he was doing his thing as a marketing consultant, as well as learning to use his new Droid smart phone.

Also Alex was eagerly looking forward to teaching sailing again this spring season with the City of Oakland’s boating programs on Lake Merritt and the Estuary and skippering day charters on our sailboat, Hulakai, on SF Bay.  Two years ago he became a nationally certified sailing instructor, enabling him to provide sailing instruction anywhere in the US.

One group of his students was a family with two sons, whom Alex had given six or so sailing lessons.  Pat, the mother, called last week to ask Alex’s advice about the family’s buying a dingy and was saddened to hear that Alex had passed away.  She said, “He had a positive attitude and had so much enthusiasm . . . the family had a ball with him.”

Sarah, the manager of the boating programs, was saddened to learn of Alex’s passing.  “He is very fondly remembered by the staff for . . . his humor, stories, energy, innovation . . . and his ability to connect with each new sailor to find the way to best connect them with a love of sailing.”

Yes, Alex believed in making people feel good, feel comfortable.  He truly cared.  He was charismatic, he lit up a room.  It is hard to believe that he was shy and quiet growing up. 

After graduation from UCLA with a BS in Engineering, Alex was a radar officer in the Air Force at remote sites.  While he was in my hometown, San Antonio, TX, for his first permanent orders, we met quite by accident and later dated a few times, vowing to meet again some day.  Which we did and while I was attending college in NYC and he was stationed in PA.  After discharge from the AF, he settled in Hawaii.  After being apart one and a half years, he proposed, we became engaged and eventually I went to HI.  We needed to find out if we really wanted to get married.

That time in HI greatly impacted our lives then and continued to influence us for many years.  While there, Alex was an engineer with Kentron Hawaii (working with the Pacific Missile Range) and he decided to apply to biz schools to learn more about management.  Of course, Stanford was his top choice.

When we got married in Texas, the “Hawaiian Wedding Song” was sung during the wedding ceremony and the floral theme was Hawaiian, as it is today at this memorial service for Alex.

When Alex came to Stanford to study for his MBA, he made many friends; some are here today.  Prof. Shallenberger’s course on entrepreneurship and small businesses especially interested him.  We loved the area and later settled here in the SF Bay area – Menlo Park, Cupertino, Portola Valley and Oakland. 

Alex and I lived a very full and active life.  Over the years, Alex worked with many companies, but he had a very keen interest in working with small companies with extraordinary products – unique products and leading edge technologies.  Some of his roles in the business world were as product manager, vice president, president, partner and consultant.  Two years ago, he wrote “Splitting the Second” in which he recounted many of his experiences with Omega sports timing systems when he was President of his company, Seagull, Inc.  He was excited about the products, the businesses he was connected with.  He had so much verve, energy and enthusiasm for them.  At home, I could see that he enjoyed, relished his work.

And he believed that the relationships/friendships with the people he worked with were of prime importance.  Thru the years, he also valued his many friendships and connections with those from his MBA class and classes earlier and later.  He also valued his many friendships in the sailing and racket ball worlds and friendships due to contact with those in our children’s schools and the sports they participated in.  He also valued connecting with his own family of origin and extended family.

Alex and I were somewhat like the Smothers Brothers – he being the funny one and I the quiet, straight one.  We always believed – even this year – that we were complementary to each other – we were the AJ team, the Alex Jan team that tackled life’s many tasks together and at times separately.   We had so much togetherness and shared such great experiences and adventures.

Some of our mutual interests were raising our three children and staying connected with them, sailing, skiing for many years and then the switch to snowboarding, eating out, trying new and different restaurants, seeing movies and plays, going on walks, exercising at the gym and traveling.  Alex especially enjoyed babysitting our adorable grandchildren, Teo and Tessa.  Alex loved playing tennis and later racket ball.

Key was that Alex and I facilitated each other’s growth; we gave each other permission to grow; we supported each other’s interests and cultivated our mutual interests.  Of course, we went through some ups and downs; our lives were imperfect, but which relationships haven’t had difficulties at times.  The main thing was that we were there for each other, no matter what.

I love and miss Alex very much.  He was a wonderful husband, partner, friend, skipper and father of our children.  I am truly honored to have been his wife and partner.

I wish to thank each of you for attending this memorial service for Alex.  And thank you to our children for doing so much of the preparation for today.  Also thanks to Don and Susan Allen for their ideas and help.  Thanks also to Eliot Terborgh for the post on the GSB MBA ’67 list serve to let classmates know of Alex’s passing.  Thanks to Rev. Mark Goodman-Morris, who facilitated this service being here in this beautiful church.  Alex and our three children were baptized here.  And thanks to Star Williams and Barbary Grant for their beautiful music.

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