Lily Ginn Cheu Passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 3, 2007 at the age of 72. Born on June 13, 1934, in Oakland, CA, the fourth child of Yee How Ginn and Fong King Yee, Lily has always been a leader and teacher, guiding her children and husband through good times and challenging times.
The daughter of two Chinese immigrants, Lily always valued education, and during high school worked as a cook and housekeeper to pay for her college education. Lily graduated from Oakland High School and was admitted to the University of California at Berkeley, where she graduated in 1956 with a degree in Education.
She met her future husband Donald Cheu at a Cal/Stanford mixer in October of 1953. Lily and Don were married on July 22, 1956 and shared 51 wonderful years of marriage together. After their wedding, Don and Lily moved to Buffalo, NY, where Donald started medical school and Lily taught 5th grade. After two years they returned to the Bay Area where she continued to teach at Andrew Jackson Junior High in San Francisco as Don completed his medical education and residency. From 1965-1968, they lived in Wurzburg, Germany where Don served as a Captain in the U.S. Army and Lily ran the Post Kindergarten. After returning from Germany, Lily and Don moved to San Mateo, where they made their permanent home.
Lily was a room mother and PTA member in her children's schools; was active in her daughter's Brownie and Girl Scouts troops, serving as the "cookie chair;" and was active in her sorority, Sigma Omicron Pi, serving as the scholarship committee chair. She was an ardent bridge player and loved her bridge getaways with her friends. Lily had a sharp business sense and took care of the entire family's finances, especially enjoying reading the business section of the newspaper and listening to Bob Brinker on the radio. She and Don loved to travel and counted China, Japan, Spain, New Zealand, Italy, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Alaska among their many favorite destinations. Lily was a faithful attendee and Cal rooter at the annual Cal/Stanford Big Game, wearing her blue and gold colors next to her husband's red and white outfits. Lily was selfless and thought always of other people. An excellent cook and baker, everyone will remember the wonderful bakery items she produced, including her famous Black Bottom Cake, and the Chinese meals she would regularly cook.
Her beautiful smile and her outgoing personality made her stand out among all her friends and family. She was a gracious hostess and loved spending time with her friends, many of whom she had known for over 50 years. Her name in Chinese meant "precious," and that was a fitting description of how her family and friends thought of her.
She is survived by her husband, Donald Henry Cheu, M.D., of San Mateo; her two children, Brian Henry Cheu and Linda Ann Cheu; her son-in-law, Andrew Yan; her brothers, Hoover Ginn and Henry Gin; her sisters, Easter Goldstein and Elsie Dep; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Family and friends may visit on Saturday, June 9, 2007 from 5-7pm and are invited to attend the Funeral Service on Sunday, June 10, 2007, 1pm at SNEIDER & SULLIVAN & O'CONNELL'S FUNERAL HOME, 977 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross Bay Area; the Community Baptist Church, 15 S. Humboldt St., San Mateo, 94401; or the donor's favorite charity.
