Thien Cao

Burlington -Thirty-three years ago, Thien L. Cao had to make the toughest decision of his life and that was to leave his loving wife and two sons to come to the US. Being an officer of the US Navy, the War had forced him to part with his family and country to start a new life in a whole new world. Alone, with only a dream that one day he will be united with his family, Thien immediately started working full time as well as attending Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in Electrical Engineering. Thien's will to succeed led him to the achievement of graduating from college with honors in only three years. After graduation, Thien worked for several well known companies, such as Kodak, IBM and GE. Although he had now become successful, Thien never felt complete, so he continued his long quest to bring his family to the US. Thien's dream became a reality in the summer of 1984 when his family finally received the approval to come to America. Seeing his wife and sons for the first time after nine long years, had to be the happiest day of his life. Thien, the fourth son of Mr. Bao Dao Cao Thien Tu and Dao Ty Ngoc Lien, grew up in a traditional Vietnamese family; therefore, cultural values and religion play a central part in Thien's life. On many occasions, Thien brought the Vietnamese community together by organizing New Year celebration in order to spread and preserve the customs and heritage of Vietnamese living in America. Thien had also made several trips to California to start in the planning and building of the religious temple over there. Thien stressed the importance of religion because it is the only way to bring about harmony of the body, mind and soul. On Wednesday, September 10, 2008, after a brief illness, Thien Cao had parted with family for the final time to join the Lord and loved ones in heaven. He will be truly missed and remembered by his wife, Loan Kim Tran of Burlington, NC; older son, Thi L. Cao Tran of Burlington, NC; younger son, Tuan Thanh Cao of Burlington, NC and all the members in the family of his older brother, Tho T. Cao of San Diego, CA, younger sister, Cuc Ngoc T. Cao of Roanoke, VA; younger sister, Nguyet Thu T. Cao of Pullman, WA; younger brother, Bach T. Cao of Philadelphia, PA; younger brother, Cong T. Cao of Saigon, Veitnam; younger brother, Ly C. Cao of Apex, NC; and younger sister Nga T. Cao of Ben Tre, Vietnam. The funeral service will be held at Co Quan Bao Thong Giao Ly Dai Dao in Saigon, Vietnam.