Memories of Mr. Emerson ""Animal"" Chin

Denise So

Do more good at Red Cross

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Bon Buz

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Denise So

Emerson was amazed that his drawing won a certificate for participating. Then the National judge reviews for the third place, second place and the number one place in each category and .. Then they tell him he won 🥇 first place for mixed art, he was so happy. That Friday before the full out break of Corona virus scare, March 6, 2020, Emerson won the National veterans art competition for Vietnam war experience and we volunteered and saw many disabled veteran’s art; we were all eating and so happy for Emerson Chin! He was smiling and laughing and jumping up and down like he won the lotto in front of his peers, all creative veterans! And there was Commander Helen Wong, a lady he admired and adored because she always encouraged veterans to express themselves to relieve their PTSD from battle by doing art and other creative outlets like hiking, dancing, photography, horse back riding for veterans. We were so glad Emerson invited us.

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Bon Buz

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Denise So

“When you share food you share family”—-Emerson Chin He remembered Cesar Chavez and always in April 29 he would take us to a parade in San Jose or on Army street and he told us “You have a friend when he takes you to his house and shares food and when I share my shower my floor to sleep on and food, I share my heart. But sometimes I don’t have so much money so I took up giving and sorting food 2pm on Thursdays at ymca pantry.” “I like picking out the good food so seniors carrying it get something good to bring home.”—Emerson We gave you money but I wanted to give you more. I now help out at the food pantry and I pick the rotten and over ripe ones out. Emerson, the best way to help you live on, is if we all sacrifice a little time to do caring things for others. And don’t worry, I always poop first before I go because I bag over 250 bags that means standing long hours. And I can’t do your laugh but I give it with a kind word to a senior just like you did “animal Emerson.” You live on in our hearts. Thank you for being a veteran that taught us to be human and kind and giving. Go Giants. Go 49ers. Go Animal!🤟🤟hang loose —David

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Denise So

“Hey, friend. Why so sad. Smile. Be happy. I don’t want you sad.” Hang loose— Emerson

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Denise So

Hang loose, Remain calm, Don’t worry, Relax, don’t get angry, Be happy. All the words he’d use on us when we are stressed out. In the end, you have to chill with Emerson! Our favorite thing is after working a presentation for Red Cross. He chilled out with us “Amazing Grace how great it is. How great, how great life it is. Oh amazing Grace how great it is, how great, how great Emerson is…”

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Denise So

Emerson was always attending every tailgate party with banana cream pie or egg salad. He loved Red Cross events.

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Denise So

Emerson was always attending every Red Cross tailgate party to meet other volunteers and to connect. He ... Read more Emerson was always attending every Red Cross tailgate party to meet other volunteers and to connect. He told us “you can learn... Read more Emerson was always attending every Red Cross tailgate... Read more

Denise So

Emerson spotted at his favorite store See’s Candies “Live for today if you plant the right seeds and do right, tomorrow is taken cared of”— Emerson. Funny thing is he always believed tomorrow would take care of itself. And his tomorrows were good. He never stopped caring and he always took the time to ask “ what’s wrong, I’m here let’s take care of it.” He would help people with Paratransit and teach them to put in an application, show them how to make an appointment with a doctor and tell them how to order a paratransit and then the senior even without children could travel to and from appointments and shop. But he would never forget to stop to treat himself to peanut brittle after a good days work. Only thing is he could eat a whole box of See’s on his own .😆 Ada

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Carter Phelps

Oracle Park, Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA, USA

Nice tribute by SF Giants today at opening day — with Emerson Chin

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Bon Buz

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Denise So

A veteran said, “I was watching the game
And to my surprise in a flash they had Emerson Chin’s picture of... Read more A veteran said, “I was watching the game
And to my surprise in a flash they had Emerson Chin’s picture of him smiling and I didn’t... Read more A veteran said, “I was watching the game
And to my ... Read more

Denise So

When Emerson was young, his favorite church event besides singing in choir was the Bible stories: Noah’s ark, God said a flood was coming Noah heard and made a vessel out of acacia, a flood was coming, he took two animals, Yes, Emerson, Noah took two, German Shepards too. They went thru storms 40 days and 40 nights. God gave him strength thru the storms so they reached paradise and enjoyed their rainbows. When Emerson looks back, he took time to give thanks by showing us that his own vessel went thru 73 years of storms. He went thru his own storms in life the slowness of his learning, the bullies in school, the illness in his family, the confusion on what to do in life, the sleepless nights from battle, his search for a job. His loss of his dad to blindness and his loss of his mommy to heart problem, his loss of his loved one to throat cancer, his own homelessness, food poisoning, his battle with loneliness and search for family, and his fear of needles and dealing with gout and diabetes. Like Noah Emerson blessed those he connected with. He blessed teens and homeless with kindness as he tried to teach them to fish not just toss them a coin. He walked seniors to St. Anthony to eat lunch. He walked them to ONLOK at 777 Stockton to eat a meal to be healthy. He visited veterans and later took them to church. He collected lost souls, he opened doors for skate boarders and youths and tried to connect with them as “animal.” A carefree spirit who dared do dangerous stunts and skate boarded until he was 68 years old, but after a couple bad falls and lots of rubbing alcohol, purple bruises, that we poured alcohol on, he chose to give away his skate board and just go to X-games and shop at DLX for gear. Whenever there was an event of a fire, he would drop by, and he brought us thru tough times with positive attitude “ smile be happy “, “when you smile you can make more friends then enemies.” When he was blessed he shared food like egg salad and banana cream pie and shelter, food kitchen and job information and applications for street to home resources so people got housed. Emerson reminded us of Noah, Emerson Protected kids and homeless and seniors and veterans and brought them out so they could enjoy more learning by driving them out of their community and dared them to push themselves out a little to meet others, to learn from others,to connect and make friends. He always asked “want to go to the Christmas fair in Sacramento, want to go to the San Mateo fair, want to go to the alameda flea market, want to go to see dinosaur museum, want to see the plane museum in San Jose, want to go take Amtrack to the railroad museum, want to sit in the MegaBus to Disneyland, let’s take a train and travel the US and see our world, why not we getting older, do a little different ,you can meet nice people and make friends.” As we read in the hospital: Emerson your liver and kidney is sleepy now from all your hard work, rest and you rise up when you can. We read Noah’s ark to him every chance we got in his life. Nurses cried and hugged us at each visit. We were not crying because Emerson always enjoyed us reading to him about Noah at Red Cross and he would joke about him being like Noah “ I am like Noah I take protected people to where they need to go to be happy.” “ Are there German Shepard’s?” Yes , Emerson in your ark there are German Shepard’s now stop interrupting! We found our own rainbows because of happy times with Emerson and silly jokes and all his choir like singing of Amazing Grace, and watching him bless others with his driving talents, his hard earned money donations- that why he didn’t have a lot of money, his grateful words thru action. He helped each one of us and helped us reach our own paradise and some of us will connect to work together to continue to keep Emerson living on in our lives. Others will remember his laugh. We will still volunteer for causes that he got us involved with. Emerson, “Thank you for making a way when there was no way.” He did that for a lot of people. He didn’t say it or point, he never gave directions like that, he always took a homeless person to a shelter or kitchen by walking them and dropping them off and then fist bumping them. He took us to a museum , He took us to YMCA to volunteer, he slept at 2am and woke up at 6am at the Y ready to volunteer. Like Noah he took us there, He took us to a lot of places But he took us and he was there with us in our paradise …Now we sad he’s not here.🥲 Denise and Ada

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Sherwin Lee

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Denise So

At Emerson celebration of life day, The CEO of Red Cross Hanna Malak honored Emerson with his presence. He came and gave us the signature laugh that was only Emerson. It was what made everyone smile in a sad event, it made people happy and Emerson told us it was what drew women to him, cause he was happy and with this happiness the world smiled with Emerson.

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Carter Phelps

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Denise So

So many people came to Emerson celebration of life day. The room and hallway was packed some came to pay respects to him before going to work, that’s how much he meant to us🥲

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Carter Phelps

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Denise So

The many hats and uniforms of a very community fun and dedicated Emerson will get dusty but the memories of him live strong in the hearts of friends: Thanks, Denise and Ada for such a beautiful write-up remembering Emerson! From my limited encounters with him, I found him to be very friendly and always happy participating in whatever events we had attended. SF NERT - Lavinda

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Carter Phelps

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Denise So

Emerson in 2018 after Bill Jeong passed …asked me if anyone would come see him if he were sick or passed?

He asked us to save him at all cost and to visit him even if someone asked us to stand down.

And I answered don’t talk about death and we promise to visit you.

Answer to your questions:

You had 100 people fill the pious and many packed into the hallway. They left early and were sprayed with pomelo water from our community garden that you worked in.

They bared the rain to visit at ICU and to celebrate.

Your sister Catherine and nephew Sherwin tried always to guard and protect you with Dennis, Bob’s help.

You told us “I just wanted to check because everyone dies once ,I just want to not be alone and I don’t think I will have much money.” And it was true. You only have enough for cremation but your ashes will be at home til you have enough to be buried. And you were not alone. Your friends and family came all the time along with your friends Ada and Denise.

Emerson was into diversity, many of his brothers and sisters off the street shared good music with him at the Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church , Open Hand, St. Anthony and Glide Memorial where he volunteered.

He even shared his favorite songs with us. And kept singing amazing Grace, songs include:

Billy Stewart- Summertime

And I do love you

Kirk Franklin- Smile

Louis Armstrong- It’s a wonderful life

Frank Sinatra- I did it my way

Diana Ross-When you tell me you love me

One voice children memories-maroon 5

Charlie Pluth- I’m one call away to save the day

Calum Scott- You are the reason

IZ- Somewhere over the rainbow

Josh Groban- Amazing Grace

-You raise me up to more than I can be

Neil Diamond- He ain’t heavy he’s my brother

Carpenters- I’m on the top of the world

Carrie Underwood- Champion

To name a few he liked.

When you listen to the songs you can piece together a very fun loving musically fun Emerson and realize he was a music lover and ok raspy, vocal edge karaoke singer who tortured Ada and Denise with his singing whenever he came to the Red Cross office. 🎼🎶

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Carter Phelps

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Denise So

Emerson was lucky, his life was changed forever! “When you growing up did you join YMCA? My mom sent me to YMCA to keep me out of trouble and to make friends. Be proud a Chin thought about the needs of children and created it to grow youths and give them opportunity when there was a lot of discrimination. I now think of Red Cross Alyssa May and Emily White and LDYC, Leadership Development Youth Club. Bill Jeong and I used to help out all the time. I now work with Troop 201 Boy Scouts and I drive them.” Emerson Why? “Some youths live all their lives in one community, alone, never get out because their parents are scared and their families are poor. I never got out if I didn’t go to war. Leaving their community youth’s eyes open wider, their mind is more curious, their heart is more open, and they meet others, and make friends that can change their lives forever. That is why I have a lot of good friends that I can count on two hands and two feet. My feet don’t look so good but you know.” - Ac Lowe

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Carter Phelps

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Denise So

VIP when you with Emerson Chin - Emerson Chin didn’t let setback stop him he always took a day and lived it today. And with a positive outlook, look at his work at SF Giants. I asked him you are an elevator button presser nobody remembers you? He said “a person making ends meet sees it as an end job, I see it as the best job,” I smile when the door opens. Surprise! I am Emerson Chin. They can’t go anywhere I have so much power. This short happy man smiles. I don’t sit back, I am not an old man sitting in closed doors, I am a salesperson, I sell smiles and a good family SF Giants experience. I bring them out feeling like they went in the VIP elevator, where no one else can go! I give them elevator music to take a moment to calm. They get off work, they maybe ready to make a big decision like Please marry me! And I listen to them when my doors open, I show them the best is next, next minute, next floor. If they are talkative, I tell them about my volunteer work and share importance to give back. If they haven’t given blood I tell them give blood to Red Cross you can have lower your blood pressure. If they are hungry, I tell them of the best food SF Giants selling and how much I love this place. Sometimes people say I am ugly but that’s a person with a bad day. I shake it off and when the doors open it is another real connection that only I can do. So when they come out they feel they went into the VIP elevator. This job is a gift. I shook things up, I listened. I fist bumped them and I don’t know how many took pictures with me. Go Giants! I was never at an end job. I loved my job. “The only thing is always go to work early to go poop first cause when the crowd comes a stuck person is a poor sales person. Take my word don’t eat corn or bean in an elevator otherwise you bomb them. I meet so many famous people, I am the lucky one. Dang sometimes I forget to go bathroom and I have to hold it🤣” but I am the face of SF Giants so I did my best.

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Sherwin Lee

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Sherwin Lee

Thank you Denise for sharing the great memory of Emerson. I can imagine him saying those exact words. Thank you Denise for sharing the great memory of Emerson. I can imagine him saying those exact words. Thank you Denise for sharing the great memory of Emerson.... Read more

Denise So

Kindness lives forever - Stand on the front line willing to fight for you to voice for your cause. He was raised on how to lay down his life for his fellow man, that’s Mr. Emerson Chin. Cause he was offered a hand from the people like Margaret in Lion club or when his veteran father was going blind, from scout masters who were kind to Raymond Chan who kept inspiring him at Boy scouts to the Boys and Girls clubs and Monica at YMCA where it was his playground, like Nick at Homeless Connect and non profits, Wa Sung, Chin Association he told us a Chin started YMCA, John McKnight in Salvation Army Allison, Jeff, Barry, Donna, Bill and Hanna at Red Cross, Laura at Open Hand where he scooped food, Donna Logan who visited him when he had food poisoning, PRC who was kind to him, all his Pacific Bus Museum road buddies, his security guard friends, his community gardening seniors, his Kent Woo and Michael Liao who train the community on health issues and SF NERT and Michael Wong and Jacky Zhu who keep youths busy and confident. He watched many leaders and even though he couldn’t read, we’d read to him and he’d go to meetings and hold the papers and ask about specifics. And his SFIC church pastor friends and his admiration for Michael Pappas and how he joined forces with churches to be like a health justice league, Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church where all is equal and get along and the poem books are free with dinner, he could stand tall because he had so many to emulate from. And he loved VFW and the monthly family banquets and the good work they did, and he especially liked Nestor who always knew Emerson was good for that, good buddy, NEMS for letting him translate for people, Annie for allowing him to translate at the USF Free citizenship workshops, and Rose who is kind and beautiful, Chinese New Year Parades, Rev Norman Fong —who he wanted to do karaoke to learn to jam like him, and SF Giants family and Go Niners. But the family he loved most was his sister Mrs. Lee and nephew Sherwin never stopped talking about them and he put them right next to his KFC family and pot pie Wednesdays, and his Alameda banana cream pie and if he were here he’d go Dutch with us somewhere out there but it is like we treated each other to a feast when we bring what Emerson had and what we have to the table. Let’s keep Emerson alive in all of us

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Carter Phelps

Anthony Wong

Sherwin Lee

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Denise So

Emerson’s Fishing 101 - Bill Jeong gave Emerson a “damn I am good” cup when he realized all the work Emerson did after giants games and collecting teenagers in the dark up until 2 am in the morning. Emerson said “when I found god I learned you have to teach them to fish not just eat fish then they can survive and then I am truly of service.” Emerson said “because after three days teens on the street or adults, they could get messed up. I sat on the streets when I was homeless and you can get a lot of skin disease from the dirty sidewalks. I clean teens up, I feed them, let them sleep on the floor with a blanket, and after breakfast I give them resources from Red Cross Barry, Paul, Dennis, Bill, Ron and Allison and show them kindness and then you can teach where to get free food, hostels, shelters, shower buses, volunteer at open hand and at St. Anthony and give back, then I teach them to fish and come back and when they cleaned up I try to get them a job to survive.” “I was poor but I had good scout masters and boys and girls club teachers and choir teachers and someone was kind to me and I remember, that’s why I feel so rich.” — I think his whole life was a memory of all the kindness from all of you. He was not rich with $ but he was rich with friends. I guess that’s why he could only afford cremation. Emerson maybe when you have enough money they can bury you. You gave him so much love and that love no matter how much pain he felt with gout, kidney pain, he smiled and kept helping more people.

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Carter Phelps

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Denise So

Emerson’s picture at the wake reception for his special party

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Jymi Shores

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Denise So

At the wake reception getting food ready to serve to family and friends at Emerson’s special party

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Denise So

Commander Raymond and Leanna at the wake reception for Emerson’s special party

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Anthony Wong

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Mrs. Lee photo with SF Giants co workers at the wake reception for Emerson’s special party

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Anthony Wong

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Denise So

Sherwin photo with SF Giants co workers at the wake reception for Emerson’s special party

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Anthony Wong

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Denise So

Sherwin and Leanna’s husband Robert photo with the skateboarders at the wake reception for Emerson’s special party

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Anthony Wong

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Denise So

The wake reception after Emerson celebration of life was held in Room 210 of War Memorial. It was a meeting of the minds, those who wanted to bring it together and connect: skateboarders, SF Giants co workers, family, VFW with Commander Raymond and Leanna and friends, San Francisco Bible Church Prayer Circle Sharon Jeong’s son Michael Jeong, Annie and Ken and other Lion members working with Margaret to organize food for Emerson’s special party.

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Anthony Wong

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Denise So

Mrs. Lee poured her heart out telling of her desire to help her brother heal at Mt. Zion ICU, Emerson as luck had it had many kind visitors who took the time to talk to him saw him move and encouraged him to rise up but in the end his body was to frail for a full recovery and return home to them and how in her dream Emerson said “it’s ok sister, I can’t come back.” She broke in to painful tears as she thanked everyone for their kindness and help and for filling the pious. She took it very deeply and was brave to speak but then it is easy to speak to a room of Emerson family members.

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Carter Phelps

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Mr. Emerson ""Animal"" Chin

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