Emerson Chin,aka Lennotit Anayschiton (Little man who cares), dedicated community volunteer connector and happy go lucky man passed peacefully at UCSF Mount Zion hospital with family and friends by his side on Sunday, March 5, 2023.

Emerson Chin was born to Yet Ying Chin and Young Ken Chin on August 16, 1949 and grew up in Chinatown and attended Commodore Stockton and Marina Middle school. He then graduated from Polytechnic High School in Fall of 1968. He joined the Boys Club of San Francisco and SF Boys Choir. He learned how to drive the Boys Club van to bring others to the outdoors.

He brought friends to Candlestick park in 1966 through the junior Giants Christopher Milk program and loved baseball. This led him to become an Usher with the San Francisco Giants in the 1970s and Usher/parking organizer with the 49ers until they moved to Santa Clara. His happiest moment with the Giants was going to spring training and being in the SF Lunar new year parade with Lou Seal. Emerson provided great elevator music and a happy experience working at the Marina Gate elevator. He was also guarding the players area at USF Dons basketball games and gets to hi-five the players.

His love of outdoors, animals, and camping led him to join 4-H and Boys Scouts of America. He enjoyed camping in Camp Royaneh and went to many Jamborees. He earned the Vigil Honor of the Arrow in Jan 1987 for distinguished contributions to Scouting. He brought me to scout meetings with Al Schmadeke handicapable troop back in early 90s, I enjoyed going but outdoors wasn’t my thing in the past and I couldn’t get use to tying all the knots. He was assistant scoutmaster to many scout troops throughout his life and received another Founders award in 2012.

Emerson loved transportation and driving to far away places. He was always ensuring people were safe and drove for Greyhound/GreyLines/Samtrans/Sonoma school district. He drove a Chinatown Boys scout troop to Alaska and Count Bassie Orchestra. He joked about being the shortest driver for the company and continued driving until insulin dependence led him to not be able to drive commercially. However he always likes travel and has taken Amtrak across the country.. He volunteered to drive a donated AC transit 2546 bus to the Pacific Bus Museum in Fremont, CA. He could maneuver all types of vehicles including forklift since he earned the Forklift Extraordinaire award from the American Red Cross.

Emerson volunteered more with his extra time for NEMS, SF CCC, SF NERT, American Red Cross disaster services and Youth for the Elderly. Emerson grew up in Chinatown and his longtime involvement with Cameron House and more recently the food pantry at YMCA to help seniors sort and give better vegetables. He was honored to receive the San Francisco Certificate of Honor for helping American red cross/Youth for Elderly from Eric Mar in 2014 as well as a California Senate Certificate of Recognition.

Emerson’s longest volunteering group was through the SF Chinatown Lions club that he was part of for over 38 years. He helped with eye screenings for youth and earned the Hellen Keller award for outstanding service to the community and earned Life membership with the Lions. He helped connect Leo’s and was active in helping with the Miss Teen Chinatown annual event.

Emerson served Veterans thru VFW and worked at Fleet week. He enjoyed bringing his scouts to tour the Naval vessels.He has a good artistic skill too winning 1st place at the VFW and American Legion Veteran drawing contest.

When he wasn’t volunteering he was Emerson “Animal” Chin a regular skateboard industry guest at the ESPN X-Games, The Dew Tour, and Vans warped tour. He brought many friends to concerts and industry events and donated skateboards to the youth.

He is survived by his sister, Catherine Chin of San Francisco and nephew, Sherwin Lee of San Francisco, who will. Look to continue his legacy of volunteering, connecting people, positivity  creating adventures 

As you know Emerson was a connector for many groups that might not meet otherwise. We all can say he had a life well lived. Let’s all remember his signature hand sign and hang loose.

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