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In memory of

James Dao

Henderson, NV, USA

May 1, 1937 - March 21, 2020

May 1, 1937 - Mar 21, 2020

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James Dao, 82, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2020. Born in Nanjing, China, he entered this world during tumultuous times. He survived WWII only to flee China after the Communist Revolution. Ultimately arriving on the shores of America as an adolescent, relying on the generosity of Christians at the Spanish American Institute in Gardena, California, he was able to realize the American dream. He liked to say that he learned English from Mexicans and comic books, but he also admired the words of Abraham Lincoln. Milking cows in the morning, playing football, and singing and playing saxophone in a local band, he benefited from a public education. After high school he attended Compton Community College, then the University of California, Berkeley and received a BS in Electrical Engineering with a minor in physics. He was honored to give back to the College of Engineering as a board member. His early professional activities lead to the refinement of proton beam therapy for cancer. He eventually became a serial entrepreneur, starting companies in the US, Germany, Japan, China and Canada. He first founded a company that made contributions in the field of scientific instrumentation via scanning electron beam microscopes which allowed scientists to visualize and study cancer cells. His business ventures then lead to revolutionizing the semiconductor industry by allowing the design of chips with smaller geometries and higher reliability. He then founded a company in partnership with Stanford Research Institute where they pioneered the application of artificial intelligence for pattern recognition. After retiring from high tech he developed real estate properties in the Sonoma wine country. His intellectual curiosity and passion for social good then lead him to a focus in the field of biological sciences for the next 20 years. He worked alongside like-minded scientists, physicians and philanthropists in Canada, US and UK to develop new approaches for early detection, prevention and treatment of cancer. He remained active in these pursuits until the last two weeks of his life, doing what he wanted and with the constant and loving support of his wife of 43 years, Karen. He is survived by brothers, Wesley, Tom and John; sisters, Betty and Carrie; as well as Karen and his three children, Donna, Debbie and Jeffrey. His three grandchildren, Jessica, Natalie and James have all chosen careers in healthcare. James Dao was the quintessential optimist, saw the best in people he met, and cited his spiritual faith when faced with difficult times. His life story serves to inspire future generations.

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