Tony Chan’s love and support for Pacific were once again apparent during an historic event—a special commencement for students who did not have in-person graduation ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Chan ’77 was the keynote speaker for a standing-room-only gathering of family members, friends, students, faculty and staff on Knoles lawn Oct. 10. Many members of the Chan family also were in attendance.
Chan, a former regent who recently received the university’s most prestigious honor— Order of Pacific—spoke eloquently about the impact of his beloved alma mater, calling it “an oasis of learning and personal discovery with its own charm.”
Here is his speech:
President Chris Callahan, the Board of Regents, faculty and staff, fellow recipients of the Order of Pacific, and students, thank you for the honor of spending this day with you. And congratulations to the Class of 2020 & 2021.
A professor once said that every man sent out from this university should be a man of his nation as well as a man of his time, and they will also continue to give from their lives, from their talents—a high measure of public service. I may be biased, but I also know I am right. Pacific is a special university—an oasis of learning and personal discovery with its own charm.
Countless scholars, professionals, artists, and leaders from every field received their training here. The generations of men and women who walked through this yard helped reform and shape our culture. The seeds of change—for all Pacificans—were sown here. Pacific has strengthened my sense of purpose and ambition. It is that spirit that’s made Pacific a centerpiece of my intellectual life and a central part of our family’s larger story.
I come from very humble beginnings. I was born in Burma (now Myanmar), the fifth of seven children and the only boy. My father was a truck driver and my mother was a seamstress. My father tragically passed away when I was five years old, leaving my mother to do the best she could to provide for our family. She was a remarkable woman and her resilience and strength inspire me to this day.
Like many others, we struggled to come to the US, a new country, learning a new culture, language, and many challenges. I worked many jobs and I started off as a gardener then housekeeping; orderly and at Pacific, I was a TA for organic chemistry and neurology. There were no jobs that I could not do—that’s what I thought, LOL. I am glad they did not hand me a knife in the open-heart surgical room. My educational journey started at a community college, then UCLA, and, eventually, I was able to attend Pacific on a scholarship. Like many of you graduates, a scholarship made a Pacific education possible.
Pharmacy is a great profession that has provided my family a good living and allowed us to raise our two children. With Pacific’s education laid the foundation and skills, I learned the entrepreneurial skills to try new things-- real estate, investment and venture capitalism.
In addition to the stellar education I received at Pacific, you’ve heard of the phrase “Buy one and get one free,” that is—I also met my wife, Virginia. In fact, I met her at graduation because our last names were alphabetically next to each other. I was Chan and she was Chang. The rest is history, as they say. So you never know who you will meet at graduation. Look around—you may have the same luck or windfall opportunity. Believe it or not, we are still together and she is here! Sitting next to me!
I graduated in 1977 and my two children, Jonathan and Megan graduated from Pacific as well. I want to leave you with one last story. My late mother, Sofia, attended my graduation, and I distinctly remember as we loaded up the car to drive back to Southern California, my mother said to me, “This university has provided so much for you … when you are older and are able, don’t forget to give back something in return.” I have remembered this message from her all of my life and it gets louder with passing time. My humble, immigrant mother understood the value of a Pacific education and the importance of paying forward to the opportunities afforded me.
We have given back some—and will continue to do so. My wife and I, our children, and other family members contribute our time on advisory boards, the Board of Regents, alumni boards, any opportunity to be part of the university. We started contributing $20 a year for a number of years and as our business grew, we were able to do more. Many of us, myself included, attended Pacific with financial assistance from others--kind and generous people who reached out to me with their helping hands touching many lives untold; it is now my turn to repeat the process.
Along with the same message as my mother, I recall my mentor—the Honorable Judge Consuelo Callahan—once shared with me the quote of the movie star Audrey Hepburn; she said something profound that resonates with me: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
Do good, do great things. Great men and women are not born great; they grow and become great!
Again, I want to thank the university for this honor. I would also like to thank my family who is here today for their love and support. Special Thanks to my mentor, the 9th Circuit Court Judge, the Honorable Consuelo Maria Callahan who nominated me for this award. This award is also for you all, because I would not be here today without you. I love you all very much. I will always work hard to be worthy of this honor.
Thank you so much and go Tigers!
