Raymond Low Suen has moved onto his next big adventure at the age of 102.

Born in San Francisco, he was brought to Canton, China at three years old where he  lived with family and studied until 1935 during which time his mother and sister died from smallpox. China was in serious trouble at the time, and he felt that to achieve national rejuvenation they needed to implement the “Land-to-the-Tiller, Reward-to-the-labor” policy, so that they could fulfill the commitment: “The world belongs to the Public”

Ray returned to Walnut Grove to work in the pear orchards and then San Francisco. After two short years, he again went back to China to care for his ailing father, attending Daisung High School in Canton. 

July 7, 1937, the Japanese invaded China and Raymond, inspired by Sun Yat Sen found his calling, joined the resistance, serving as news broadcaster for the Central Guoyin Records. In 1938, he was sent back to San Francisco where he found his way to Mill Valley and was welcomed into the Buttner family where he continued his education. While a student, he established the San Francisco City Youth National Salvation Corps, dedicated to promoting overseas Chinese anti-Japanese propaganda activities. 1939, he established the Chinese Workers Cooperative Association and launched a campaign alongside the San Francisco City Seaside Trade Union to sanction the daily supplies to the Japanese Army. In 1940, Ray helped create the San Francisco City Chinese New Character Conference to promote the Latinization of Pinyin characters. He then served as the English Secretary Representative of the San Francisco Chinese Workers Cooperation Association and sang with group on the radio until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941 as a Chinese American to serve at the border of Myanmar after the Pearl Harbor attack. 

In 1942, he served in the 3562d Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company as small arms weapons mechanic, marksman, Captain and unit photographer, supervising a crew of 7 men landing on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in France earning 5 Bronze Stars. He continued to stay and travel through Cornwall, England, Europe, Africa and the Middle East until the end of the war.

He married in August 16th, 1947 to Mary Mar, returned to Mill Valley, then moved to San Francisco where he worked for the Recorders Office until 1956 when he began his career at the De Young Museum and became a nationally recognized art photographer. During this time, he became the Interpreter of the Yeong Wo Benevolent Association and the Founder and former Chairman of the Duck Sen Association in Chinatown. He then left in 1970 to become the photographer for City Hall and foreman of reproduction until he retired in 1978 to open Ray’s Pearl & Jade. 

He loved It’s A Small World at Disneyland and saw his life reflected in the character Littlechap in the musical “Stop The World – I Want To Get Off”

In 2020 Raymond, along with his brother Kingland was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American Veterans of WWII

https://www.caww2.org/army-qrstuv

Raymond Low Suen follows his beautiful grandson, Thomas and is survived by his four children Raymond, Claudia, Diana and Ronald, grandchildren Kolsoum, Gary, Jesse, Kelly, Alanna, Jaspre and great grandchildren Kaitlyn, Adeline, Vanessa and Raelyn

A private ceremony was held October 14th where he is now placed at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery Section Col 2, C Site 159-E

In honor of Raymond and his love of Yosemite, donations can be made to the Yosemite Conservancy

“Benefit the country and the public, never yourself

The rise and fall of people, remains in heart”