Frank was born to Chin Kya and Wei Chi on January 11, 1930, in Shanghai, China. He grew up in his family home until the age of 20 before traveling to Hong Kong and then to Taiwan for college while waiting to obtain his US Visa which would land him in San Francisco a few years later.
Upon his arrival to the US in 1954, Frank was able to finish his 4-year degree at San Francisco State University. Frank was able to continue his education at Cal Berkeley under a GI (US military) education bill. The bill/scholarship allows him to obtain a master’s degree in criminology. During his time in school, Frank gives up his 4:30am paper delivery for a job with United Airlines in logistics, working the swing shift until midnight so that he can catch the bus at 6:00am from San Francisco to Berkeley every morning to attend class.
In August of 1956, Frank enlists in the US Army where completes basic training and becomes an officer. Three years later, he transfers to the US Army Reserves (USAR) where he achieves the rank of Major.
In 1959, Frank goes back to Taiwan where meets Josephine. They are married on May 15thof the same year. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Berkeley, California, where their son Edward was born.
Once settled in Berkeley, Frank travels to Washington DC for a job interview with the CIA, but ultimately, no position is offered to him. He does, however, get a job as an agent for the US Treasury Department in the division of Bureau of Narcotics. Today, this division is more commonly known as the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency).
While his days were spent working as a Drug Enforcement Agent and US Army officer, his nights were devoted to building the family wholesale jewelry business with his wife, Josephine.
Frank passed away peacefully at the age of 93. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, and his wife, Josephine. He is survived by son Eddie (Ellie), granddaughter Nikki, and sister Sally, along with nephew Daniel (Sybil) and niece Vera.
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