These are never the easiest posts to write and are especially hard when it’s a dear friend. We’ve lost Little Saigon’s Jenny B. Dang on July 19. The news of her passing was shared on Facebook Wednesday; no cause of death was provided and the family has asked for privacy. I’m told she has been ill.
Back in 2020, I got a friend request on Facebook from her. “I have friends that tell me we need to meet.” And there began a steady stream of calls, texts, and visits. Jenny is a spitfire (sorry, I can’t bring myself to type “was” yet), There are YouTube videos of this 5 foot 2 tall Vietnamese-American Democratic powerfully litting into Vietnamese Republicans about why there are so wrong about everything.
Jenny ran a boutique pharmacy in Tustin off the 55 and McFadden; not easy to find but its where my wife and I got all our Covid vaccines; my wife loved Jenny and admired her spunk, kindness and intelligence. After there was an attack on an Asian Massage Parlor in Atlanta a few years ago, Jenny went to the Massage Parlor right next to her business and was able to tell the women employees if they felt unsafe, exit the business through the back door and find safe harbor in her building. She regularly invited people in for airconditioning and a cold drink.
Jenny would bring clothes and food to the homeless near her office regularly. She texted me once from jail where she was taken into custody with several women who were being arrested for prostitution. Jenny stood up for them and offered help. And she got a little too aggresive with the police. Kudos to Vince Sarmiento for helping her navigate that story.
Her business won a “Mayor’s Fav” award from the City of Tustin a few years ago.
Former Tustin Mayor Letita Clark was a fan. She had this to say:
“Jenny was someone who came to Tustin and immediately made an impact. She had a heart for service and helpingothers. When my book, Mommy and Me, was rleeased, she displayed several copies proudy in her office to inspire her clients. She home delivered my prescriptions with pride. She always stoodup for what’s right and just will besorely misseed. Rest well Jenny.”
Supervisor Vince Sarmiento said, “I consiered Jenna gentle soul that I was grateful to call a friend. I hope that her family takes some solace in knowing that Jenny was liked and respected by many.”
In one of her last posts on Facebook, she wrote of her journey from Vietnam to America:
A celebration of life for Jenny’s friends is being scheduled for July 30; if you are a friend, chech her Facebook page for details. I have none at the moment. Our loss is great; and its a loss for the Democratic Party efforts in Little Sagon to lose a firece warrior so had no fear whatsoever.
Rest well Jenny; you’ve made an unforgetable impression on so many of us. You will be missed.
RIP, Progressive Warrior Jenny !
You definitely battled for a better world as you imagined it could be. So now you can rest fulfiiled knowing you did your best while you were here. Rest in Peace.
I just learned of this heartbreaking news. Jenny was a very dear, sweet friend, with a heart filled with love, kindness, caring and compassion. Her generosity and kindness knew no bounds. Her passing is truly sad, sorrowful news. Rest in eternal peace, dear Jenny and may your beautiful memory be a blessing to all who love you so much.
she was one of a kind
Jenny was an asset to the world. An earth angel for sure. R.I.P.