Thanh Cong Trinh passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His wife, Kim, and son, Nam, were by his side. Born on October 20, 1940 in Vietnam, he grew up in the city of Tuy Hoa, province of Phu Yen in Central Vietnam. He lost his mother when he was five years old, but was very close with his father, stepmother, three sisters, and seven brothers. He attended Nguyen Hue High School in Tuy Hoa and then the police academy in Saigon. He made and kept many friendships from Tuy Hoa and Saigon, despite many miles and years. 

Thanh met and married Ha Vo (later Kim Trinh) in 1970. Their parents happily approved of the union and their wedding was well attended by hundreds of close family and friends at the Quoc Te restaurant in Saigon. They spent their honeymoon in the hillside resort city of Dalat.

In April 1975, Thanh and Kim immigrated from South Vietnam to the United States at the fall of Saigon. With them was their young son, Hoa, and nephews Dang Vo and Hung Vo. They settled in York, Pennsylvania after being sponsored by the local First Presbyterian Church. They had two additional children, Thithi and Nam, who learned their parents' language, culture, and love of Vietnamese food, even though they grew up American. They created a new community for themselves with some of the church members and their neighbors, who became surrogate family members.

As with most immigrants, Thanh and Kim worked hard in various factories when they first arrived in the U.S. They worked and saved and later moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1985 to own various small businesses. These included a Vietnamese grocery store, a prepared food stand in the Bird-in-Hand farmers’ market, and a health food stand in the same market. They both really enjoyed being self-employed at the farmers’ market, and importantly, appreciated their wonderful Amish and Mennonite staff, who have been dear friends for more than 30 years. They retired in January 2020, right before the full impact of Covid when Thanh was almost 80 years old.

While Thanh was a very hard worker, dedicated to supporting his family, he always had time to enjoy people. He loved talking with people he met everywhere and anywhere–and was always ready to live in the moment. He smiled and laughed with family, friends, or people he just met while out and about. 

Thanh faced many health challenges, starting with the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 2005. Fortunately, the symptoms were discovered early by a family friend who is a doctor. The symptoms were then confirmed at Johns Hopkins Hospital where he went through an eight-hour surgery known as the Whipple procedure. Later, other health challenges related to his cancer developed. However, after each of these major health setbacks, his spirit remained  strong–he continued to be quietly determined, positive, and ready to live life to its fullest.  

When he was physically able, Thanh visited his beloved Vietnam with his wife and family almost annually over the last 15 years. They also traveled to numerous Asian and European countries, as well as to see family and friends throughout the U.S. In recent years, Thanh discovered a love for transatlantic cruises to Europe with close family and friends. He was looking forward to his next trip, a sea-crossing to Europe next month, to celebrate his wife Kim's 80th birthday. Two days before he passed, he had been excited about the trip and was out building his strength for walking around the ship and ports of call.

Thanh is survived by his wife, Kim and his children and their families–Hoa (Ned Schaub), Thithi Goldsmith (Kristo Goldsmith), and Nam (Kate Trinh); grandchildren Julian, Melody, Reggie, Margo, and Levi; brother Danh and sisters, Thanh, Hanh, and Huong; numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. His mother, Bieu Nguyen, his father, Ro Trinh, and some of his brothers had passed away before him. 

A peaceful and comforting Buddhist ceremony was performed on Thursday, March 7 to honor him. He was surrounded by family and friends and the ceremony was witnessed virtually by many more throughout the US, Vietnam and Switzerland.

His family is grateful for all the extra time they had with him over the last years, during which he was increasingly playful, full of smiles and hearty laughter, and true to his young spirit. And he was always already to play another round of cards!