Dr. Andrew Nguyen's Obituary
Dr. Andrew Nguyen (Nguyen Duc An) passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at the age of 85. He was born on August 2, 1938, to Quang Duc Nguyen and Vong Thi Nguyen in Hanoi, Vietnam. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Linh Diana Tang Nguyen, his son Nelson Nguyen, and his five grandchildren, Jade, Annabelle, Drew, Noah, and Gabriel, all of whom knew him as Ong Noi. He is also survived by his many brothers, sisters, and cousins. He was preceded by his beautiful daughter, Christie Diana Nguyen.
Andrew was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, friend, physician, musician, author, and gardener. He took pride in ensuring that his family had every opportunity for success. It was his love, passion, sacrifices, and unrelenting drive that provided his family with those opportunities for freedom, happiness, and a brighter future. His dreams were for a better life for his family now, and generations to come. He can rest in peace knowing that he did fulfill those dreams.
Anyone close to Andrew knew that he had a love and appreciation for music. His dream was to obtain his college degree in music arts and become a high school music teacher. Due to the Vietnam War, and at the advice of his father, he made the decision to become a physician. He graduated from Saigon Medical School in 1970. As a physician in Vietnam, he owned and operated a private practice in Family Medicine, was the director for a rural hospital network, and the chief emergency room physician at Quang Dong Chinese Hospital. He was later promoted to acting chairman of the internal medicine department at Quang Dong Chinese Hospital. This is where he met his future wife, Linh.
Andrew and Linh’s immigration to America was one of many harrowing stories that could be made into a movie. With the help of his brothers, sisters, and friends in America, they were able to gather enough money and supplies to make the journey by boat from Vietnam to a refugee camp in Thailand on June 9, 1979. After spending approximately six months in the refugee camp, they were able to obtain the proper clearance to immigrate to America. That journey brought them to Virginia on December 23, 1979, where they lived with Andrew’s brother, Nam, and family. What a wonderful Christmas gift that must have been!
Andrew and Linh relocated to Pomona, California (Eastern Los Angeles County) two months later so he could obtain his medical license to practice in the Unites States. After three years of hard work and determination, he was able to obtain his Florida medical license. On February 1, 1984, Andrew and Linh opened the doors to Andrew Nguyen, M.D., P.A. in Trenton, Florida, and their second practice in Newberry, Florida a few years later.
Andrew proudly served his community not only in his medical practice, but also with organizations such as the Gilchrist County Rotary Club and other healthcare institutions. He was able to enrich the lives of many people in and around North Central Florida through his patient care, collaboration, volunteer work, and music. He gives credit to the close friends that embraced and welcomed him and Linh into the community. They wouldn’t have achieved their level of success without the love, support, and guidance of those friends.
Even though Andrew wasn’t able to become a high school music teacher, his love for music wasn’t forgotten. Oftentimes, his patients had the unique opportunity to hear him in his office playing the piano, guitar, cello, saxophone, clarinet, or whatever instrument he felt like picking up that day. He will be remembered by many for a multitude of reasons. His legacy will live on through his family, his medical practice, his books, his music, and through the memories of everyone and anyone who has had the privilege of knowing Dr. Andrew Nguyen.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea 823 N.W. 143 St. Newberry, FL. with a reception to follow. A visitation will be held one hour prior to service beginning at 1:00 p.m.
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