Phuoc H. Tran, Ph.D.

Phuoc H. Tran, Ph.D.

December 12, 1939-October 15, 2024

Phuoc Huu Tran, affectionately, known as “Papa”, was born on December 12,1939 in Vietnam to Bao Van Tran and Mai Thi Manh. Raised in a large family, Phuoc was the 2nd oldest of eight siblings, 4 boys and 4 girls. He met his wife, Trinh Tran, and married her on September 23,1967.

Together, they had 4 children Tri, Thuc, Thuy, and Tin. Phuoc was a mathematics teacher in Vietnam, at both the high school and university level. He became a well-respected professor at Saigon University.

In 1975, Phuoc was forced to leave his home and all his friends behind in Saigon, Vietnam, due to the war. He left with his oldest son, Tri and a sister as the Communist forces drew near. He reached Camp Pendleton, California by way of Guam. Trinh and two other children did not get out until two days later and were routed through Wake Island and wound up at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. After being separated for over two months, the Tran family was reunited through the

efforts of the Red Cross and on August 15,1975, and came to Omaha, Nebraska due to the sponsorship of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Phuoc and Trinh lost everything and prepared for a new life of uncertainty. Phuoc worked as a grave digger at Calvary Cemetary for five years.

During that same time, he and Trinh would also spend four nights a week taking English classes at Creighton University. He eventually became a United States Citizen in 1980.

In 1982, after living in a two-bedroom duplex north of 60th and Ames, Phuoc and Trinh were able to save enough money to buy their first house near St. Bernard’s Church and School, a house in which they still call home. Moving near the school was important, for this was the foundation of sending his four children to school. Phuoc had a strong affinity towards education, in which he has instilled in his children and now his grandchildren. His journey of education immediately began upon his arrival to the United States as he took classes at night at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, receiving his master’s degree in 1978. He worked several years as a mathematics teacher at UNO and in 1988, he was hired as the Chairman of the Mathematics Department at Bellevue University. While teaching, he received his Ph.D. from Kennedy-Western University in 1993. In 1994, he was promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor. In 27 years at Bellevue University, he never missed a day of work, never missed a class, and was never late. He began his teaching career in 1962 and retired in 2015. Upon his retirement in 2015, it was conferred upon him the honorary title of Professor Emeritus at Bellevue University.

Early in his life, Phuoc loved to do yard work and garden while listening to Nebraska Football games on his transistor radio. Later in life, he loved to walk several miles in the neighborhood he called home, becoming obsessed with how many steps he could accumulate in one day on his Fitbit, often times averaging 6 miles a day. In retirement, Phuoc spent most of his time babysitting or tutoring math to one of his 11 grandchildren. Never asking for anything in return, Phuoc and Trinh were models of unconditional love and selflessness.

Phuoc’s legacy is carried on through his family, of which he is most proud of. His belief in education and his hard work is the foundation of which this family is built upon. Even in his final days, he was more concerned about his family living their own lives rather than worrying about him. We honor him by remembering the profound impact he had on all the students’ lives he has touched, and the love for the family that he sacrificed his own life for. His spirit lives on in wife, Trinh; children, Tri (Tami), Thuc (Jen), Thuy (Brad), Tin (Christine) and grandchildren Drew, Liz, Ben, Cate, Tucker, TJ, Maila, Joseph, Tai, Margaret, and Seamus.

Surrounded by love, gratitude, and togetherness.

VIGIL SERVICE:  Thursday October 17, 2024, 7:00PM at West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road with VISITATION from 5:00-7:00PM

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Friday, October 18, 2024, at 9:30AM, St. Bernard Catholic Church, 3601 N. 65th St., Omaha.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to: Madonna School or to the Phuoc H. Tran, Ph.D. Scholarship Fund