Jason Sheng Day

His Legacy… Jason Sheng Day, 81, passed away June 21, 2022. He was born on November 26, 1940, in Taichung, Taiwan to Ming-Duen Day and Momo Hong Day. Jason married Susan Chu Day on September 15, 1967 in Taipei, Taiwan. He was a pioneer in the Import/ Export business between Taiwan and the U.S. when many products were “Made in Taiwan” in the 1970s and 1980s. His first employment in the U.S. was located at the Empire State building in Manhattan, NY in 1972.

Jason will be remembered as a man who often sacrificed his own enjoyment for the needs and wishes of his family and approached life with grit, tenacity, and attention to detail. His father passed when he was 8 years old, leaving the family financially destitute after using all resources to pay medical bills. Mocked and disparaged by family and society, his 24 year-old widowed mother, with only a 5th grade education, labored all day working 2 full time jobs to provide barely enough rice for her 3 children while young Jason took care of his 2 younger sisters at home. As the oldest and only son, at 15 years old, when he saw the physical toll that the 2 manual labor jobs was having on his mother, he took on full financial responsibility for his family by taking on a full-time junior employee position at a bank and became a father-figure for his sisters. Failure has never been an option because he could not allow his family to live in poverty again. He had hoped to pursue medicine in Taiwan, but this was not an option given the financial situation of his family. Hence, his dream for his children was to provide them with the opportunity to attend the best universities possible. With the full support of his loving wife, Susan, he decided to immigrate the family (including his mother) to Los Angeles in 1977 with $10K in his pocket and 10 suitcases.

His initial position as general manager of Cels Enterprise, the parent company of today’s major shoe brand, Chinese Laundry, gave financial stability to the family but he struggled to integrate into American culture. Nearly every penny earned was saved and invested. Providing financial security was how he showed his love for his family. Anything not invested was spent on the two family vacations per year, traveling to every continent except for Africa and Antarctica. While moving to other managerial positions in a Taiwanese machine tools company, his focus remained on ensuring that his children excelled in school, asking for accountability for every grade and attending every parent-teacher conference, open house, and event. He and his wife’s sacrifices paid off when his children attended top universities in the U.S. and entered the medical field.

His motto was “continuing commitment to excellence”, one he adopted from his children’s high school gym. He explained to his grandchildren of the importance of ongoing action to excel in school, career, health, and every opportunity they were given. Excellence in health, for example, was exemplified by his daily exercise and walking 10K steps every day, persistently, for at least 3 decades. Excellence was also in his detailed attention in caring for his aging mother. In his retirement, he relaxed a bit more and enjoyed joking around and spending time with his grandchildren yet continued he and his wife’s commitment to the education resources and excellence of the next generation. He looked forward to more vacations and cruises with his wife, however, she suddenly passed away 7 years ago.

For over 66 years, he had been the rock and foundation of the Day family. He led his wife, children, and mother to Christ when he was 40 years old. In June 2020, he was faced with a challenge like no other with the diagnosis of liver cancer. He had faced decades of difficulties; however, he was unable to conquer this after a year and half of treatment. When he entered hospice and was only able to communicate with head nods and shakes, he was able to point to the calendar date of June 21, 2022. Many praised him for remembering his son’s birthdate, however, he was not one to ever remember anyone’s birthdate. It was the date on which he would ultimately enter God’s embrace.

With clarity, God carried and walked with him every step of the way, spoke to him when he was unable to communicate with anyone else, and allowed him time with family before being reunited with his wife.

Jason is survived by his mother, Momo Day, his children, Charles Day (wife, Michelle) and Sherry Day Kao (husband, John), his younger sisters Chuen-Yen Tai and Chiu-Fang Tai; grandchildren Karissa Kao, Timothy Kao, Krystal Kao, Russell Day, Madeline Day, and Joshua Day. He is preceded in death by his wife, Susan Day and his father, Ming-Duen Day.

Jason’s family and friends will gather on August 6, 2022, 2-3pm (doors open at 1:30p) at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Livestream will also be available. Memorial contributions may be given to the family for future designation. Please leave a message of comfort for Jason’s family in his guestbook.