Greeting and Intro
Thank you everyone for taking time out of your busy schedule to be here today. It means a lot to me and my family and I know it would have meant a lot to my father as well. Today is a day of grieving, but also a celebration of the life of an amazing person. And for me, it is truly a privilege to be able to deliver a eulogy for my father, Sejin Moon. My father was truly a special person, not just for his tremendous personal virtues, but also for the incredible experiences he had, the obstacles he overcame, and the number of lives he touched in such profound ways.
From Humble Beginnings
As a child he experienced tremendous adversity, working as a laborer to make just enough to survive. By God’s grace he was taken into the care of Mr. Robert Sage, a retired American military officer living in the Philippines who raised my father like a son. He taught my father about etiquette and then later sent him to America to receive an education and begin a new life.
When he came here, he worked hard to make the most of the opportunity given to him. Through sheer ambition and determination, he earned a Masters in Business Administration and worked in management positions at several Fortune 500 companies during his career. But my father wasn’t satisfied with just that and felt there was more he could accomplish. He learned how to prepare taxes and built up a bookkeeping practice – which he did in the evenings – and successfully ran for 40 years, right up to the time of his passing.
Personal Attributes
Hard Work and Loyalty
All his life, my father worked tirelessly. Some of my earliest memories of my dad are of him coming into my room before the sun was up, to encourage me to work hard that day, and give it my 100%.
Yet for all his dedication and hard work, he was not a workaholic – he never worked for work’s sake, or for the money. He did it to provide the best life he possibly could for his family and help people.
Earlier this year, as my father was ill, I stepped in to assist with his tax service and met with a number of his clients. Without exception, they all shared with me the tremendous respect they had for my dad, and how he made them feel like family. Meeting with my dad was always a very personal time. He would take the time to ask them how they and their family were doing. He had tremendous recall of the personal circumstances and situation of each and every client of his. He knew where their kids went to school, what they studied and what they did for work. It was interesting to see the different family generations that came to my father – from his original clients, to their children, and then even their grandchildren. He would give personal advice and in some cases lovingly chide them like he would to a son or daughter. Only at the end of their time together would they discuss business.
What my clients, family and friends knew was that when you asked him for his opinion on something, he would listen intently and always provide such sound advice. My father was incredibly wise and resourceful, especially when it came to practical business matters. I remember once my father offered to help me get a loan to refinance my house, and I told him, “Dad, I’ve tried 3 different brokers and I just don’t qualify. Well, he called me the next day and told me I would be contacted by a Wells Fargo loan officer with a pre-approval. I don’t know how he did it, but he did.
Countless times, he went before the IRS to help his clients who were being audited, and knew exactly how to handle the situaiton in the most effective way possible. I know of so many clients who owed him a debt of gratitude for saving their lives by getting them out of trouble. His motivation for doing it was to help people. He really looked after his clients and their families who went to him about everything from advice on whether to purchase a business, to how to get their properties re-appraised, to the handling of affairs in the aftermath of a divorce. The money he made was always an after-thought that he really could not care less about. As one client of his put it, “we knew Sage would always take care of us.” It was never a side job for my dad. What he truly enjoyed was meeting people, building relationships, and helping people. It was for that very reason that his clients kept coming back to him – some for 40 years.
There are so many people present here and not here today, whom my dad helped and who benefited from my dad’s wisdom and guidance.
Consistency and Dependability
Throughout his life, my father was as consistent as the ocean tide. My mom learned this about my dad early in her marriage. There were times when she would notice him having a few glasses of wine, and thought perhaps she might be able to persuade him on something during a moment when his guard was down. But my mom will tell you to this day, that no matter how much he had to drink, he would never change. He wouldn’t become moody, angry or giddy. He was always consistent and you could not convince him of something he wouldn’t already agree to.
There is one routine that he had that gives you a glimpse into the steadfastness of my father. My parents have a gardener named Manuel who has been with my parents for the past 30 years. And on every Friday when he came over, it always made my dad feel good to be able to hand to him a cold Coke from the refrigerator. My dad kept that tradition up until the time he could literally no longer lift the can. And, during the time he was at home on hospice, with his feeble handwriting, he instructed a family member or caregiver to continue to extend that courtesy. Our gardener Manuel (who calls my father his brother) is here today. That’s the type of person my father was – his sincerity and compassion for people in the midst of his illness was as strong as ever. As accomplished as he was, he never forgot his beginnings or who he was. Depsite his success, he never became arrogant, materialistic or superficial. Regardless of position, education or wealth. My father treated everyone the same – with genuine love and respect.
Selflessness
My father was a selfless person who rarely did anything for himself. He never took up golf or other hobbies, or spent money on himself. Rather, he spent his money on family vacations. My fondest memories growing up are of the places my father took us on – all over Europe, Hawaii, the Middle East, Cancun, Canada, then later on in life to Alaska.
He would do anything for those he cared about, which included a lot of people. I mean it when I say I never knew of an instance where he turned anyone down for help, whether it be business or personal matters. He prized the relationships in his life and always put others before him. Even in the midst of the illness which ultimately took his life, he thought of the clients whom he felt needed him. When he could no longer speak, through the writing of notes, he attended to his clients’ matters, instructing me and my mother on what do do. He did it because to him, his clients were his friends. He didn’t want anyone who depended on him to be left hanging – that’s how loyal of a person he was.
In his heart of hearts, my father loved to serve and even in his final time here on earth, he let go of himself for his faith and love for God. During his illness, my father took a lot of comfort from our close presence, especially my brother. And when he became ill, it was right before Robert, Judy and I were to go on a mission trip to Vietnam. My dad knew we were not comfortable with leaving but he insisted that we go, deferring his health and comfort to the greater purpose upon the misison field. And throughout his ordeal, he was never bitter about his condition, saying instead “this is God’s plan” and I accept it.
His True Personality
For those who knew my dad in a personal way, you know he could be a very fiery person, with a fearful temper and the stubbornness of an ox. And when he yelled, it was similar to that feeling you get when an earthquake hits. But those characteristics spoke of the life he had growing up and all that he endured. His stubbornness was a testament to his incredibly strong will – the same will that allowed him to survive and overcome the adversity of his childhood. He had very little patience for pettiness and did not hesitate to let us know it.
As you know, my dad had a heart of gold. And as angry as he would get, he was always ready and willing to forgive.When it came to family, my father had such tenderness for us. I truly wonder how he put up with us sometimes and how we didn’t drive him completely nuts. He was always the rock of our family, the anchor during all our dysfunctional moments.
I remember when I was 11, I told my dad I didn’t want to move from Chino to Anaheim and leave my friends behind. My dad listened intently, and said to me “if you feel that way, we don’t have to move.” Of course he received an earful from my mom who snapped back, “what you mean we don’t have to move, we bought a new house and we’re moving in next week.” She would then come in to set me straight. But in that moment he meant it without any reservation. He had such a soft spot in his heart for us.
The one thing he really wanted to do but never did was to buy his grandson Jacob a computer. Since about the time Jacob was four, he kept asking me, “Should I buy it now?” “Is now the time?” To which I would reply, “No dad, he’s still too young.” But that was him: making a promise, remembering it and then making good on it.
Final Remembrance
Toward the end of his journey, my dad wanted to live. He had so much life, and so much fight in him. I asked him if he wouldn’t get any better, and it was just this experience, would it still be worth it, and without hesitation, he said yes. He wouldn’t have traded the last 3 months of his life for an easier and earlier passing. He wanted to be there with us and for us. He worked hard his whole life, and I don’t think he ever planned to stop.
During the last years of his life, I know it was very hard for him. My dad was so full of life and had such a desire to enjoy it to the fullest. He wanted to travel more – to go to Europe again, visit China, go on more cruises. He was a fighter and did not give up, right up to the very end.
I suppose it’s only fitting that physically, the last thing to go for my dad was his heart – that right until the last day had such a strong heart beat. True to form, it was his heart (in every sense of the word) that powered so much love, warmth and life into all of us and it was that same heart that kept him going in his final days, when most normal persons would have succombed long before.
Closing
As a believer, I give thanks to God and praise Him with all my heart – for giving to me and our family a father like my dad. Throughout this ordeal, I really felt all your prayers and I know my dad did as well. God was so full of grace to our family during this trial.
I thank Him for the extra time he blessed us with my dad. In my father’s final days, the provisions God made for us were evident: for Robert to be a doctor, who is currently living at home and Judy to be a nurse, who tended to him bedside; for my mother to work as hard as she did for him, for my mother and I to get his clients through tax season in my dad’s absence; for Johann and Debbie to be able to spend time with my dad despite the commute from Portland; for the care of all of you, his loved ones and family members to spend time with him; for the love and support of our pastors and church family who visited him and prayed with him; for sending two angelic husband and wife caregivers, Clem and Eden, who are also here today. God took care of us and was so gracious to our family and we give Him thanks for it.
I think of my dad in heaven at this very moment and wonder at times what he is doing right now and with whom he was reunited. I know one thing – he is not sitting still, but rather rejoicing with people and touching lives like he did here on earth.
I know I speak on behalf of all of you that there will never be another Sejin Moon – he was one of a kind.
Dad, thank you for all your hard work, all your sacrifice, for teaching us through your amazing life example, for taking care of us and being there for us. You will live forever in our hearts.
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