Celebrating the Life of Su Thao
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Su Thao 1948-2020
Su Thao, our father, was an inspiration in our community. We have received many messages from young people telling us that he inspired them to become filmmakers or that his videos helped them learn and appreciate the richness of Hmong culture and history. He not only had an impact on his family, but he made a difference in his community. Unfortunately, like many other amazing people in our community, he succumbed to COVID-19.
We hope to raise funds to meet outstanding medical expenses and funeral arrangements. You can also venmo.com/suthao any contributions.
Su Thao lived an amazing life. He was a larger than life personality. He commanded attention and respect as soon as he entered the room. In his younger days, he served as a 2nd lieutenant for the Hmong Secret Guerilla Unit, where he directed air operations for the CIA against communist forces in Laos. He founded and built a successful video production company (ST Universal Video) that distributed tens of thousands of videos worldwide to the Hmong community. He visited China, Vietnam, Burma, and Laos and produced documentaries that artfully depicted Hmong lives. His documentaries reunited families and communities. His films illuminated the Hmong culture like no others. He was also an astute music producer who discovered legendary musical talents like Lu Yang and Mai Moua, and his unforgettable voice was a beacon to the Central California community on Hmong radio for nearly a decade.
Everyone who met Su Thao came to know his broad and wonderful smile. He loved interacting with the community and sharing his gift of connection. He always knew the right things to say. In his presence, you felt like you were the most important person in his world.
In 1976, Su Thao fled with his young son from war-torn Laos to find safety in Thailand. Upon arrival, he immediately returned to Laos to rescue his siblings and their families. He didn’t care that thousands of communist soldiers were looking to execute former Hmong soldiers like him. He had to get his family out. With only a pistol and steel-willed determination, he went back into a country falling apart. He found his relatives and brought them to safety in Thailand - and eventually a more fruitful life in America. Today the children of those relatives are psychologists, health care directors, Lt. Colonels, web designers, mothers, and fathers. They lead amazing lives in America because of his selfless acts and courageous devotion.
Even though most of his children and relatives lived in Minnesota and Michigan, Su Thao was committed to Fresno. He said he couldn’t handle the allergy season or the cold in Minnesota. It was only this year that he agreed to move to Minnesota to be with family. Unfortunately, he never got to make that move.
In his last 6 years, Su Thao’s health declined dramatically. He suffered a heart attack and two strokes. Earlier this summer he suffered another stroke, was hospitalized, and later confined to a rehabilitation facility where he contracted COVID-19. Su Thao was so much bigger than the illnesses that took him
Su Thao, our father, our mentor, and a pillar in our community passed away from respiratory complications on Thursday July 30, 2020, in Fresno, California. He was not alone. Family and loved ones stayed with him until the end. He was loved, respected, and admired.
Su Thao leaves behind 4 siblings, 9 children, 18 grandkids and 17 great grandchildren, but his legacy extends beyond his family. He will forever remain a dynamic part of the Hmong American immigrant story.
Thank you in advance for any words, stories or contributions. We hope that friends, family and fans can remember the best of him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0aogKBTISk
Su Thao, our father, was an inspiration in our community. We have received many messages from young people telling us that he inspired them to become filmmakers or that his videos helped them learn and appreciate the richness of Hmong culture and history. He not only had an impact on his family, but he made a difference in his community. Unfortunately, like many other amazing people in our community, he succumbed to COVID-19.
We hope to raise funds to meet outstanding medical expenses and funeral arrangements. You can also venmo.com/suthao any contributions.
Su Thao lived an amazing life. He was a larger than life personality. He commanded attention and respect as soon as he entered the room. In his younger days, he served as a 2nd lieutenant for the Hmong Secret Guerilla Unit, where he directed air operations for the CIA against communist forces in Laos. He founded and built a successful video production company (ST Universal Video) that distributed tens of thousands of videos worldwide to the Hmong community. He visited China, Vietnam, Burma, and Laos and produced documentaries that artfully depicted Hmong lives. His documentaries reunited families and communities. His films illuminated the Hmong culture like no others. He was also an astute music producer who discovered legendary musical talents like Lu Yang and Mai Moua, and his unforgettable voice was a beacon to the Central California community on Hmong radio for nearly a decade.
Everyone who met Su Thao came to know his broad and wonderful smile. He loved interacting with the community and sharing his gift of connection. He always knew the right things to say. In his presence, you felt like you were the most important person in his world.
In 1976, Su Thao fled with his young son from war-torn Laos to find safety in Thailand. Upon arrival, he immediately returned to Laos to rescue his siblings and their families. He didn’t care that thousands of communist soldiers were looking to execute former Hmong soldiers like him. He had to get his family out. With only a pistol and steel-willed determination, he went back into a country falling apart. He found his relatives and brought them to safety in Thailand - and eventually a more fruitful life in America. Today the children of those relatives are psychologists, health care directors, Lt. Colonels, web designers, mothers, and fathers. They lead amazing lives in America because of his selfless acts and courageous devotion.
Even though most of his children and relatives lived in Minnesota and Michigan, Su Thao was committed to Fresno. He said he couldn’t handle the allergy season or the cold in Minnesota. It was only this year that he agreed to move to Minnesota to be with family. Unfortunately, he never got to make that move.
In his last 6 years, Su Thao’s health declined dramatically. He suffered a heart attack and two strokes. Earlier this summer he suffered another stroke, was hospitalized, and later confined to a rehabilitation facility where he contracted COVID-19. Su Thao was so much bigger than the illnesses that took him
Su Thao, our father, our mentor, and a pillar in our community passed away from respiratory complications on Thursday July 30, 2020, in Fresno, California. He was not alone. Family and loved ones stayed with him until the end. He was loved, respected, and admired.
Su Thao leaves behind 4 siblings, 9 children, 18 grandkids and 17 great grandchildren, but his legacy extends beyond his family. He will forever remain a dynamic part of the Hmong American immigrant story.
Thank you in advance for any words, stories or contributions. We hope that friends, family and fans can remember the best of him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0aogKBTISk
Organizer
Steve Thao
Organizer
Woodbury, MN