(The following text is an excerpt from the book Chinese Americans in Irvine 1971-2021. Mr. Peter Chan passed away on Jan 7, 2023)
Many retirees travel to broaden their knowledge in the new chapter of their lives. However, Peter Chan, who worked in the tourism industry for decades, wished to retire in a community suitable for senior living. He did not expect that after retiring he would start a new career serving the elderly in Irvine.
Peter Chan grew up in Shanghai and attended an American school; but was forced to flee to Hong Kong due to the civil war. With his fluency in English, Chan joined Civil Air Transport (CAT) as a flight communication specialist on a cargo plane transporting military supplies on Hainan Island.
The civil aviation company was founded by the Flying Tigers commander General Chennault, who recruited retired Flying Tigers officers to serve as pilots. Chan still cherishes two old photos from the CAT period. After he retreated from Hainan Island to Hong Kong with the last CAT plane, Chan decided to stay and work at the Hong Kong Airport.
A few years later, he set up his own travel agency to arrange tours to Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and North America. He often had the opportunity to have meetings around the world and visit places of interest. He did not immigrate to the United States until the eve of Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997.
Peter Chan first lived in New York for two years before moving to Irvine in 1999. He admired the planning of green spaces and parks in the communities and said he had found the ideal place for retirement. Not long after he settled in Irvine, Chan joined the Lakeview Senior Center as a volunteer. He believed that volunteering helps maintain social interaction and energizes the brain, allowing for a youthful mentality.
Since Chan is fluent in Chinese and English, and can speak Cantonese and the Shanghai dialect, he has built a bridge between city employees and new immigrants. When the Lakeview Senior Center set up a resource department to integrate the elderly welfare provided by government agencies at all levels and non-profit organizations, Chan was invited to join the department. Working 20 hours a week, his tasks included: guiding new residents to prepare for driver’s license tests and to learn English; helping elders apply for senior housing, medical services and food delivery.
After ten years of working in the Resource Department of the Lakeview Senior Center, Chan continued to volunteer and help in the Center every Monday and Thursday morning, bringing to residents not only the accumulated experience of many years, but also his care and inspiration. Discovering that most seniors have questions about medical insurance, Chan took the initiative to train in the Federal Medical Insurance Consulting Organization HICAP and become a qualified medical insurance consultant. He served as a volunteer consultant from 2006 to 2018, constantly updating and enhancing his knowledge in the new regulations of American medical insurance. He was awarded the Best Service Award and Ten Years Volunteer Award by the organization.
Over twenty years, Peter Chan has served in different positions: director, president, and chairman of the Irvine Evergreen Chinese Senior Association. With the rapid growth of Chinese residents in Irvine, the Evergreen Club is committed to assisting new immigrants to adapt to American life and promoting ethnic and cultural exchanges. Peter Chan has been publicly recognized by the City of Irvine many times and is listed on the Wall of Recognition for his contribution in promoting public welfare. He is the second Chinese resident in Irvine to receive such an honor.
Today Peter Chan is over ninety years old and lives with his wife Miu Jen in an apartment within walking distance of the senior center. Although his children and grandchildren are far away in Canada, Hong Kong and Taiwan, he still regards Irvine as the best place to enjoy his golden years. He looks forward to the re-opening of the Lakeview Senior Center and continuing his service to his fellow seniors. (English translation by Betty Mak)
(以下文字摘錄自《爾灣華裔紀實1971-2021》一書，陳恩鈞先生於2023年1月7日辭世)
許多退休人士喜愛以遊旅增長見聞，為生活譜寫新的篇章，但是對從事旅遊業數十年的陳恩鈞來說，走遍千山萬水之後，最大的心願是找一個適合樂活養老的社區，他沒有想到，退休後居然會轉行，在爾灣投入令他樂在其中的老人服務工作。
在上海成長的陳恩鈞，曾就讀美國學校，後來受戰亂影響，被迫放棄升大學的計畫而去了香港。由於英語流利，陳恩鈞因緣際會加入民航空運公司（CivilAir Transport，簡稱 CAT），在貨運機上擔任通訊員，主要負責在海南島運送軍用物資。
民航空運公司由飛虎隊指揮官陳納德將軍參與創立，招募飛虎隊退役軍官擔任飛行員，陳恩鈞至今仍珍藏兩張在 CAT 時期的老照片，見證那段特殊的經歷。陳恩鈞回憶說，當年他隨著最後一班 CAT 飛機從海南島撤退到香港，大部分公司同事都轉往台灣，他則決定留下，在香港機場工作。幾年後自己成立旅行社，以安排東南亞、日、韓及北美旅遊團為主要業務，期間他經常有機會到世界各地開會，遍訪名勝古蹟，直到 1997 年香港回歸前夕才移民來美。
陳恩鈞先到紐約住了兩年，在女兒大力遊說下，於 1999 年遷來爾灣市，他讚嘆此地規畫完整的綠地、公園及社區，彷彿找到理想中的退休美地。定居爾灣不久後，陳恩鈞就加入湖景老人中心擔任義工，他認為，當義工能維持社交與活化腦力，讓他一直擁有年輕的心態。
由於陳恩鈞中英文流利，又會講廣東話和上海話，拉近了市府員工與移民間的距離，當湖景老人中心成立資源部，整合各級政府機構與非營利組織提供的老人福利，陳恩鈞也受邀加入資源部，每週工作 20小時，熟練的向新居民介紹如何考駕照、學英語、申請老人公寓、申請就醫接送、送餐等專為老人提供的服務。
在湖景老人中心資源部上班十年後，陳恩鈞轉為義工，每週一及週四上午仍坐鎮老人中心，這位最資深的義工，給居民們帶來的不僅有累積多年的經驗之談，更有充滿智慧的關懷與鼓舞。
有鑑於銀髮族最需要有關醫療保險的資訊，陳恩鈞還主動參加聯邦醫療保險諮詢組織 HICAP 的訓練，取得醫療保險顧問資格，自 2006 年起擔任義工顧問至2018 年，期間不斷進修有關美國醫療保險的新規定，曾獲該組織頒發最佳服務獎及十年義工獎。
陳恩鈞曾任爾灣松柏會理事、會長及理事會主席，服務時間長達 20 年，隨著爾灣市華裔居民快速增長，松柏會致力於協助新移民適應美國生活，並促進族裔文化交流，多次獲得市府公開表揚。而陳恩鈞更因熱心公益，被列名在爾灣市的榮譽牆上，是爾灣市第二位獲此殊榮的華裔居民。
年逾九旬的陳恩鈞，和老伴梁妙珍住在距離老人中心步行可及的公寓裡，儘管子女及孫兒遠在加拿大、香港和台灣，他早已將爾灣當作安家養老最佳地點，並熱切的期待湖景老人中心再度開放，繼續為銀髮族提供服務。（蕭迪玉撰文）