John Hui-Li Tiao
Date of passing: Labor Day, Monday, September 5th, 2016
Mr. Tiao passed quietly in his sleep from natural causes at TRU Community Hospice in Boulder, CO.
John Hui-Li Tiao lived a long, storied life. He was born in Jinnan, China during the Chiang Kai-Shek era.
He was a fifth generation ‘First Son’ of a powerful Chinese family. His family was deeply immersed in commerce of every type: Shipping lines, various factories and diversified businesses throughout China.
As a young man, John travelled to the United States seeking business opportunities for his family.
Educated at Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky, John earned his Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He dreamed of returning to China to open China’s first automobile factory. He had a passion for all things mechanical, especially motorcycles and automobiles.
His career in the U.S. was pre-dominantly with IBM and he held patents in early generation storage devices.
Hui-Li was truly a renaissance man, blessed with many talents. A singer with a booming voice, a fine draftsman, ‘architect’, artist, calligrapher, photographer, motorcycle, automobile and gun enthusiast; jewelry-maker, furniture builder, ice skater, harmonica player,collector, and inventor. With his wife Mary's unwavering support and culinary talents John's appreciation for fine Chinese cuisine was the inspiration behind establishing one of Boulder's first Chinese restaurants in 1972. Prosperity Garden located in the Hotel Boulderado. Several years following their Prosperity Garden success John and Mary opened Longmont's Kimbark Inn where John continued his career as a restauranteur.
John was voraciously curious. He lived his life freely and with great passion. He travelled the world fearlessly. He met and established friendships effortlessly. He had great charisma and a bluntness about him that was both engaging and maddening.
He is survived by: His courageous, loving, devoted wife Mary Pei Yun Chow Tiao, son Paul Tiao (wife Rose Tiao, granddaughter Teresa Tiao (husband Jimmy Hou, great grand daughter Aria)), daughter Christine Hsu (husband Cary Hsu, grandson Jonathan Hsu), daughter Victoria Tracy (husband John P. Tracy, granddaughter Dana Tracy (husband Tim Charoenying, great grandson Honor, great granddaughter Felicity)), grandson Michael J. Tracy (Fiancée Leona Shum), daughter Margaret Tiao Antonoff (grand daughter Lauren). He was preceded in death by his son, John Lin Tiao.
Date of passing: Labor Day, Monday, September 5th, 2016
Mr. Tiao passed quietly in his sleep from natural causes at TRU Community Hospice in Boulder, CO.
John Hui-Li Tiao lived a long, storied life. He was born in Jinnan, China during the Chiang Kai-Shek era.
He was a fifth generation ‘First Son’ of a powerful Chinese family. His family was deeply immersed in commerce of every type: Shipping lines, various factories and diversified businesses throughout China.
As a young man, John travelled to the United States seeking business opportunities for his family.
Educated at Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky, John earned his Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He dreamed of returning to China to open China’s first automobile factory. He had a passion for all things mechanical, especially motorcycles and automobiles.
His career in the U.S. was pre-dominantly with IBM and he held patents in early generation storage devices.
Hui-Li was truly a renaissance man, blessed with many talents. A singer with a booming voice, a fine draftsman, ‘architect’, artist, calligrapher, photographer, motorcycle, automobile and gun enthusiast; jewelry-maker, furniture builder, ice skater, harmonica player,collector, and inventor. With his wife Mary's unwavering support and culinary talents John's appreciation for fine Chinese cuisine was the inspiration behind establishing one of Boulder's first Chinese restaurants in 1972. Prosperity Garden located in the Hotel Boulderado. Several years following their Prosperity Garden success John and Mary opened Longmont's Kimbark Inn where John continued his career as a restauranteur.
John was voraciously curious. He lived his life freely and with great passion. He travelled the world fearlessly. He met and established friendships effortlessly. He had great charisma and a bluntness about him that was both engaging and maddening.
He is survived by: His courageous, loving, devoted wife Mary Pei Yun Chow Tiao, son Paul Tiao (wife Rose Tiao, granddaughter Teresa Tiao (husband Jimmy Hou, great grand daughter Aria)), daughter Christine Hsu (husband Cary Hsu, grandson Jonathan Hsu), daughter Victoria Tracy (husband John P. Tracy, granddaughter Dana Tracy (husband Tim Charoenying, great grandson Honor, great granddaughter Felicity)), grandson Michael J. Tracy (Fiancée Leona Shum), daughter Margaret Tiao Antonoff (grand daughter Lauren). He was preceded in death by his son, John Lin Tiao.
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