ELK GROVE, Calif — Tommy Chin's birthday in Elk Grove was unlike any other in his life. On top of the balloons, banners and cake, he also got the highest honor the city of Elk Grove can give.
For his 105th birthday, Chin received Elk Grove's Key to the City, personally delivered by Councilman Kevin Spease.
Chin's story began back on July 30, 1919. He was born in Seattle, but his life took him to China, where he attended school until Japan invaded China in 1937. He returned to Seattle on the Empress of Canada ship where he continued his studies and graduated from high school in 1940.
San Francisco was his next stop soon after. He found a job at a relative's dry cleaning shop, and later, he eventually met his future wife Louise at a YMCA dance. He and Louise would marry in 1944.
In 1942, he started working at the Richmond Ship Yard #2, helping to build Liberty ships before attending UC Berkeley about a year later.
He came out of UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and found work in the drafting department of PG&E in San Francisco. He moved up the ranks to supervisor.
Outside of work, Tommy and Louise spent their time dining with family and friends, ballroom dancing, playing mahjong and taking exotic cruises.
They have two children and three grandchildren. The family ultimately moved to Elk Grove to be closer to one another.
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