Dr. Sergio S. Tan's Obituary
Sergio S. Tan, a loving father of two, retired pediatric surgeon, and a former major in the US Army, died Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Trinity, Florida, at age 87. Dr. Tan had suffered from Alzhemier’s for years, but ultimately declined due to an aortic aneurysm he had carried for over a decade. He was cared for at home in his final days and his passing was peaceful.
Dr. Tan was born on the island of Leyte in the Philippines, the first child of Eufemia (nee Sia) and Francisco Tan (aka Tiu Lee San), and eventually the eldest of 10 siblings to survive into adulthood. He was a child when the Japanese occupation of Leyte took place during World War II, and later would learn his first word of English (“exchange”) from the American G.I.s who came bearing Hershey bars, comic books, and cans of corned beef hash. He attended the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and received his Doctor of Medicine degree on March 24, 1961.
Dr. Tan arrived in the United States in 1963 at a time when many medical school graduates from the Philippines (and elsewhere) were immigrating to ease the shortage of doctors and nurses. In New York City, he served as an intern in Unity Hospital in Brooklyn and two years as a surgical resident at Mount Sinai in Manhattan, followed by two years as Chief Resident at Beth Israel Medical Center, as well as a residency in pediatric surgery in Buffalo, New York. During one stint in NYC, he met Margaret “Peggy” Brady, and the two were married in 1965. They lived in the apartment building attached to Beth Israel on the Lower East Side. Their first child, a daughter Cecilia, was born in 1967.
The call to serve came in 1969, and Dr. Tan was naturalized as an American citizen before being shipped off to US Army boot camp in Texas, and then was stationed in Quang Ngai, Vietnam. For his service, Dr. Tan was awarded the Bronze Star. Upon return to the States, he was reunited with his family and stationed at Fort Knox before returning to Beth Israel upon discharge. The family eventually relocated to Englewood, New Jersey, where he played chess in a local club and brought home a few trophies from local tournaments. His son Julian was born in 1974. Later, when Dr. Tan went into private practice, the family moved to Scotch Plains, New Jersey. As a partner in the Pediatric Surgical Group (Union, NJ), Dr. Tan performed surgeries at many hospitals in New Jersey, including Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Barnabas Medical Center, Overlook Hospital, Elizabeth General Hospital, Rahway Hospital, Muhlenberg Hospital, Perth Amboy Hospital, and St. Peter's Medical Center. He and his wife were active members of FACAA: The Filipino American Cultural Action Association and both participated in numerous golf and tennis groups.
Dr. Tan’s love of golf brought him many happy hours in retirement. He worked as a volunteer ranger at the Cheval golf course for many years, the perks of which included free golf and many opportunities to meet his New York Yankees heroes such as Lou Piniella and Reggie Jackson. Golf was also one of the reasons he loved living at Heritage Springs.
Dr. Tan is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Brady Tan, daughter Cecilia Tan, son Julian Tan (Heather), and grandchildren, Owen and Carson Tan, Survivors include his siblings, Leonidas S. Tan (Rosa), Francisco T. Tan, Jr. (Baby), Antonieto Tan (Janie), Estrella T. Bacolod, Erlinda Tan, Rosemarie Tan and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents, Francisco and Eufemia Tan, brothers Salvador and Bernardo Tan, and sister Lucia Tan Fernandez.
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