Peacefully and surrounded by his family, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Mr. Đỗ Khánh Hoan, passed away on October 3rd, 2023 in the City of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 90.

He is survived by his wife, Đỗ Thị Ngọc Quyên (née Phạm); his children, Đỗ Kim Thư, Đỗ Ngọc Thanh, Đỗ Quốc Khanh, Đỗ Như Hằng, Đỗ Hạnh Quân, Derek England and Phạm Thị Thùy Trinh; his grandchildren, Quỳnh-Chi Andrea Võ, Yên-Chi Elaine Võ-Holliday, Austin Cade Holliday, Max Huy England, Kathleen Phương-Nhi Đỗ, Katrina Vân-Uyên Đỗ, Kamilla Thảo-Mi Đỗ, Kevin Duy-Cang Trần, Ian Đình-Nguyên Trần, Claire Đan-Thanh Trần, Angelina Mỹ-An Đỗ, and Ryan Chí-Luân Đỗ; his sisters, Đỗ Thị Hợp and Đỗ Thị Quỳnh; and many nieces and nephews.

He was born on August 5th, 1934, in Hưng Yên, Vietnam, to Đỗ Văn Liên and Đỗ Thị Nhớn. He attended the University of Saigon in Vietnam, where his academic achievements earned him full scholarships to complete his Master’s degree at the University of Sydney in Australia and his Ph.D. in English Literature at Columbia University in the United States. He was a teacher and mentor to countless students at Chu Van An and Gia Long High Schools and later became professor and Department Head of the School of English & American Literature at the University of Saigon, before bravely leading his family to freedom and new opportunities in Canada in 1979. Once in Canada, he pursued a new occupation as a driving instructor at Centennial Driving School and helped to instill the practice of safe and defensive driving in the many young drivers under his stewardship.

He dedicated his life to sharing world literature with the Vietnamese community, working tirelessly to translate literary classics of Rabindranath Tagore, Yukio Mishima, William Shakespeare, James Joyce, Gabrielle Roy, Miguel de Cervantes, Plato, Aristotle, Homer, Dante, Virgil and others, from their original languages and other supporting sources into Vietnamese. Not only was he a respected author and educator, he was, most importantly, a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a very cherished friend. Those who knew him remember his thunderous, joyful laugh; his thoughtfully crafted letters and emails in various languages to loved ones who lived far away; his passion for languages and reading; his mastery in the art of boiling chicken and pork (but not beef) perfectly and his well-known tofu tomato soup; the spending of his hours in quiet contemplation over tea by the water garden in the backyard; his reminders to his grandchildren that “family is sacred”, “learn Vietnamese it is our mother tongue”, “always work hard and you will be successful”; and the many relaxing walks that he liked to take around his neighborhood.

In lieu of flowers or wreaths, the family respectfully asks for your help in fulfilling the Passed One’s love for arts and books, as well as his gratitude and volunteer work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the boat people, for donating, with the memo

``In Memory of Mr. Hoan Khanh Do``, directly to:

UNHCR Canada,  
UNHCR USA,
Toronto Public Library Foundation

He is forever in our hearts.
The Do Family