Sam Mac

Sam Mac, age 66, of Grand Rapids, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2020 at home, surrounded by his family. He will be lovingly remembered and forever celebrated by his wife of 44 years, Connie; children: Quan (and Gaëtan Gerville-Réache), Jenifer (and Alex Gumina), Elizabeth, and Brandon; grandchildren: Camille, Tristan, and Elise Gerville-Réache; and his eleven sisters and brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tan Mac and Thi Tran.
Sam grew up in Southern Vietnam with few advantages other than his large loving family, who worked diligently to make ends meet. In their early twenties, Sam and Connie, with their 20-month old daughter Quan, survived a harrowing escape from their war-torn home as “boat people” and endured 10 months in a Malaysian refugee camp. His mission was simple: he wanted to make sure his family had the opportunities he never had—the ability to live in peace, enjoy freedom, and receive an education. He worked every hour he could in factories to put his children through college and graduate school, where he and Connie loved watching Big 10 football games together (especially at The Big House), cheering loudly for his beloved teams. Together, Sam and Connie supported and cared for their mothers and siblings after their fathers passed away unexpectedly, all while raising their children in a foreign country with no knowledge of the language or culture. Truly, they embodied the American Dream.
Sam was a Renaissance man, who loved to sing, dance, and create beautiful artwork. He enjoyed golf, gadgets, travel, action movies, card games, sweets, swimming in Lake Michigan, and his grandchildren’s sporting events. There was no project or task too big or too difficult for Sam to take on around the house. He always had a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous look on his face as he loved to joke, laugh, and be the life of the party. He was always full of love and pride when it came to his children and grandchildren.
His family would like to suggest donations to The Refugee Learning Center (https://refugeeeducationcenter.org/) to support local families like his in their transition to a new home in the Land of the Free.
Private services will be held this Thursday at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4031 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming. Family-Only burial at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.