John Tiong Hua Chua, died February 2, 2015. He was born August 15, 1936 in Fukien Province, China, the son of Chua Kian an and Irena Tan. The family moved to Manila, Philippines when he was a young child and he grew up in Manila.
John graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and completed a surgical residency at Taiwan Veterans General Hospital, Tai Pei, Formosa (January – December 1961) prior to coming to the U.S. on an exchange visa program to Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He completed a one year rotating internship (July 1962-June 1963).
Following his internship he moved to Jersey City, NJ for a residency in OB-GYN at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital from July 1963 – July 1966 and their exchange program with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Southeastern General Hospital in Lumberton, North Carolina (July 1966-June 1967). During that period he was granted permanent US resident status.
After leaving North Carolina, Dr. Chua worked as a house physician at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. At that time he was reclassified 1-A for the U.S. Army (during the Vietnam War). He volunteered for the draft and was assigned to USMA Hospital at West Point. He completed his basic training at Brook Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
During Dr. Chua’s two years at West Point he was promoted from Captain to Major and sworn in as a U.S. Citizen. He also completed and passed his medical board exam in New York City.
On July 1, 1970 Dr. and Mrs. Chua moved to Batavia, NY and he joined Dr. Lawrence Roth and Dr. Louis E. Green in their OB-GYN practice. He loved his patients and remained in practice until medically unable to continue, retiring in 2001.
Dr. Chua was a 44 year member of the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia and a past Deacon, Elder and Trustee. He was a member of the Medical Societies of Genesee County and New York State and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is a former member of the Batavia Kiwanis Club.
Dr. Chua is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Siemers Chua. They met at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital and married September 12, 1964; his two sons, John Edwin (Kristi) Chua of Arizona and David (Allison) Chua of Batavia; a daughter, Elizabeth (Eric) Raymond of Batavia; five grandsons, Sean and Patrick of Arizona, Kian an, Ross and Aden and one granddaughter, Stella June all of Batavia.
He is also survived by three brothers, David (Mary) Chua of New Jersey, Vicente Lim of Manila, Juanito (Felisa) Lim of Toronto and three sisters, Mary Zranchev of New Jersey, Leonora (Wong) Chair of Manila and Lydia Lim of Formosa. Also, many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.
He is predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Joshua and Kying Ghak and a brother-in-law, Lubomir Zranchev.
There are no prior calling hours. Dr. Chua’s Memorial Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 16th at the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia, 300 East Main Street, Batavia. A luncheon will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the church at the conclusion of the Memorial Service.
Memorials may be made to United Memorial Medical Center, Attn: Maternity Ward, 127 North Street, Batavia, NY 14020, First Presbyterian Church of Batavia, 300 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or Homecare & Hospice, 29 Liberty Street, Suite #6, Batavia, NY 14020.
Please leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements were completed by the Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home of Batavia, (585) 343-5673.
