On February 16, 2025, over 140 people gathered at the South Bay Yacht Club to honor the life and legacy of Thomas Foon Chew, one of Alviso’s pioneers. The event was sponsored by the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP) and CompassPoint Mentorship (CP Mentorship).
Before the event, Grant gave a tour of the Bayside Canning Company and the surrounding levee.
Attendees then gathered inside the South Bay Yacht Club to hear Chew’s granddaughter, Gloria Hom, share stories about her grandfather’s enduring legacy. During its heyday in the 1920s-40s, Bayside Canning Company was the third-largest cannery in the United States. Through the Bayside and his other canneries in Isleton and Mayfield, California, Chew helped establish Alviso as an essential port town in the Bay Area. His contributions played a significant role in the economic development of Alviso, San Jose, and the Santa Clara Valley in the early 20th century. Perhaps the most striking testament to his impact was the 25,000 people who attended his funeral. Former Alviso mayor Tom Laine famously declared, “For decades, Thomas Foon was Alviso.”
Next, Valley Water District 3 Director Dick Santos shared his personal stories about Thomas Foon Chew. As Santos recalled, his family had worked alongside Chew and remembered him as a kind and generous employer who always ensured his employees were well-fed and treated with respect. They eagerly anticipated Chinese New Year's Day, when Chew would take them all to San Francisco for a grand banquet meal. During the Great Depression, Chew also provided free water to Alviso residents and offered his tugboats as free transportation.
After Dick Santos, Grant shared his experience researching Alviso and Thomas Foon Chew. He began his research about a year ago, and as he delved deeper into Alviso’s rich history, he became particularly interested in Chew's legacy. Grant conducted interviews with longtime Alviso residents, spoke with local historians, and examined historical documents. What he uncovered was both eye-opening and inspiring. Despite Chew’s significant contributions to California’s history, his legacy had largely been forgotten. Motivated by this, Grant wrote to San Jose Councilman David Cohen, suggesting they designate a day to honor Thomas Foon Chew—ideally on February 24, the anniversary of his passing in 1931. Grant also discussed the documentary he is working on about Chew’s life and impact.
Besides Thomas Foon Chew's family members and local residents, several local dignitaries also attended the event. Among the attendees were San Jose District 4 Councilmember David Cohen, Palo Alto Councilwoman and former Mayor Lydia Kou, Cupertino Vice Mayor Kitty Moore, former Santa Clara County Supervisor Rod Diridon, and former Deputy Secretary of Defense Gloria Duffy.
David Cohen presented a plaque to Grant in recognition of his contributions to preserving Alviso's history and honoring Thomas Foon Chew's legacy.
Victoria Low presented a California State Proclamation from the office of Assemblyman Patrick Ahrens.
After the event, Grant had the opportunity to speak with Palo Alto Councilwoman and former Mayor Lydia Kou, as well as Cupertino Vice Mayor Kitty Moore. Both encouraged and commended Grant for his efforts in preserving the local history.
The official Thomas Foon Chew Day proclamation will take place at San Jose’s City Hall Chambers at 1:30 p.m. on February 25.
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