California Mourns Matt Fong

Former California State Treasurer, Republican U.S. Senate candidate and native Californian Matt Fong has died from skin cancer at age 57 in Pasadena.

Matthew Kipling Fong was a proud bearer of one of California's most respected political family names.

Fong's mother, the legendary March Fong Eu, is a former California State Assemblywoman, California Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassador.

Matt Fong, who was born in Alameda in November 1953 and raised in Oakland, was first exposed to California politics working on his mom's political campaigns.

"When I was growing up, I remember every day after junior high for a couple of years, we rang doorbells.  We walked almost every street in Oakland," Fong recalled.

Fong made his own decision to become a Republican in the 1980s, though he was from a famous family of Democrats.

"The toughest part of the transition was telling my mother," he sentimentally recalled.

Matt Fong was later appointed to the State Board of Equalization by Governor Pete Wilson and Fong began making a name for himself in California politics.

Today, former Governor Pete Wilson remembers Fong as "a man of courage, of great intellect and a wonderful heart.  He was a thoroughly decent, good man and one of the more talented public servants that I have been privileged to work with.  I will miss him greatly."

In 1994, Fong ran a successful and historic campaign for California State Treasurer, becoming the first Asian Republican to hold statewide office.

Four years later, Fong won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate but lost a general election to the Democrat, Senator Barbara Boxer.

Boxer remembers Matt Fong fondly, saying, "In our Senate race years ago, Matt was a strong competitor and we debated passionately, but we always had respect for one another. He will be missed and I send my deepest condolences to his family."

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Fong to a federal position administering the pensions of millions of private-sector workers and retirees.

Fong earned a BS at the U.S. Air Force Academy, served on active duty until 1980, retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel, then earned an MBA at Pepperdine University and a JD at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.

Fong started his career as an associate of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton before holding political offices.

Fong later returned as Special Counsel to the Los Angeles law firm where, just two weeks ago, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at a commencement ceremony where he gave the final speech of his life at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium.

"Matt addressed the audience with a remarkably strong spirit. His words were very moving and inspiring. The response was thunderous applause from the audience that filled the Shrine Auditorium for the commencement ceremony," recalled 'Of Counsel' Robert Philibosian of Sheppard Mullin.

"Matt was a consummate gentleman, universally friendly to staff and lawyers. He brought a blend of fiscal, political and global expertise to his public-private sector practice," proclaimed Sheppard Mullin partner Richard Brunette.

"Matt was an excellent transactional lawyer who began his career with the firm in 1985.  Our firm is deeply saddened with his passing," declared Sheppard Mullin Executive Director Bob Zuber.

Matthew Fong is survived by his mother, his wife and their two children, who are in mourning as Californians mourn with them today.

This blog congratulates Matt Fong on his life as an accomplished Californian and fellow California blogger, who realized his own California Dream while helping the rest of us get a little closer to our own.