October 11, 1938 – January 1, 2026
Young Hwa Kim was a dedi-cated father and husband whose commitment to providing for his family was only equaled by his willingness to enjoy life. He loved the outdoors and mountain climbing, lost himself in classical music, loved Korean TV & dramas, devoured books constantly, and loved to spend time with his friends.
His life spanned two distinct cultures and two wars. His childhood was rooted in World War 2 in what is now North Korea. He endured through a foreign occupation where he had to bear physical abuse. In his early teens, he and his family escaped from what is now North Korea to South Korea, walking for days with little to their name.
Despite his overwhelming childhood, Young Hwa Kim maintained an optimism born of his genuine love for the people around him. After the war, he served in the South Korean military and earned a Bachelors in Foreign Languages. He married Young Il Kim in 1973. He eventually found his calling in starting and operating businesses. His first business was in textiles in South Korea. After his son, Hyung Jin Kim, was born, he and his wife moved to the United States to give their only child the best opportunity to thrive.
In the United States, he embraced every opportunity avai-lable to him. He quickly discovered McDonald’s where he found a lifelong addiction to their coffee. He owned several small businesses, the last of which was a baseball batting cage in Los Angeles. His interest in baseball was born of his shared love of the sport with his son. He always welcomed every customer with a smile and always offered an ear when they needed it. And he spent an inordinate amount of time sharpening his mastery of the game of Go.
Young Hwa Kim eventually moved from the Los Angeles area to Los Altos in the 2010’s. His life and his health blossomed when he welcomed his two grandsons soon after. He called them his “best friends” and their bond reflected that. He was there for their first words, their 100-day celebration, their baseball games, and especially when they were down.
People were enthralled by Young Hwa Kim’s ability to tell a story, and they were awed by how hard he worked to ensure a comfortable life for his family. He was lavishly generous, never held a grudge, offered a second chance to everyone, and always tendered a genuine smile. He had a brilliant mind, an open heart, and he always had a hug ready when one needed it the most.
Young Hwa Kim passed away on January 1, 2026.
