Renowned San Diego civic leader and restaurateur Tom Fat died on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, in his Point Loma home after a short battle with cancer. He was 66.
Fat immersed himself in many civic affairs and headed 13 chain restaurants statewide. He moved to San Diego in 1977 to operate China Camp and Fat City Steakhouse near Little Italy. The family business also continues to operate in Sacramento.
After arriving in San Diego, he quickly became involved with civic organizations and issues such as economic development, the growth of the Little Italy business district, the relocation of Lindbergh Field and the management of Qualcomm Stadium. He served on various task forces and community organizations, including as chairman of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau.
He was also the founder of the Asian Business Association of San Diego (ABA). He hosted one of ABA’s largest events each year, the Lunar New Year Celebration at Fat City Steakhouse.
He was strongly involved with members of the Asian community, making time to mentor young Asians and urging them to get involved with civil affairs, like he had.
Fat, the son of Chinese immigrant Frank Fat, had a steady work ethic and brought a diverse background to his job as a restaurant operator.
He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Business and obtained a law degree from Hastings School of Law, served three years as a captain in the Army and earned a master’s of law in taxation at New York University.
He practiced law for four years in Los Angeles before moving back to Sacramento in 1972 to join the family business. His work to make the chain of Chinese restaurants successful paid off, creating annual revenues of more than $20 million.
Mr. Fat is survived by his wife, Jenny; daughter, Monica; sisters Jean Ann Lai and Mable Moffat of Sacramento; brothers, Dr. Kenneth Fat and Jerry Fat of Sacramento; and two grandchildren.
He was diagnosed just weeks ago with sarcoma, a rare and aggressive soft-tissue cancer. He immediately quit working to battle the cancer, but unfortunately had been under hospice care in recent weeks. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday, May 28, at the Immaculata on the University of San Diego Campus, 5998 Alcala Park. He will be buried in Sacramento.
” From staff reports