Edward T. Chan (November 14, 1949 – October 7, 2026)

Edward T. Chan, 76, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, had a gift for creative thinking. He knew an unexpected combination of curiosities could transform a space, an unconventional idea could become a passion, and there is always another solution even if you've hit a dead end. With a sharp mind, charismatic presence, and instinctual good taste, Ed was an entrepreneur, collector, designer, and man who knew how to enjoy life.

Born in Hong Kong in 1949, Edward attended Diocesan Boys’ School, graduating in 1967, before studying architecture at USC. He carried that architectural sensibility throughout his life, developing an extraordinary eye for interior design and a talent for recognizing potential in the overlooked. He once made a gate from screen-printing frames and—even in his final weeks of life—turned a camera tripod into his bedside lamp, insisted on having an espresso machine with ceramic tumblers (not disposable cups) for entertaining guests, and rearranged his room's layout at the Caring House. When reupholstering furniture, he insisted on washing hundreds of yards of fabric first just to bring out its texture, then combined different fabrics on the same piece to create his signature eclectic style—not quite art deco, definitely not traditional, but entirely Ed. He would say the difference between a nice space and a one with taste is in the trimmings.

Ed and his wife, Cecilia, built businesses together, including a screen-printing business and a watchmaking venture whose watches were sold at Fred Segal. He also served as creative director and co-owner of T&C Surf in the 1980s. In their ventures, Ed supplied a creative vision, while Cecilia managed the finances and accounting, making them a complementary team.

Raised in Hong Kong, Ed’s grandfather Miguel Chan made his fortune importing goods, particularly ginseng, and lived in Cuba. The fortune was inherited by Ed's father at a young age and later lost, but Ed continued to carry forward his family legacy and cultured outlook, which he passed on to his own family. He prioritized international travel for his daughters from a young age, bringing them to Hong Kong, Japan, London, Paris, Milan, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Taiwan, Shanghai, and more. He and Cecilia never left them behind, even when it meant bringing a 6-month-old on a 16-hour flight.

Ed loved beautiful things. He collected antiques, furniture, art, watches, and musical instruments, enjoying the hunt as much as the discovery. He wore his signature Rolex Submariner everyday, but changed his glasses to match his outfit, of course. He played guitar, bass, drums, and piano, and enjoyed good food, wine, cigars and pipes, and lively dinner parties where he was a natural host paired with Cecilia's cooking skills. In later years, he and Cecilia shared a passion for thrifting, visiting shops almost daily—she searched for high-end designer fashion pieces, he searched for furniture and home decor. One of his proudest finds was a pair of vintage Hermès tempered glass panels, which he turned into their fireplace doors. Cecilia would joke that most women want a say in how their home was decorated, but she was grateful Ed had it covered.

His love extended to animals of every kind. Dogs, cats, squirrels, rabbits, and even the occasional peacock visited Ed’s house—each having a name to match their personality.

Independent, opinionated, impatient, and stubborn, Ed was also intelligent, resourceful, and humorous. His home was his “castle,” filled with the furniture, art, antiques, and curiosities he had collected over a lifetime. He lived on his own terms and had an instinct for making things work—and making them entirely his own.

Beneath his personality was a deep loyalty to his family. He was a devoted caretaker for his wife Cecilia after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, protective of his daughters, Erin and Lesly, and took pride in becoming a grandfather. He loved the idea of having grandsons, even if young children were not his forté.

Ed is survived by his daughters, Erin Chan and Lesly Chan Ayers; his son-in-law, Patrick Ayers; and his grandsons, Tate and Hayes. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cecilia Yiu Chan, in 2022.

Ed leaves behind a legacy of curiosity, ingenuity, independence, and an appreciation for beauty, adventure, and good times. In the homes he helped shape, the treasures he discovered, and the memories carried forward by his family and friends, his unmistakable spirit will endure.