Ruth Chinn, “backbone” of pioneer bank empire, dies at 92
In the prime of her adult life, it was Ruth Chinn’s husband, Robert, who made news as the founder of United Savings and Loan, considered the first Asian-owned bank in the U.S.
But those who knew her knew that Ruth Chinn was as much a force as her husband, working alongside him in the bank, which opened in 1960 in the Bush Hotel in Seattle’s Chinatown International District.
By the time it was sold for $65 million in 2003, United Savings had numerous branches and $267 million in deposits.
Yet none of that success altered who Mrs. Chinn was: a compassionate, highly intelligent woman of considerable vision and energy whose greatest joy was helping others.
“She did things without worrying about anything but helping that person. She never advertised it; she’d just get in there and do it,” said her daughter Valerie Hom, of La Mirada, Calif.
Mrs. Chinn died in her Seattle home last Sunday. She was 92.
Over the years, Mrs. Chinn’s civic contributions included chairing Seattle Seafair’s Chinese community celebration and serving on the boards of the YWCA, the Chinese Baptist Church, Wing Luke Asian Museum and ACT Theatre.
She also volunteered in her children’s schools, was a Girl Scout leader and routinely invited foreign students home to stay with the family, her daughter said.
In her later years, Mrs. Chinn was most noted for co-founding the Asian Resource Center, an International District (I.D.) community center funded by the foundation named for her late husband. He died in 1984.
“She was a unifying force in the community and very generous,” said Mayumi Tsutakawa, who knew Mrs. Chinn for many years.
“She was always a positive force for supporting arts and culture in the I.D.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mrs. Chinn was sent to college in China, where she met her husband, a Seattle native also sent to study at Ling Nan University.
They wed in 1935 and raised three children here. Over the years, she worked in Seattle for the Chinese Consulate General and owned a downtown dress shop, Career Girl. She also worked with her husband in an insurance business he opened before the bank.
“Dad had all the vision, but she was the backbone,” Valerie Hom said.
Even into her 90s, as her eyesight failed, Mrs. Chinn’s mind remained sharp, Hom said.
“In September, she was telling me who to buy Christmas presents for and what to buy. She remembered people’s names and addresses. She was just on top of everything.”
Besides Hom and her husband, John, Mrs. Chinn is survived by her daughter Karen and her husband, David Wong, of Mercer Island, and her son, Derek Chinn, of Seattle, plus five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services have been held. Remembrances may be made to the Robert Chinn Foundation, P.O. Box 14084, Seattle, WA 98114.
Elizabeth Rhodes: erhodes@seattletimes.com; 206-464-2306.