The James Park Memorial Fund
Donation protected
The Park family has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from friends and loved ones during this very difficult time, mourning the loss of a son, brother, and father of two children, James Park (b. 6/3/70 - d. 10/3/20).
When a loved one dies, it’s natural to want to honor that person’s life with a gathering of friends and family. Due to the unprecedented novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, funeral services have been limited to same-household family members only. This restriction might be difficult for the rest of us to accept as we try to find ways to cope with such a loss of someone who has made a great impact on so many.
The Park Family had no intention to set up a GoFundMe account but due to the overwhelming insistence from family and loved ones who wanted to pay tribute in honor of our dear friend, James, the family has requested assistance from a close family friend to help with managing this account and to prepare his eulogy.
A eulogy in honor of James Park:
My name is Maggie, a close friend to the Park family. I first met James in 2013 to help launch his new Asian Fusion food truck, Rice Balls of Fire , based in LA which he founded with his sister and business partner, Sookie Park. I worked on the food truck as an expeditor, prep cook, business consultant, and graphic designer for a number of years. I knew James very intimately on a professional level as well as a very personal one, hanging out with his family and watching his two children grow. Just weeks prior to the pandemic we had made plans to spend time with his family. I was supposed to see him back in May at the now-postponed BTS Rose Bowl Map of the Soul 2020 Tour as Rice Balls of Fire was going to be the main food vendor at the event. I know if anyone was going to help scheme a way for me to meet BTS, it was going to be James. This was the kind of person he was, always putting his family, friends, and employees’ happiness first before his own. He was the most generous, kind, supportive, loving family man, business associate, and friend you can ever have by your side.
When I heard that James had passed I knew how devastating this would be to the food truck community. James was a friend and mentor to many, helping to launch and assist other competing food truck businesses to the detriment of his own. A devout Christian, James knew that in selflessly serving others that he would be serving God by walking in Jesus’ footsteps, feeding crowds of hungry people whether it be at his local church, Church Everyday, or to massive festival crowds at STAPLES Center and LA Memorial Coliseum.
A devoted family man, James understood the importance of strength and love in family. He especially cherished his mom, Young Hee Park, who sadly passed away unexpectedly in 2014. Back then, he asked me to help him write his mother’s eulogy. Never in a million years could I have imagined that I would be writing his own.
Goodbye to our friend, James Park. Thank you for all that you have done for your family, friends, and community. We are all going to miss sharing our passion and love of food with you. May peace be finally with you as you walk through the gates of heaven, hand-in-hand again with Mom.
JAMES PARK (b. 6/3/70 - d. 10/3/20)
General Manager and Executive Chef of Rice Balls of Fire Food Truck
James Park is a Korean-American and Los Angeles native chef who is the creator and Executive Chef of Rice Balls of Fire Food Truck, a mobile food & beverage gourmet truck that specializes in Asian Fusion cuisine based in the Los Angeles area.
Chef Parkʼs career in the restaurant business began in 2009 in Northern California when he trained under Japanese master sushi Chef Choi at Fugi Japanese Restaurant in San Francisco. After studying the craft of creating authentic Japanese cuisine, Chef Park opened Bay Shabu Sushi Sake in San Francisco where he experimented with integrating Korean and Hawaiian flavors into Japanese cuisine. It was at this restaurant that he challenged over two thousand people to eat a four-pound sushi roll called The Killer Whale Roll. This challenge created a buzz in the Bay area, a spectacle dining experience that entertained the masses. After the success of his first restaurant, Chef Park travelled to Asia to open his second restaurant, Sushi Rock in Guam. Its concept was a California sushi restaurant with a Rock-n-Roll aesthetic. The Guam islanders went crazy for this type of ambiance and cuisine as it was their first introduction to California-style sushi. From there, Chef Park took his ideas and experience to his motherland of Incheon, South Korea where he opened Little Woodstock, an LA-style, rock music-themed pub that specialized in serving gourmet burgers and taqueria-style Mexican food.
2012 was the year for Chef Park to return to his roots in Los Angeles, the city he grew up in and loved. Rice Balls of Fire Food Truck was birthed from the knowledge he obtained throughout his many experiences in international food and travel. It represents and encapsulates all the food that Chef Park loves: a fusion of Japanese, Korean, Hawaiian, and Mexican cuisines. Rice Balls of Fire Food Truck has two trucks and a third, Kuushi Sushi Food Truck, operating within the Southern California area spanning north in Santa Barbara to south San Diego.
On October 3, 2020 at 5:15pm, James passed away peacefully in his sleep while undergoing treatment at the ICU these last couple of months after battling a series of long-term health illnesses. He is survived by his father Bong Ho Park, brother Steve Park, sister Sookie Park, fiancé Sanna Suksawad, and two wonderful children, Ryan and Emily Park.
If you would like to make a contribution to the Park Family in memoriam of James Park, all proceeds will go directly to the Park Family to help alleviate the financial burden left by James’ passing and provide additional support for his children.
If you live in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, the Park Family encourages everyone to please tell friends to come out and support their family-owned food truck business at Rice Balls of Fire and Kuushi Sushi to continue James Park’s legacy.
When a loved one dies, it’s natural to want to honor that person’s life with a gathering of friends and family. Due to the unprecedented novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, funeral services have been limited to same-household family members only. This restriction might be difficult for the rest of us to accept as we try to find ways to cope with such a loss of someone who has made a great impact on so many.
The Park Family had no intention to set up a GoFundMe account but due to the overwhelming insistence from family and loved ones who wanted to pay tribute in honor of our dear friend, James, the family has requested assistance from a close family friend to help with managing this account and to prepare his eulogy.
A eulogy in honor of James Park:
My name is Maggie, a close friend to the Park family. I first met James in 2013 to help launch his new Asian Fusion food truck, Rice Balls of Fire , based in LA which he founded with his sister and business partner, Sookie Park. I worked on the food truck as an expeditor, prep cook, business consultant, and graphic designer for a number of years. I knew James very intimately on a professional level as well as a very personal one, hanging out with his family and watching his two children grow. Just weeks prior to the pandemic we had made plans to spend time with his family. I was supposed to see him back in May at the now-postponed BTS Rose Bowl Map of the Soul 2020 Tour as Rice Balls of Fire was going to be the main food vendor at the event. I know if anyone was going to help scheme a way for me to meet BTS, it was going to be James. This was the kind of person he was, always putting his family, friends, and employees’ happiness first before his own. He was the most generous, kind, supportive, loving family man, business associate, and friend you can ever have by your side.
When I heard that James had passed I knew how devastating this would be to the food truck community. James was a friend and mentor to many, helping to launch and assist other competing food truck businesses to the detriment of his own. A devout Christian, James knew that in selflessly serving others that he would be serving God by walking in Jesus’ footsteps, feeding crowds of hungry people whether it be at his local church, Church Everyday, or to massive festival crowds at STAPLES Center and LA Memorial Coliseum.
A devoted family man, James understood the importance of strength and love in family. He especially cherished his mom, Young Hee Park, who sadly passed away unexpectedly in 2014. Back then, he asked me to help him write his mother’s eulogy. Never in a million years could I have imagined that I would be writing his own.
Goodbye to our friend, James Park. Thank you for all that you have done for your family, friends, and community. We are all going to miss sharing our passion and love of food with you. May peace be finally with you as you walk through the gates of heaven, hand-in-hand again with Mom.
JAMES PARK (b. 6/3/70 - d. 10/3/20)
General Manager and Executive Chef of Rice Balls of Fire Food Truck
James Park is a Korean-American and Los Angeles native chef who is the creator and Executive Chef of Rice Balls of Fire Food Truck, a mobile food & beverage gourmet truck that specializes in Asian Fusion cuisine based in the Los Angeles area.
Chef Parkʼs career in the restaurant business began in 2009 in Northern California when he trained under Japanese master sushi Chef Choi at Fugi Japanese Restaurant in San Francisco. After studying the craft of creating authentic Japanese cuisine, Chef Park opened Bay Shabu Sushi Sake in San Francisco where he experimented with integrating Korean and Hawaiian flavors into Japanese cuisine. It was at this restaurant that he challenged over two thousand people to eat a four-pound sushi roll called The Killer Whale Roll. This challenge created a buzz in the Bay area, a spectacle dining experience that entertained the masses. After the success of his first restaurant, Chef Park travelled to Asia to open his second restaurant, Sushi Rock in Guam. Its concept was a California sushi restaurant with a Rock-n-Roll aesthetic. The Guam islanders went crazy for this type of ambiance and cuisine as it was their first introduction to California-style sushi. From there, Chef Park took his ideas and experience to his motherland of Incheon, South Korea where he opened Little Woodstock, an LA-style, rock music-themed pub that specialized in serving gourmet burgers and taqueria-style Mexican food.
2012 was the year for Chef Park to return to his roots in Los Angeles, the city he grew up in and loved. Rice Balls of Fire Food Truck was birthed from the knowledge he obtained throughout his many experiences in international food and travel. It represents and encapsulates all the food that Chef Park loves: a fusion of Japanese, Korean, Hawaiian, and Mexican cuisines. Rice Balls of Fire Food Truck has two trucks and a third, Kuushi Sushi Food Truck, operating within the Southern California area spanning north in Santa Barbara to south San Diego.
On October 3, 2020 at 5:15pm, James passed away peacefully in his sleep while undergoing treatment at the ICU these last couple of months after battling a series of long-term health illnesses. He is survived by his father Bong Ho Park, brother Steve Park, sister Sookie Park, fiancé Sanna Suksawad, and two wonderful children, Ryan and Emily Park.
If you would like to make a contribution to the Park Family in memoriam of James Park, all proceeds will go directly to the Park Family to help alleviate the financial burden left by James’ passing and provide additional support for his children.
If you live in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, the Park Family encourages everyone to please tell friends to come out and support their family-owned food truck business at Rice Balls of Fire and Kuushi Sushi to continue James Park’s legacy.
Organiser and beneficiary
Maggie Kraisamutr
Organiser
Los Angeles, CA
Sookie Park
Beneficiary