Vicha Ratanapakdee (84)
1936 - January 28, 2021
Vicha was born in Siam, a former Thailand, in 1937. His brother, 89, now is the only surviving sibling of eight children, remembered his brother as studious and curious about the world outside the rice paddies, watermelon fields and orchards of the family farm. Since his retirement Vicha had traveled between San Francisco, where his eldest daughter lives, and Thailand, where his youngest daughter lives. For months Vicha had been pining to return to Thailand but was unable to because of the pandemic. Vicha and his wife went to San Francisco to help raise their grandchildren. At the time of the attack, Vicha was only months away from being able to return to Thailand. On Jan. 15, he received the first shot of the Moderna vaccine. Vicha’s second shot was scheduled for Feb. 12, an appointment he would not live to make. He was a devoted Buddhist and well-known in his San Francisco neighborhood for his hour-long walks each morning. His daughter is puzzled why on the morning of the attack he left without his Buddhist amulet, a talisman of protection that he always wore around his neck. Vicha died after being forcefully pushed to the ground the morning of January 28, 2021. While he was walking in his neighborhood, a 19-year old Antoine Watson ran across the street and violently shoved him to the ground. Vicha’s head hit the pavement as he fell and died shortly after his arrival to the hospital.