Darren Tan

Darren (Beng Yao) Tan passed away on August 28, 2023.  He was only 50, far too young. He was a man of many passions and interests and had a great zest for life.  He was a devoted husband, father, and the best friend you could ever hope to have.  

He was enthusiastic about all his pursuits and was particularly fond of anything that brought people together.  He relished connecting people and creating a sense of comradery.  He was known for big dinner gatherings, the occasional practical joke, and general good cheer.    For those he counted as friends, he was always there.  He was the guy who would always lend a hand, whether it be picking up the kids, laying a floor, helping with business problems, or lending whatever he might have.  

Darren loved kids.  He wished we could have had many – he wanted a team!  But he channeled that energy into what he could provide other kids.  He volunteered himself at every turn:  he worked with inner-city kids, coached the youth trap-shooting team, and fed the class whenever he could.  He believed in bettering his community.  He was an advocate for education, and he was a coach and advisor to many.  

Darren was also fiercely proud of his heritage.  His family led southern China for over 12 centuries.  In the China of old, he would have been a mandarin and a prince.  We used to laugh about his titles.  These included: Marquis of Brightness and Ferocity and Defender of the Leopard Scabbard.  (We always wondered what happened to the Leopard Scabbard).    Despite this illustrious heritage, he was a man without a country.  He was born in Singapore, educated in England, and carried an Australian passport, but he never felt at home until he came to the US. He loved the US and most things about it, and it became another one of his passions. He loved our constitution and the individual rights that we enjoy and was resolute in his beliefs.  

Darren was deeply devoted to his family.  He especially lived for his daughter.  He taught her to ski, helped coach her to a national championship win, and was passionate about her education.  He was so proud of her at every turn.  He was fortunate to see her graduate from high school and begin her journey at NYU.  He also considered himself to be the “chief memory maker”.  He loved travel and adventures, from the most sophisticated to the most simplistic.  For this, we will be forever grateful.  

We will be having a Celebration of Life on October 7, at Radnor Hunt, 826 Providence Rd., Malvern PA.  All are invited.  Please bring your favorite stories of Darren.  They need not be PG or PC!  Please RSVP if you plan to attend at 917-744-7107 or LaurenThompsonBaxter@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Darren Tan Memorial Gift:  Igniting Intellectual Curiosity in Children.  Darren’s commitment to the pursuit of knowledge was evident to all who knew him. In his honor, the foundation created the Darren Tan Memorial Early Education STEM Program. This fund will seek to embed his spirit and ignite opportunity for generations to come. All donations to this fund will benefit the elementary schools in the Cobbs Creek area of West Philadelphia. Darren was a vital part of starting The Impact Center in 2018 and this non-profit merged with Cobbs Creek Foundation in 2021 to have a sustained presence and commitment to offering access and opportunity through innovative learning for elementary children. 

Please contribute online or send your donation to: 

The Cobbs Creek Foundation / A 501c3 organization

Memo: Darren Tan Memorial Early Ed STEM program

300 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 405

West Conshohocken PA 19428