Teo Nguyen, a longtime islander, died on Saturday, Jan. 13, on Vashon. He was 69 years old.

According to details provided by the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), Vashon Island Fire District, and the King County Medical Examiner, the cause of Nguyen’s death was toxic asphyxia, caused by smoke from materials that had burned the interior of the car, parked in Vashon’s town center, where he died.

KCSO responded to the scene on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 16, and confirmed Nguyen’s death, after a friend who had gone to check on Nguyen that afternoon called King County Communications Center. The Medical Examiner later determined the date of Nguyen’s death.

At the time of his death and for many years before it, according to those who knew him, Nguyen was unhoused.

Nguyen emigrated to the United States in 1980, from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he was born. He was employed at the K2 ski factory for many years, and more recently, worked as a handyman for the owners of numerous Vashon businesses, including Sporty’s, Snapdragon Café & Bakery, and Vashon Market IGA.

Last April, another car in which Nguyen had lived in the town center of Vashon also burned — an accident that destroyed the car and injured Nguyen, said Fire Chief Matt Vinci.

A family spokesperson declined to comment for this article about Nguyen’s private life or family relationships, requesting privacy for family members.

According to Hilary Emmer, who interacted with Nguyen on behalf of Vashon’s Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness (IFCH), Nguyen had been a regular attendee at weekday dinners offered at the Vashon Presbyterian Church by IFCH. Last year, after Nguyen’s car was destroyed by fire, Nguyen had requested assistance from IFCH and received a tent and sleeping bag from the organization, she said.

Pete Chorak Sr., the longtime owner of Sporty’s, called Nguyen a good friend. Despite the hardships of his life, Chorak said, Nguyen “had never complained about anything.”

Shawn Hoffman, owner of Vashon Market IGA, described Nguyen as having a good sense of humor and a lot of confidence in his ability to do any job asked of him. But he also said that Nguyen had a more difficult personality at times, due to alcoholism. Nguyen had been banned from purchasing alcohol in the store, Hoffman said.

Megan Hastings, at Snapdragon, echoed Chorak’s and Hoffman’s comments about Nguyen’s work ethic and capabilities as a handyman and spoke of his friendly and kind demeanor. She also described how Nguyen had, at times, shared sorrowful stories about his life with her.

“Earth was hard for him,” Hastings said.

Vashon Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness (IFCH) and the Vashon Presbyterian Church will hold a memorial/celebration of Nguyen’s life at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, at the Presbyterian Church.

Abbot Koshin Cain, of Puget Sound Zen Center, will lead the service honoring Nguyen’s Buddhist heritage. A dinner will follow. All are welcome and invited to share memories.

IFCH is covering the costs of Nguyen’s funeral expenses, Emmer said. Contributions can be sent to IFCH, PO Box 330, Vashon, 98070; or go to ifchvashon.org to donate online. Those who donate should write “For Teo” on the memo lines of checks, or in the comment box for online donations.

Any donations left over after funeral expenses will be used to place a bench in Nguyen’s honor, said Emmer.

See obituary on page 11.