The Good Samaritan
Sir Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” This sentiment echoes in the heart and mind of Dr. Lawrence K.W. Tseu, a retired dentist who’s one of Hawai‘i’s most prolific and beloved philanthropists.
Before all of that, though, he was just a boy from Kalihi.
Beginning at 9 years old, Tseu would shine the shoes of Honolulu’s sailors for 10 cents an hour until the sun went down.
“I was asked many times, if I were to do it over again, what would I change in my childhood? I would say none,” says Tseu.
“Growing up poor, deprived and hoping for a better life gave me the incentive, motivation and determination to be in a better position so I can get out of Kalihi — but I had to get out of this environment by bettering myself.”
Tseu’s undeniable grit is a common theme throughout his life. In only the fifth grade, he paid his own way to Saint Louis School. Later, he joined the Hawai‘i National Guard as a light artillery gunner, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Once he was honorably discharged, Tseu earned degrees from Brigham Young University in Utah and Northwestern University Dental School in Illinois.
“My father told us kids, ‘The only way out of poverty is to get an education by which you can compete against the rich,’” he recalls.
Free time was virtually nonexistent for Tseu, as he provided for his family and put himself through college working odd jobs, such as yard work, washing cars, digging ditches and even as a used car salesmen (“I didn’t sell too many cars because I was an honest used car salesman”).
Despite his enervating schedule (he only had one hour a day from midnight to 1 a.m. to eat, study and shower), Tseu graduated at the top of his class. He eventually came back to Hawai‘i’s shores and opened a private practice in the place where he felt the initial spark to become a dentist in the first place.
“I had my dental work done at the Palama Settlement Dental Clinic for indigent children for only 10 cents a visit,” he shares. “To qualify, one must not only be poor but the poorest of the poor. I used to be so embarrassed when I was called out of my classroom for my appointments. It is a stigma even a child finds hard to overcome.
“Most of my dental visits were unpleasant, to put it lightly,” Tseu continues. “It was actually painful with no anesthesia or Novocain, even when having a tooth pulled. But this visit, I was fortunate enough to get a real gentle, painless and kind dentist. It was then that I decided I wanted to be a dentist that is painless, just like him. I was just 9 years old then.”
Tseu certainly made his very own “American dream” come true, by delivering premium care to his patients for five decades strong.
“Everything I did in dentistry for my patients was pure enjoyment; to relieve their pain, restore their beautiful smile and providing my services at no cost to those in financial hardship is just a few services that I provided — (there’s) too many to mention,” he says.
In 2010, Tseu put down his tools and hung his lab coat, fulfilling a wish from his late wife, who said he would work himself to the grave. Keeping that promise, he retired but — in typical Tseu fashion — still doesn’t leave much time for himself. Rather, Tseu devotes his energy to charitable organizations and other good causes — though this isn’t anything new.
“I have always been involved in philanthropic giving ever since I started my practice with the little that I can afford then,” he says. “Educating (my) five kids with the best possible schooling was not cheap, especially to medical, dental and law school. It was after they all graduated and started their professional career that I felt ready to help big time.”
And, help big time he did. Tseu has been involved with countless local, national and international groups, whose missions span from the arts and education to human welfare, including the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation USA, Bishop Museum, American Red Cross, East-West Center Foundation, Hawai‘i Theatre, The Salvation Army and Palolo Chinese Home, a place that signifies how deep Tseu’s acts of benevolence run. His grandfather, Tet Min Tseu, was a missionary from China, who partnered with the Damon family to establish the center in 1896.
“It is the duty of every human being and an obligation to mankind that we help each other in need,” says Tseu. “The second greatest commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ is to love thy neighbor as thyself.”
He also created a $1 million endowment at University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry for students with financial need, as well as raised $13.5 million for American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, an accommodation where cancer patients can stay, which is especially valuable for neighbor island residents.
“Every major charitable organization is worthy of helping, but my preference is American Cancer Society because my sister and wife died from cancer,” he says about which cause he’s personally drawn to.
Among Tseu’s proudest benefactions is his contribution to University of Oxford in England, where he has an entire facility named after him: the Tseu Medical Institute.
“Since I was on the Board of Regents and my wife received her master’s degree from University of Oxford, I felt obligated to support the university as a token of our appreciation,” he says. “So, we established the Tseu Medical Institute at the University of Oxford with the help of Dr. John Henry Felix, my shoe shining, lifetime buddy since we were 9 years old.”
As he makes his 90th orbit around the sun, Tseu smiles, and says he couldn’t ask for anything more in this life of his.
When asked what the best piece of advice he’s ever received was, Tseu replies, “Treat others as you want to be treated.”