Daily Breeze education reporter Vu Nguyen was taken off life support following a heart attack while playing soccer with friends at a Redondo Beach park. Vu was just 34 years old and left behind a wife, Heather Hua, of just six months.

Vu was raised in Westminster and decided at an early age he wanted to be a journalist. He graduated from Cal State University, Fullerton and worked several Southern California publications, including the OC Weekly, the Orange County Register and most recently the Daily Breeze. He also spent time in Washington state, with stints at the Yakima Herald-Washington and the Seattle Times and at the Associated Press bureau in Springfield, Ill. while earning a master’s degree at the University of Illinois, Springfield.

On a personal note, I was fortunate enough to have worked with Vu early on while we were both students at Cal State Fullerton. Much of my early journalism experience is colored by Vu’s colorful sayings, like, “Don’t fall in love with your copy.” The saying is ironic since Vu of all people loved his words, but it was an admonishment that stays with me to this day.

Read more about Vu’s life and accomplishments at the OC Register and the Daily Breeze. AAJA-LA member Suzie Suh also spoke with his family the night they made the heartbreaking decision to take Vu off life support.

Vu’s funeral has been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25 at St. Callistus Catholic Church in Garden Grove.