This year, Lucy Ho, Senior Adviser to the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), received the prestigious Mt. Jade Professional Medal of the OCAC and Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays. Despite her achievements, Lucy remains humble and approachable, earning her a beloved reputation in Tallahassee, Florida. Her impact on the community was celebrated in 2022 when the Tallahassee city government declared October 27, her birthday, as “Lucy Ho’s Day.”
Born in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period, Lucy embarked on a journey to the United States that would weave together a life of rich cultural experiences and connections. She opened Tallahassee’s first Asian restaurant, later managing over 20 successful establishments. Beyond her culinary accomplishments, Lucy devoted over 40 years as an opera costume designer at the College of Music, Florida State University, where her creative talents left a lasting legacy. In 2015, Florida State University recognized her extraordinary contributions by awarding her an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Lucy’s multifaceted talents are matched by her dedication to public service. Her warmth and cultural understanding made her a cherished companion for many Taiwanese and Japanese students navigating life abroad.
Mastering the Art of Sewing: Transforming a Passion into a Lifelong Legacy
Lucy Ho was born in 1931 during Taiwan's Japanese colonial period and attended Taipei First Girls High School (historically referred to as "Prefectural Taipei First Girls High School," translated from the Japanese name). At the age of 15, amid the shifting tides of international change, she began studying sewing at a bridal school on Roosevelt Road. This skill became her gateway to independence. At 23, she started her own business, crafting custom dresses for U.S. military families living in Yangmingshan. In 1963, Lucy and her husband, John Ho, began their new life as immigrants in the United States.
A New Life in America: A Partnership of Talent and Purpose
Lucy fondly recalls the early days of their life in Tallahassee, where John secured a position as a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Florida State University. Every day, Lucy prepared lunchboxes for her husband, and her exceptional culinary skills quickly became the talk of the campus. This led her to teach her signature Asian recipes to colleagues and their spouses.
At the same time, Lucy’s remarkable sewing talent earned her a position as an opera costume designer at the College of Music, Florida State University. Her dedication and artistry sustained her in this role for over 40 years. Reflecting on those days, Lucy says, “I spent my days in the theater's costume workshop and my evenings teaching cooking classes.”
A Pillar of the Overseas Community: Strengthening Taiwan-U.S. Relations
Lucy Ho's extraordinary cooking classes at Florida State University won her enthusiastic praise from professors' wives, who encouraged her to open a restaurant. In 1970, Lucy Ho's Bamboo Garden, Tallahassee's first Asian restaurant, opened to great acclaim, creating a citywide sensation. The name “Lucy Ho” became so iconic in Tallahassee that some even mistook her for a brand mascot, much like Colonel Sanders of KFC.
With her extensive social connections and unusual talent, Lucy Ho became a prominent figure in the overseas Taiwanese community and a key supporter of Taiwan-U.S. relations. Her approachable and generous personality made her a trusted friend to many, including Lin Tsun-Hsien, then Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta. He invited her to help establish the North Florida Chinese Association, where she served as its founding president. Japanese expatriates in Tallahassee often sought Lucy's assistance, even once using her restaurant as a venue for passport renewals.
A Warm Heart: Bridging Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S.
Lucy's contributions to the overseas community have often been likened to those of a nurturing mother. At Florida State University, she hosted communal meals to feed Taiwanese and Japanese students. Even after those students grew up and moved on, the children's room in her home never stayed empty, as she continued to offer shelter to those in need.
A lifetime of kindness and goodwill has blessed Lucy with enduring friendships and respect. Now retired, she divides her time between Taiwan, Japan, and the United States, continuing to build bridges between the three cultures she holds dear.
Born a Japanese citizen, she left Taiwan with a Republic of China passport and eventually became an American citizen. Reflecting on her life's journey, Lucy humbly says, “I just did my best with what I could.”
