Valerie's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Erna Chan family tree.

Valerie's Family

Parent

Parent

Valerie Erna Chan Partner Child Partner Child

Sibling

There are no photos of Valerie Erna Chan! Please share photos of Valerie and the Erna Chan.
Photo

Chow Chan

Esmerida (Gutierrez) Chan

Gerda Roseland Chan

Gerda (Roseland) Chan's kids

Gerda Chan Family

Irving Chan - San Francisco

Terry Chan - Fresno High School

Leave a comment to ask questions, share information, or simply to show that you care about Valerie.

Post

Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Valerie's lifetime.

In 1921, in the year that Valerie Erna Chan was born, hugely popular Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, silent film star, was arrested for rape and manslaughter after an actress died following a party at his house. He was acquitted after three trials and the jury wrote a formal letter apologizing for the charges, but his career never recovered. His films were at first banned - the ban was lifted after a year - and he was mostly ostracized by the community. He died at 46..

In 1933, when she was just 12 years old, on March 4th, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the 32nd President of the United States. He was elected four times (equaled by no other President) and guided the United States through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War 2. His wife was his cousin Eleanor Roosevelt (Teddy Roosevelt's niece) who President Truman called "First Lady of the World". Some of the major programs that survive from his presidency are the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Wagner Act (The National Labor Relations Act of 1935) , the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Social Security.

In 1957, Valerie was 36 years old when on October 4th, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first man made earth-orbiting satellite - and triggered the Space Race. Sputnik I was only 23 inches in diameter and had no tracking equipment, only 4 antennas, but it had a big impact.

In 1965, she was 44 years old when from August 11 to 16, riots broke out in Watts, a Black section of Los Angeles. An allegedly drunk African-American driver was stopped by LA police and, after a fight, police brutality was alleged - and the riots began. 34 people died in the rioting and over $40 million in property damage occurred. The National Guard was called in to help the LA police quell rioting.

In 1988, at the age of 67 years old, Valerie was alive when on December 16th, 1988 the popular film Rain Man was released. Featuring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. this film brought attention to autistic savants and was based on the "megasavant" Laurence Kim Peek. The film would later go to win four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role.