George Yep, 82, fortune cookie baker

George Yep, 82, of Chinatown, a baker who owned a fortune cookie factory, died at home of lung cancer Friday, April 9.

After 20 years at sea with the Merchant Marine, Mr. Yep settled in Philadelphia in 1974, married Cecilia Moy, and opened a takeout restaurant in North Philadelphia.

He later sold the restaurant and established a noodle factory in Chinatown. When customers asked him to carry fortune cookies, Mr. Yep began driving to New York a couple of times a week to buy them.

In 1976, he closed the noodle factory and opened a fortune cookie factory nearby on 11th Street.

He had to "reinvent" the circular baking machine he ordered from California, he told an Inquirer reporter in 1985, but was able to make fortune cookies that were fresher than those from New York and cost less.

He sold to restaurants and groceries and to retail customers. His customized versions included red fortune cookies for Christmas and green ones for former Mayor William Green to give away on St. Patrick's Day. He made supersized cookies for gift packages.

Customers who wanted to enclose engagement rings in fortune cookies had to insert the rings themselves, his wife said.

Mr. Yep also customized fortune cookie messages, which, he said, should not be just predictions.

He particularly liked messages that pinpointed a praiseworthy character trait. "These make people feel good," he said.

Mr. Yep helped his wife, founder of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp., save Holy Redeemer Church and School from those who wanted to widen Vine Street and build more housing in Chinatown. "He was always very supportive," she said.

Mr. Yep stopped baking in 1991 when he had heart bypass surgery. He always had high hopes of returning, his wife said.

He continued to do consulting and was an investor in East Asia Noodle Co. in Chinatown. Glenn Mark, another investor, said, "George was a very smart businessman with an incredible memory. He was a kindhearted person who did a lot of things to help other people out."

His pastor, the Rev. Thomas Betz of Holy Redeemer Church, said, "It would take George 45 minutes to walk a block in Chinatown, so many people stopped to chat with him."

Mr. Yep grew up in San Francisco. He joined the Merchant Marine when he was 17. He served in the Army for two years and then returned to sea.

Whenever his ship docked in Philadelphia, he visited Chinatown and made friends with Frank Hing, who introduced Mr. Yep to his sister, Cecilia, a widow with three children.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a stepdaughter, Rita Mergenthal; stepsons Joseph and Robert Moy; a sister; a brother; and eight grandchildren.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 15, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, April 16, followed by a Funeral Mass at Holy Redeemer Church, 915 Vine St. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham.