Mae Nar Leedy refers to herself as “made in Hong Kong,” although she was born in the United States. Sponsored by Helen “Lou” Teschler, Leedy’s family immigrated to the Mansfield area in 1955. Leedy’s mother, Susie Chin, arrived in the country shortly after Leedy’s father, Yut Tong Chin. Susie Chin was accompanied by her toddler son, Leedy’s older brother. Leedy was born a few months later.
“They were originally from China, but they spent a year in Hong Kong before they came over,” said Leedy of her parents.
Teschler learned of the Chin family while working at Charlie Kee’s Laundry, which was owned by Charlie Kee Chin, Leedy’s grandfather. He was not a citizen himself and therefore could not sponsor the family.
Yut Tong Chin did not speak English when he came to the U.S. He worked at Jong Mea Chinese Restaurant in downtown Mansfield for many years. His hard work paid off, though, when he opened his own business, the Chinatown Restaurant on Ashland Road.
“You can do anything you want here, if you want to work for it,” said Leedy of the United States. “My dad worked seven days a week, 12 to 15 hours a day.”
At age 84, Susie Chin not only still owns the Chinatown Restaurant but works there daily.
Teschler has since passed away, but her daughter, Rebecca Demoise, remembers her loving spirit. “My mother cared about people. I was adopted, so she took me in when I was six,” said Teschler. “She had quite a heart for people.”
“We had Christmas break there, and Easter break, and colored Easter eggs,” said Leedy of the Teschler home. “We learned all that from her, making Christmas cookies, all the traditions.”
The two families spent a lot of time together over the years. Demoise and Leedy fondly recalled Leedy and her family experiencing their first bite of hash browned potatoes. “[Teschler] had made sausage and hash browns. We didn’t eat potatoes; we only ate rice,” said Leedy. “Those were the best things ever.”
“I don’t know if you’d say we grew up together,” said Leedy, “but we’ve always been entwined in each other’s lives.”
“Even if there’s a distance for some reason, we always come back into each other’s lives,” added Demoise.
“It’s fun for Mae Nar and I to sit and just reminisce about mom and the things she did, about the fun things she did,” said Demoise. “It’s a good feeling.”
Demoise inherited her mother’s love for people. She took in several foster children over the years and spent many years working in social services.
Leedy inherited her family’s work ethic, helping to run the restaurant as well as earning a dual degree in accounting and finance. Her husband, Roy Leedy, also shares in the family’s strong desire to succeed. Roy Leedy owns Fit 1 CrossFit. His son Josh Leedy helps out at the fitness center, as well.
“He has always been a workout fanatic,” said Mae Nar Leedy. “When he had the chance to open a gym, he did.”
Fit 1 CrossFit, in conjunction with Snow Trails, is sponsoring The Hero Challenge, a 5K course filled with obstacles to challenge the strength and endurance of participants. The event will benefit Washington Township Firefighter Joe Tadijanac, who was injured while on the scene of a fire, resulting in the loss of both legs above the knee.
The Chinatown restaurant is located at 283 Ashland Road in Mansfield. Fit 1 CrossFit is located at 1458 Lexington Avenue, Mansfield.
“I don’t know if you’d say we grew up together,” said Demoise Leedy, “but we’ve always been entwined in each other’s lives.”
