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Three generations of the Chen–Rivera family — from Wei and Carmen to the grandchildren who keep the stories.
Wei Chen
Patriarch · Grandfather
1940–2019
Born in Guangzhou, Wei arrived in New York in 1965 with a suitcase and an apprenticeship. He opened a small shop on Roosevelt Avenue in 1978 and became the quiet heart of every family gathering — always first to arrive, last to leave.
Carmen Rivera Chen
Matriarch · Grandmother
b. 1945
Raised in San Juan and Brooklyn, Carmen met Wei at a community dance in 1968. A nurse for thirty-five years and keeper of every family story, she still hosts Sunday gatherings where Spanish and Cantonese share the same room.
David Park
Son-in-law · Father
b. 1968
Elena's husband. Korean-American architect who designs community libraries. David learned Carmen's family traditions before he asked for Elena's hand — still the family's favorite icebreaker.
Elena Chen-Rivera
Daughter · Mother
b. 1970
Eldest child of Wei and Carmen. Elena became a school librarian who filled her children's shelves with both family stories and borrowed books. She started this Heirloom archive so nothing precious would be lost.
Miguel Chen-Rivera
Son · Uncle
b. 1973
Younger brother to Elena. A documentary photographer who spent years capturing street life in the Bronx before turning his lens toward family. His albums are the backbone of our photo collection.
Aisha Thompson Chen-Rivera
Daughter-in-law · Aunt
b. 1975
Miguel's wife. Pediatrician, jazz pianist, and the one who insisted every birthday include a song recorded for the archive. Her laughter is on half our home videos.
Sophia Park
Granddaughter
b. 1998
Elena and David's eldest. History teacher and the family's unofficial oral historian. Sophia interviewed Wei the year before he passed and transcribed those conversations into our founding stories.
Lucas Park
Grandson
b. 2001
Elena and David's son. Film student who digitizes old VHS tapes and edits reunion footage. Lucas set up the video shelf so future cousins can press play and meet the people who came before.
Noah Chen-Rivera
Grandson · Cousin
b. 2005
Miguel and Aisha's son. High-school soccer captain who still asks Carmen for the story of how she and Wei met — every single Thanksgiving, as tradition demands.
Isla, 4 yearsIsla Park
Great-granddaughter
Isla, 4 years
Sophia's elder daughter. Already the family's little librarian — she pulls picture books from Elena's shelves and insists on hearing every page twice.
Leo, 15 monthsLeo Park
Great-grandson
Leo, 15 months
Lucas's son — sticky hands, bright laugh, and a gift for climbing onto any available shoulder at the Sunday table.
Maya, 8 monthsMaya Park
Great-granddaughter
Maya, 8 months
Sophia's youngest. Eight months of curious eyes and a toy camera she treats like Yéye Wei's old Leica. The newest face in the archive.