袁旂吾兄千古
星垂平野 送袁郎歸去 重勘天星天宇
月湧大江 问钓鱼收还 未仆何月何年
傅運籌 赵乐德 敬輓
( 仆字应無人旁.)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Memories of Prof. Yuan by Cheng-Yu Kuo
Some memories of Prof. Chi Yuan:
I first met Prof. Yuan in ASIAA when I was a second year undergraduate student in National Taiwan University. I did not have too many interactions with Prof. Yuan until a year later when I received formal astrophysics class from him. This is a full year class, which covers a wide range of topics. In this class, he spent a lot of time on his favorate topic --- spiral density wave theory, which involves a lot of math and is quite difficult for an undergrad. student. Fortunately, Prof. Yuan is a "nice" professor and the problems in the exams were not very tricky, so I was able to handle the class relatively well.
The best time I had with Prof. Yuan is when we traveled to Hualien together during the summer in 2003. He had old friends from Russia, and he wanted me to be a tour guide to Hualien since I was born there and is familiar with the place. For some crazy reason I don't remember now, I decided to bring these "old" people to reach the eatern peak of the Ho-Huan mountain (located in the famous Taroko National Park), which is 3417 meters (11203 foot) above the sea level. Ironically, although I was the tour guide, I was not the person who lead the team to reach the peak. His friend, his friend's wife, and I were tired and could not move very fast (the air is thiner). However, Prof. Yuan was still very energetic and can move fast. At certain points, he even needed to stop and wait for us! In the end, Prof. Yuan lead his old friends and a 23-year-old "young" man to reach the peak, and we had a great time!
The deepest memory of Prof. Yuan I have is his kindness toward students. I believe that in his eye, there is no stupid student. As long as a student is willing to learn, he is willing to teach and help. In my own case, I still remember, one day after class, probably because he knew my eager to study astronomy in graduate school in the US, he voluntarily told me that he is willing to write recommendation letter for me. While I highly repected him and my grade was just ok, I really felt gratitude and honor for such an offer. Although I did not request the recommendation letter from him in the end, his kindness always remain in my mind.
I think that it is our responsibility to pass this seed of kindness to the next generations of students. Although Prof. Yuan has passed away, as long as the seed of kindness remains, his virtue, his spirit will remain.
I first met Prof. Yuan in ASIAA when I was a second year undergraduate student in National Taiwan University. I did not have too many interactions with Prof. Yuan until a year later when I received formal astrophysics class from him. This is a full year class, which covers a wide range of topics. In this class, he spent a lot of time on his favorate topic --- spiral density wave theory, which involves a lot of math and is quite difficult for an undergrad. student. Fortunately, Prof. Yuan is a "nice" professor and the problems in the exams were not very tricky, so I was able to handle the class relatively well.
The best time I had with Prof. Yuan is when we traveled to Hualien together during the summer in 2003. He had old friends from Russia, and he wanted me to be a tour guide to Hualien since I was born there and is familiar with the place. For some crazy reason I don't remember now, I decided to bring these "old" people to reach the eatern peak of the Ho-Huan mountain (located in the famous Taroko National Park), which is 3417 meters (11203 foot) above the sea level. Ironically, although I was the tour guide, I was not the person who lead the team to reach the peak. His friend, his friend's wife, and I were tired and could not move very fast (the air is thiner). However, Prof. Yuan was still very energetic and can move fast. At certain points, he even needed to stop and wait for us! In the end, Prof. Yuan lead his old friends and a 23-year-old "young" man to reach the peak, and we had a great time!
The deepest memory of Prof. Yuan I have is his kindness toward students. I believe that in his eye, there is no stupid student. As long as a student is willing to learn, he is willing to teach and help. In my own case, I still remember, one day after class, probably because he knew my eager to study astronomy in graduate school in the US, he voluntarily told me that he is willing to write recommendation letter for me. While I highly repected him and my grade was just ok, I really felt gratitude and honor for such an offer. Although I did not request the recommendation letter from him in the end, his kindness always remain in my mind.
I think that it is our responsibility to pass this seed of kindness to the next generations of students. Although Prof. Yuan has passed away, as long as the seed of kindness remains, his virtue, his spirit will remain.
Poem by Yen Chu Wang
In memory of my friend Yuan Chi, I have written a classical Chinese poem in the form of qiyan jueju( seven-character four-line truncated verse) as follows:
挽故友袁旂
王颜铸于20080726美国马利兰州
故友凋零又一人，
东樱未发忆初春。
红轮半没凭谁语？
相忘江湖泪满巾。
I lost another friend of mine;
I remember that early spring
Before cherry blossoms were fine.
To whom can I reveal my feeling
If the Red Sun has sunk at half-mast?
I can only shed tears
In solitude on the brine.
Yen Chu Wang
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
from the Taiwan Scholars Association (TSA)
谢渝秀：
惊闻袁旂教授去世的消息，我们感到非常震惊和悲痛。
台湾同学会正在云南举行2008年两岸关系研讨会。2005年在西藏举办研讨会和2006年在新疆举办研讨会，袁教授都积极参加，他的高见给我们留下极为深刻的印象。
在1970年掀起的保钓运动，袁教授带头积极参加，成为纽约市保钓运动的带头人之一。他的风范是我们学习的榜样。我们特向袁教授致以崇高的敬意，特在昆明向他表示沉痛的哀悼!
请您节哀！
台湾同学会会长林盛中、副会长吴国祯
与会的好友：
陈治利、徐守腾、黄于燕、林孝信、龚忠武、叶先扬、
周本初、黄哲操、林国炯、李腾芳、居乃虔、杨高雄、
蔡文珠、林磊、杨思泽、杨景鹴、吕明灿、韩嘉玲、
林正杰、谢小芩、余祥云、黄文治、景鸿鑫、王家贞、
张学正、汤元智、陈卓、林秋兰、张维倩、张钊维
惊闻袁旂教授去世的消息，我们感到非常震惊和悲痛。
台湾同学会正在云南举行2008年两岸关系研讨会。2005年在西藏举办研讨会和2006年在新疆举办研讨会，袁教授都积极参加，他的高见给我们留下极为深刻的印象。
在1970年掀起的保钓运动，袁教授带头积极参加，成为纽约市保钓运动的带头人之一。他的风范是我们学习的榜样。我们特向袁教授致以崇高的敬意，特在昆明向他表示沉痛的哀悼!
请您节哀！
台湾同学会会长林盛中、副会长吴国祯
与会的好友：
陈治利、徐守腾、黄于燕、林孝信、龚忠武、叶先扬、
周本初、黄哲操、林国炯、李腾芳、居乃虔、杨高雄、
蔡文珠、林磊、杨思泽、杨景鹴、吕明灿、韩嘉玲、
林正杰、谢小芩、余祥云、黄文治、景鸿鑫、王家贞、
张学正、汤元智、陈卓、林秋兰、张维倩、张钊维
Monday, July 28, 2008
Yuan Chi and I / 袁旂和我 by George Lo
袁旂和我。(二零零八年，七月廾四，寫於加卅舊金山灣區)
我和袁旂在建國中學同學了六年，由初中到高中，是我最懷念的好友。
一， 記得當時年紀小： 初中三年級，我們只有十五歲。我剛剛有一部舊腳踏車可以從三重埔騎到南海路建中去上學。有一天放學後到他家去溫習功課。那時他們家住在台北市中山南路十三號。到了他家，他們家有一位上校副官出來接他。這位上校把我們帶到廚房餐廳裡坐下來。不到五分鐘一位大廚送來兩碗肉絲麵。那時不管三七廾一，兩口就把那碗麵吃下肚去。看看天時不早，我站起來拍拍肚子很高興的說聲明天見。居然忘記要溫習功課了。我現在每次一個人吃肉絲麵時就想起袁旂。他是那麼喜歡交朋友，講義氣，真是多麼難能可貴。
二，記得那時年紀輕： 大學畢業那年，我們土木系的全分在一隊，陸軍第八期，在鳳山受預備軍官訓練。有一次放假。我坐火車回台北去找我的女朋友張璐茜，沒料到我那位璐茜居然坐火車南下去找我。我的父親打電話給己經回台北的袁旂，請他到中正路我那位璐茜的家去找我。袁旂同李起民開了一部吉普車去中正路找我，看我是不是在那裡過夜。結果沒有找到。後來我媽媽告訴我說，我不能把台北的家當旅館用。現在我回想起來我雖然那時有一點點荒唐。但是袁旂凡事受人之託，他都是非常負責的去做。這是多麼的了不起。想起這些小故事來我是多麼的感激和懷念他。還記得他出國前在他家的一次惜別會，當時我與璐茜剛訂完婚一起去參加，所有的老同學都在，大家大喝高梁酒(袁旂的酒量特別的好)。
後來他出國那天，我和璐茜還去松山機場送他。
三，記得那時他生了病：當他在臺灣開完刀，由他的女兒Jessie寄了一封Email單獨給我，說袁旂希望我打電話給他，我便立刻打電話給他去安慰他。這些事情一一出現在我的眼前好像還只是昨天的事，但是他現在己經離開我們了？這是多麼的心痛和心酸。
Yuan Chi and A-ban
袁旂與老 A 班
悼念袁旂
袁旂在建國中學讀了六年，高中時袁旂被分到A班，從此同學就自稱為老A班。老A班同學功課成績固然很不錯，可是鬼主意也多，調皮搗蛋的事蹟層出不窮，常讓校長頭痛。但也因此同學彼此特別團結，成了死黨。
高中畢業已超過半個世紀，同學们仍經常保持聯絡，時常聚會，友誼彌久而堅。1990年老A班同學在臺北聚會，許多海外同學專程返台，袁旂當時在中央研究院工作，大家歡聚一堂，仿佛又回到中學時代。袁旂除了學術研究，平日打網球，做氣功，總是精神抖索，大家在一起談笑風生，誰也想不到，袁旂會罹患癌症。
高中時，袁旂運動好，是籃球健將。可是他的功課也很好，從不死讀書，課外閱讀廣闊，尤其是歷史小說及名人傳記，嘗言晚清人物中，他最佩服左宗棠。也喜歡金庸的武俠小說，當時老A班不少同學是因為袁旂而成了金迷。不知是否受了這些影響，袁旂做人帶有幾分俠義，受人之託付，必忠人之事。袁旂曾在高中同學畢業紀念冊上寫下魏徵的兩句名言：「季布無二諾，侯嬴重一言」，與同學共勉。有同學看見袁旂書裏面夾著一個自己書寫的紙條「人生自古誰無死，留取丹心照汗青」， 足見中學時代的袁旂是一個胸懷大志的少年。
袁旂因為個子高，屬於帥氣的一型。有次上國文課，李老師講解「氣宇軒昂」一詞時，忽然對著他說：「就像袁旂那個樣子」。
很多年之後，發現袁旂還寫得一筆好字，也能寫詩，算得上能文能武了。
袁旂忠貞愛國，更有正義感。為了真理，可以不顧個人毀譽，挺身而出，奮鬥到底。他在保釣運動上的表現可以是最好的說明。
袁旂家境良好，人又如此優秀，但他為人誠懇，平易近人，在老A班深受同學愛戴。在他病中過七十歲生日時，老A班同學大家收集老照片，許多同學寫文章詩詞做了一本冊子，為他祝壽。其中祁甡同學曾寫了祝壽詩最具代表：
情歸釣魚台， 丹心照汗青；
理窮宇宙論， 學究日月星。
袁旂一生，活得有聲有色，年輕的時候轟轟烈烈為國家出力。在學術教學研究上，也出類拔萃。他有美滿的家庭，孝順的女兒，可愛的孫女。我們雖然為他的離去傷痛，但我們也慶幸上天把袁旂賜給老A班，為我們共同的記憶中增添許多歡樂色彩。
陳新雄同學寫弔唁詩一首，是A班同學心情的寫照：
當時衫鬢兩青青，敘別君家盛況經。
保釣傳聞曾仗義，護臺還許發驚霆。
洞庭嶽麓今成夢，流水高山枉復聆。
未得故人好消息，南窗樽酒永難馨。
徐孝華 2008年7月28日
written by Frank Hsu
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Memorial Service
The Memorial Service for Yuan Chi will be on Saturday, August 2nd at 11:00 AM in the auditorium at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303. Here are the directions:
In lieu of flowers we would like donations for scholarships or for brain cancer. The SOAR Foundation which is a non-profit organization dedicated to funding impoverish students in rural china. Their website is http://www.soaronline.org/. The other group is the Musella Foundation, an online community for family and people with brain cancer I used them extensively to research treatments for my father. They also fund new treatments for brain cancer. Their website is http://www.virtualtrials.org/.
Thank you. Jessie and Lucy
How to Find Us
DIRECTIONS FROM SAN FRANCISCO and the NORTH BAY
From Highway 101:
- Take 101 South towards San Jose.
- Take the Oregon Expressway/Embarcadero Exit.
- Take Embarcadero Road Westbound.
- At the fourth traffic light turn right (corner of Embarcadero and Newell Roads)
- Make the first right into the Art Center driveway. The Art Center is the right hand building at the corner.
From Highway 280:
- Take 280 South towards San Jose.
- Take the Page Mill Road Exit heading East towards Palo Alto.
- Continue straight on Page Mill Road. You will go several miles through an industrial park area.
- At El Camino Real turn left.
- Go six traffic lights to Embarcadero Road. Turn right.Town and Country Village Shopping Center and Palo Alto High School are located at this corner.
- Proceed down Embarcadero Road to the fifth traffic light. Turn left. (corner of Embarcadero and Newell Roads)
- Make the first right into the Art Center driveway. The Art Center is the right hand building at the corner.
DIRECTIONS FROM SAN JOSE and the SOUTH BAY
From Highway 101:
- Take 101 North towards San Francisco.
- Take the Oregon Expressway/Embarcadero Exit.
- Take Embarcadero Road Westbound.
- At the fourth traffic light turn right (corner of Embarcadero and Newell Roads)
- Make the first right into the Art Center driveway. The Art Center is the right hand building at the corner.
From Highway 280:
- Take 280 North towards San Francisco.
- Take the Page Mill Road Exit heading East towards Palo Alto.
- Continue straight on Page Mill Road. You will go several miles through an industrial park area.
- At El Camino Real turn left.
- Go six traffic lights to Embarcadero Road. Turn right.Town and Country Village Shopping Center and Palo Alto High School are located at this corner.
- Proceed down Embarcadero Road to the fifth traffic light. Turn left. (corner of Embarcadero and Newell Roads)
- Make the first right into the Art Center driveway. The Art Center is the right hand building at the corner.
DIRECTIONS FROM OAKLAND and the EAST BAY
From Highway 880:
- Take 880 South to 84 West (Dumbarton Bridge). Proceed over bridge to 101 South.
- Take 101 South towards San Jose.
- Take the Oregon Expressway/Embarcadero Exit.
- Take Embarcadero Road Westbound.
- At the fourth traffic light turn right (corner of Embarcadero and Newell Roads)
- Make the first right into the Art Center driveway. The Art Center is the right hand building at the corner.
In lieu of flowers we would like donations for scholarships or for brain cancer. The SOAR Foundation which is a non-profit organization dedicated to funding impoverish students in rural china. Their website is http://www.soaronline.org/. The other group is the Musella Foundation, an online community for family and people with brain cancer I used them extensively to research treatments for my father. They also fund new treatments for brain cancer. Their website is http://www.virtualtrials.org/.
Thank you. Jessie and Lucy
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Chi Yuan's Career by Paul Ho
An essay on our friend, for his family (near and extended)
Yuan Chi, his career as scholar and scientist.
Chi is a proud graduate of the National Taiwan University (1959), and received his Masters of Science from the University of Florida (1962), and his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Michigan (1966). He then worked with Professor C.C., Lin as a research associate at MIT for three years, before taking his faculty post at the City College of New York in 1969. He attained full professorship at CCNY in 1981. During1990-1991, Chi returned to Taiwan as a Visiting Professor at National Tsinghua University, National Central University, and the National Taiwan University.
In 1994, Chi took early retirement from the CCNY, returning full time to Taiwan. He served as Director of the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) during 1994-1996, established the Computational Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics group, and led the theory group for the last ten years. Chi retired as Distringuished Research Fellow in 2007, and continued as Visiting Scholar with the ASIAA. In his career, Chi was greatly influenced by Professor C.C. Lin. He worked closely with C.C. Lin and Frank Shu in developing the density wave theory for the spiral arm structures in galaxies, which became a central theme of his work throughout his career. Chi applied his knowledge on the spiral density waves to the study of the Galactic magnetic field, the formation of the Galactic three-kiloparsec arm from bar resonance excitation, and the fueling of Active Galactic Nuclei via bar-disk resonances. His latest works involved development of numerical codes to model the galactic structures as well as the formation of planetary bodies in solar nebulae. In his career, he authored 4 books and numerous scientific papers, almost predominantly as first author. His scientific work continued even after his official retirement.
Chi is also a student of Chinese classics, and a scholar of our ancient culture. I am not competent to summarize, except to say that he was my guide and teacher. While he clearly knows his history and classics, I find most impressive how he taught himself calligraphy. He practiced, studied, and steadily improved in the last ten years. This art form, practiced in solitude, is a window into the man.
Yuan Chi, his career as teacher, mentor, and administrator.
Chi had a life-long passion for his research in astronomy. We are reminded of one of very few things which irritated him, which is if you did not give him enough time to talk about his results at a meeting. He is most animated and excited when he explains to you his latest accomplishments and calculations. However, everyone knows that he is always most proud of his students, and there are many many. While he taught and mentored many students at CCNY, his greatest influence can be felt in Taiwan. In 1990, Chi first returned to Taiwan to push for the establishment of astronomy and astrophysics as a viable discipline in Taiwan. He along with a number of colleagues began the push to establish the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics in the Academia Sinica. Chi, along with Typhoon Lee and Fred Lo, were the three names given to Academy President Wu Ta-You, to be the pillars and guarantors for the success of the ASIAA. His calm demeanor, his ability to listen, his respect for all whom he encounters, were the not-so-secret ingredients for reaching consensus behind the scenes. All through the years, Chi taught every year. Many of the current faculty, staff, postdocs, and students, learned their astronomy from Chi. It would be difficult to list all his students, as there are so many. It is enough to tell you that they are all fiercely loyal, and hold Chi dear to their hearts. His last student, Lin Lien-Hsuan, has just finished her Ph.D. degree at National Taiwan University ten days ago. His earlier student, Kuo Chao-Lin, is Assistant Professor at Stanford, and has attended to Chi, in these months. As the second ASIAA Director, Chi played a major role in hiring the first staffs, establishing the front office, as well as the culture at the ASIAA. Without a doubt, Chi is the hands-down favorite for the staff, of all the ASIAA Directors. It is no wonder. There is really no need to explain. But, as a note to the young people who will read this: to lead, to teach, to mentor, there is one central ingredient, you have to care about your charges. How to care, establish high standards, be demanding, be encouraging, be understanding, and be forgiving? We all have been watching and learning.
Yuan Chi, as friend and human being.
Chi has more friends than anyone I know. I asked him two weeks ago how it is that he even has friends from elementary school. Chi just smiled and did not give me a straight answer. I think this is not because Chi keeps up with his friends. We all keep up with him. How to understand this? It does not take long for one to recognize that Chi is a really nice person. Just sit and watch. No mean bones, no bad thoughts, no selfish anything, generous, thoughtful, modest, never self-promoting, always dependable, willing to step back, no airs of any sort. In November 2006, right before his own diagnosis, Chi was focused on taking our postdoctoral fellow, Aran Lyo, to see the doctors because she had a growth on her thyroid. After diagnosis, while checked into the hospital, Chi in his hospital gown, insisted to visit Aran who had just undergone surgery at the same hospital. If anyone is ill, Chi will be the first to check into it, and to inquire. If anyone has a problem, Chi would be the one to consult. If anyone is getting married, Chi will be the one to ask to be the official witness. Chi seems to cover all our needs. Some philosophers question the concept of good and evil, and how to set absolute standards. But we all know what nice really is by watching Chi.
This is not to say that Chi cannot be picky about things. Good food is a must. I once asked Howard Yee whether he had a good dinner in Taipei. Howard replied that he did not know, since Chi was not with him. Jeremy Lim always tells the story of asking Chi whether the food at the restaurant that we were at was good that day. Chi would reply, always, that it was not as good as the last time. I was once going to have dinner at the house of Nagayoshi Ohashi. Chi was standing there, and Nagayoshi apologized that he could not invite Chi to dinner, because his wife could not possibly cook for Chi because of his high standards. I always say that there are thousands of restaurants in Taipei, but I only get to go to five, because they are Chi-approved. Where will we go to eat now?
We are but a very small cross section of Chi’s friends. I cannot tell how many there are. But I am sure my assessment is not unique. Let me pick a few words to describe Chi: kind, gentle, quiet. To be a human being, there are no better goals and no better achievements.
For Lucy: A better husband I have never seen.
For Jessie: Your dad has many academic children. He was always proud of you, and no happier than when you chose to adopt your daughter from Hunan.
For Chi’s sisters: Some of us imagine ourselves to be like Chi’s siblings. It is because he has been too good to us.
For his friends: We have been fortunate. Depending on the moment, we might think that life has many or few blessings. Knowing Chi is one of those blessings, and it has been a privilege. For those of you who are life-long friends, some of us are very envious, but content nevertheless.
Well, that covers everyone. I thought to write for students and colleagues, but I think the category of friends does cover everyone because that is how Chi treats us and made us all feel like one.
Paul Ho
Yuan Chi, his career as scholar and scientist.
Chi is a proud graduate of the National Taiwan University (1959), and received his Masters of Science from the University of Florida (1962), and his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Michigan (1966). He then worked with Professor C.C., Lin as a research associate at MIT for three years, before taking his faculty post at the City College of New York in 1969. He attained full professorship at CCNY in 1981. During1990-1991, Chi returned to Taiwan as a Visiting Professor at National Tsinghua University, National Central University, and the National Taiwan University.
In 1994, Chi took early retirement from the CCNY, returning full time to Taiwan. He served as Director of the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) during 1994-1996, established the Computational Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics group, and led the theory group for the last ten years. Chi retired as Distringuished Research Fellow in 2007, and continued as Visiting Scholar with the ASIAA. In his career, Chi was greatly influenced by Professor C.C. Lin. He worked closely with C.C. Lin and Frank Shu in developing the density wave theory for the spiral arm structures in galaxies, which became a central theme of his work throughout his career. Chi applied his knowledge on the spiral density waves to the study of the Galactic magnetic field, the formation of the Galactic three-kiloparsec arm from bar resonance excitation, and the fueling of Active Galactic Nuclei via bar-disk resonances. His latest works involved development of numerical codes to model the galactic structures as well as the formation of planetary bodies in solar nebulae. In his career, he authored 4 books and numerous scientific papers, almost predominantly as first author. His scientific work continued even after his official retirement.
Chi is also a student of Chinese classics, and a scholar of our ancient culture. I am not competent to summarize, except to say that he was my guide and teacher. While he clearly knows his history and classics, I find most impressive how he taught himself calligraphy. He practiced, studied, and steadily improved in the last ten years. This art form, practiced in solitude, is a window into the man.
Yuan Chi, his career as teacher, mentor, and administrator.
Chi had a life-long passion for his research in astronomy. We are reminded of one of very few things which irritated him, which is if you did not give him enough time to talk about his results at a meeting. He is most animated and excited when he explains to you his latest accomplishments and calculations. However, everyone knows that he is always most proud of his students, and there are many many. While he taught and mentored many students at CCNY, his greatest influence can be felt in Taiwan. In 1990, Chi first returned to Taiwan to push for the establishment of astronomy and astrophysics as a viable discipline in Taiwan. He along with a number of colleagues began the push to establish the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics in the Academia Sinica. Chi, along with Typhoon Lee and Fred Lo, were the three names given to Academy President Wu Ta-You, to be the pillars and guarantors for the success of the ASIAA. His calm demeanor, his ability to listen, his respect for all whom he encounters, were the not-so-secret ingredients for reaching consensus behind the scenes. All through the years, Chi taught every year. Many of the current faculty, staff, postdocs, and students, learned their astronomy from Chi. It would be difficult to list all his students, as there are so many. It is enough to tell you that they are all fiercely loyal, and hold Chi dear to their hearts. His last student, Lin Lien-Hsuan, has just finished her Ph.D. degree at National Taiwan University ten days ago. His earlier student, Kuo Chao-Lin, is Assistant Professor at Stanford, and has attended to Chi, in these months. As the second ASIAA Director, Chi played a major role in hiring the first staffs, establishing the front office, as well as the culture at the ASIAA. Without a doubt, Chi is the hands-down favorite for the staff, of all the ASIAA Directors. It is no wonder. There is really no need to explain. But, as a note to the young people who will read this: to lead, to teach, to mentor, there is one central ingredient, you have to care about your charges. How to care, establish high standards, be demanding, be encouraging, be understanding, and be forgiving? We all have been watching and learning.
Yuan Chi, as friend and human being.
Chi has more friends than anyone I know. I asked him two weeks ago how it is that he even has friends from elementary school. Chi just smiled and did not give me a straight answer. I think this is not because Chi keeps up with his friends. We all keep up with him. How to understand this? It does not take long for one to recognize that Chi is a really nice person. Just sit and watch. No mean bones, no bad thoughts, no selfish anything, generous, thoughtful, modest, never self-promoting, always dependable, willing to step back, no airs of any sort. In November 2006, right before his own diagnosis, Chi was focused on taking our postdoctoral fellow, Aran Lyo, to see the doctors because she had a growth on her thyroid. After diagnosis, while checked into the hospital, Chi in his hospital gown, insisted to visit Aran who had just undergone surgery at the same hospital. If anyone is ill, Chi will be the first to check into it, and to inquire. If anyone has a problem, Chi would be the one to consult. If anyone is getting married, Chi will be the one to ask to be the official witness. Chi seems to cover all our needs. Some philosophers question the concept of good and evil, and how to set absolute standards. But we all know what nice really is by watching Chi.
This is not to say that Chi cannot be picky about things. Good food is a must. I once asked Howard Yee whether he had a good dinner in Taipei. Howard replied that he did not know, since Chi was not with him. Jeremy Lim always tells the story of asking Chi whether the food at the restaurant that we were at was good that day. Chi would reply, always, that it was not as good as the last time. I was once going to have dinner at the house of Nagayoshi Ohashi. Chi was standing there, and Nagayoshi apologized that he could not invite Chi to dinner, because his wife could not possibly cook for Chi because of his high standards. I always say that there are thousands of restaurants in Taipei, but I only get to go to five, because they are Chi-approved. Where will we go to eat now?
We are but a very small cross section of Chi’s friends. I cannot tell how many there are. But I am sure my assessment is not unique. Let me pick a few words to describe Chi: kind, gentle, quiet. To be a human being, there are no better goals and no better achievements.
For Lucy: A better husband I have never seen.
For Jessie: Your dad has many academic children. He was always proud of you, and no happier than when you chose to adopt your daughter from Hunan.
For Chi’s sisters: Some of us imagine ourselves to be like Chi’s siblings. It is because he has been too good to us.
For his friends: We have been fortunate. Depending on the moment, we might think that life has many or few blessings. Knowing Chi is one of those blessings, and it has been a privilege. For those of you who are life-long friends, some of us are very envious, but content nevertheless.
Well, that covers everyone. I thought to write for students and colleagues, but I think the category of friends does cover everyone because that is how Chi treats us and made us all feel like one.
Paul Ho
Yuan Chi
I have started this blog to update friends and family about my father's memorial service. We have received so many wonderful e-mails about my father that I wanted to give everyone an opportunity to discover the different aspects of his life. Please feel free to post about his life and add photos. I'll be adding more information when we have finalized the details on the memorial service. I'll also put the links for donations. Jessie, Chi's daughter
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