| Sam and I went to National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) for our undergraduate studies in 1955. We were classmates in the Department of Biology for 4 years. As mentioned by Ted, Sam attended Chinese Air Force Academy before went to NTNU. He, therefore, was a couple of years older than other classmates. Instead of Sam or Chuen-Mo, we all called him To Kung. Kung, in Chinese, means grandfather or an older person, but sometimes it was used for a noble person or for a person whom we respect. In the case of Sam, it was not because he was older than us but because he was respected by everyone. As you have seen the pictures, when he was young, he was tall and handsome. He was smart, friendly and the best student in the class. After graduation, we worked as teaching assistants in the Biology Department at the University. However, Sam did not stay long before he came to this country for his advanced degrees. We went our separate ways and were busy with our studies in the graduate school and with our own professional careers and family. We, therefore, did not see each other for a long time. After I moved to Morgantown in West Virginia and he moved his family back to Pittsburgh, however, we started to visit each other. Although we had never discussed our professional activities, I know, and as Ted mentioned, Sam published many excellent scientific papers, and has many successful students in Taiwan and in this country. In 1998, I suggested having a 40-year graduation classmate-reunion. Sam was very excited about the idea and offered to help. Because of his assistance and that from others, we had a memorable and wonderful classmate-reunion in Seattle. In 2000, Sam, Agnes, my wife and I, with three other couples, took an Alaskan cruise. We enjoyed the time together and had a lot of fun. In 2002, Sam organized another classmate reunion. Almost all our classmates in North America went to Toronto and we had a great time. Sam enjoyed seeing and spending time with friends and classmates. Even when he was sick he was still talking about another classmate reunion. Sam was not only a wonderful father, a wonderful husband, an outstanding scientist and a great teacher; He was also a wonderful classmate and a dear friend. We all sure will miss him. |