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Zhang, Yong-Hua (1928-2008)

July 31, 2008 at 10:18 PM

My father passed away peacefully last night in Shanghai. He was well-respected and deeply loved by people around him. Primarily a scientist, he was also a renaissance man who was a fine painter, a Chinese calligrapher, a beautiful singer, and a fantastic ball-room dancer. A survivor of the pre-communist civil war, the Sino-Japanese war, the “Cultural Revolution” and the more recent economic reforms that have taken place in the P.R.C, despite all he had gone through he remained a man with a great sense of humour and integrity. On a cold and dark night more than 35 years ago, he rescued and brought home a badly cracked viola from a colleague. I became a violinist from then on.

My father opened me to the world of excellence and refinement. He believed in my ability to accomplish anything I set my mind to, cultivated in me a strong sense of honesty and moral taste, and most of all, he selflessly encouraged me to pursue my future while he knew full well that I would be millions miles away when he became old and frail. I love him so much. May he rest in peace.

What a loving tribute to your father. I am so sorry for your loss.
Yixi, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you find peace and comfort from music and friends in the days ahead.
So sorry to read about your loss. He sounds like he was a wonderful man, and a great father. That is a precious gift to a child. Take care, and bless you.
Sounds like your father made the world brighter, so sorry to hear of his passing. I hope you're doing okay.
May your father's spirit, his strength, his culture, his humor live on in you, Yixi.
Dear Yixi, what a lovely tribute; he sounds like a wonderful and courageous man. You are in our thoughts as you go through this loss.
Thank you all for your condolence and comforting words. I can’t begin to tell you how incredible it is for me and my family to be able to share with the world through this site a tiny bit about my father, a man whom I always believe would have been a king had he lived in a different time and at a different place.
Oh, Yixi, what you wrote is so beautiful and touching (including your above comments). I'm so sorry for your loss, but thank you for sharing these wonderful words. You and your family are in my thoughts.
My sincere condolences to you and your family Yixi. Your father sounds like a wonderful man.

Neil

Lovely words Yixi. Isn't it cool that a little bit of your dad gets to stay with all of us because we could read about him. What an amazing time he lived through, and it sounds like he was determined to prosper as a complete person. I hope for your mum and yourself that each day feels a little easier than the last.
You mention that your dad brought you home a viola, but that you became a violinist. I'm just wondering if there's an interesting story behind that!