The winter of our discontent

I am not talking about John Steinbeck’s book that helped him to get the Nobel Prize in literature in 1962 (The Grapes of Wrath and The Winter of Our Discontent were mentioned in the Nobel’s citation); of course, the title of the book comes from the opening lines of Shakespeare’s Richard III, (“Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this son of York”).

I am talking about the severe harsh winter we have had so far; the Wall Street fairs no better; more freezing chills, thanks to the turmoil and sell off in the emerging markets.  The Fed announced yesterday that it will continue to trim its bond buying to $65 billion a month in February (it used to be $85 billion a month; and $75 billion a month for January) and that added fuel to the fire for the downward spiraling yesterday.   The market has obviously addicted to the Fed’s so called “quantitative easing” bond buying program (to some this may be a euphemistic way to say government’s printing money).  The market is suffering the withdrawal, so to speak.

Katy had two dispatches to the World Journal (世界日報) published the past two days; they were all about the weather in Pittsburgh; one is rarely seen natural wonder (snow roller). And she never had any report about the weather over the years.

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_pa/24478690/article-%E5%8C%B9%E8%8C%B2%E5%A0%A1%E9%9B%AA%E6%8D%B2%E5%A5%87%E8%A7%80-%E6%B0%91%E7%9C%BE%E7%88%AD%E7%9D%B9?instance=nj1

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_pa/24461188/article-%E5%8C%B9%E8%8C%B2%E5%A0%A1%E6%A5%B5%E5%87%8D---%E5%A6%82%E9%98%BF%E6%8B%89%E6%96%AF%E5%8A%A0-?instance=nj1

The farewell party for 張聞選, an extraordinary engineer, inventor and philanthropist

Katy’s dispatch to the World Journal (世界日報), reporting the send-off party for 張聞選 and his wife, was published today (January 21). 

You may read it directly online,

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_pa/24422084/article-%E5%8C%B9%E5%9F%8E%E8%8F%AF%E4%BA%BA-%E9%A4%9E%E5%88%A5%E5%BC%B5%E8%81%9E%E9%81%B8?instance=nj1

張聞選, a retired engineer and inventor with more than one hundred patents under his belt, is to leave Pittsburgh, (where he calls it home for 55 years) to stay with his son and daughter-in-law next month.  Tom Chen (陳世瑞), Dr. Hu (胡康寧醫師) and Phoenix Chen (陳凝霜), prominent figures in Chinese American community, organized a farewell party for close friends of ten couples or so; it ended up with 67 persons filling the room at Fortune Star Buffet.  Upon hearing the news of their leaving, everyone wanted to see them off, reflecting how all love and respect the couple.

張聞選, now 87 years of age, came to Pittsburgh in 1958, working as an engineer at PGG, a world renowned industry company of paints and other specialty products.  He made an enormous contribution during his 38 years of service.  He retired 17 years ago and has lived in Pittsburgh for 55 years.

One of the most important inventions is his special coat painting for the car bumpers (front and rear) which are designed to absorb the impact preventing the damage to the car.  The car bumpers were used to be made by metal that came with many disadvantages: heavy and easy rusting.  Changing to plastics also came with some problems such as upon collision the paint broke off like pieces of glasses.  His innovative invention of special coat painting at PPG solved all the problems.  The use of his special paint coating has been extended to stealth aircrafts and space shuttles.  One cannot over emphasize how important it is.  Upon receiving the prodigious financial reward for his invention, he set up a foundation, upon which he made great charitable donations as a philanthropist.

張聞選 is very active in community affair, donating tens of thousands of dollars to the relief fund for the earthquake in China.  He spared no effort sponsoring various charitable organizations in greater Pittsburgh area, such as “Love My China” (愛我華), Tzu-Chi Foundation (慈濟), and Overseas Chinese Americans (OCA).  He was highly praised.  Humble as he is; he sought no recognition.

After retirement 張聞選 likes spending time with close friends, working on the ever beautiful yards and gardens around the house.  They moved into an assisted living center so he could more easily take care of his wife, 蘇爾嫻, who hasn’t been in her best health.  Grieving the loss of seven friends the past year or so, they decided to move to New York City to stay with their son, who is practicing medicine there, making the care of his wife a less effort task.

During the farewell party many made remarks speaking the extraordinary life of  張聞選, focusing on his enthusiasm and contribution to the community, here and in China, his innovative invention propelling PPG to a more competitive company, his being a great mentor to those who worked under him at PPG.  Some reminisced the loving care and help they received from him and his wife when they first came to Pittsburgh.

Toward the end of the party, Professor Chang Shih-Chic (張式濟教授), a good friend of  張聞選, and Professor Ho Shi-Ming (郝士明), 90 years of age, led the singing of “When are you coming back?” (何日君再來) and many other sentimental songs, evoking a feeling of loss upon their moving away.  A parting gift of a framed picture of Pittsburgh landscape was presented to 張聞選, hoping they would come back to see the friends here soon and often.  (Katy Tsai, 張瓊月)

(The following is Katy’s dispatch)

匹城華人 餞別張聞選

【賓州匹茲堡訊】

January 21, 2014 06:00 AM

研究發明超過100個專利的退休工程師張聞選，下月即將離開居住55年的匹茲堡，遷往紐約市依親，此間社區聞人陳世瑞和胡康寧醫師，日前發起在幸運星餐館舉辦十人餞別餐會，沒想到大家聞風而至，共來了67人，擠爆餐館。由此可見匹茲堡各界華人對張聞選的熱愛。

87高齡的張聞選，1958年到匹茲堡PGG工業公司擔任工程師，該公司是世界知名塗料和特殊產品供應商，他一就做是38年，為公司貢獻良多，17年前退休，前後在匹茲堡共住了55年。
張聞選最特別的貢獻，是他針對汽車前後防撞橫梁的烤漆，研發出供汽車業者專用的特殊油漆。當年汽車防撞橫梁原是用鋼鐵製造，一來太重，二來新車還未售出就容易生鏽。張聞選研發的烤漆，解決了這一難題。目前美國隱形飛機及太空艙等，仍使用他為PPG發明的特殊油漆。其研究發明曾獲巨額獎金，他因此設立基金，其盈餘的5%用於慈善事業。

張聞選熱心公益，對大陸震災動輒捐款上萬，曾不遺餘力贊助匹茲堡愛我華、慈濟、美華協會等社團，屢獲讚譽，但他為人處世低調。

張聞選退休後，喜愛蒔花和朋友小聚，一年前他為了照顧失智妻子蘇爾嫻，決定入住養老院。去年他接連痛失七位老友，決定應在紐約執業的醫生兒子邀請，與妻子遷往紐約市便於照顧。

當天餐會上許多與會者紛紛發言，感謝張聞選對公益事業慷慨熱心，還有許多人推崇他對公司晚輩同仁無微不至照顧與提攜，以及他對中美社會的貢獻。

餞別會上，張聞選好友張式濟教授與90歲的郝士明教授，帶領大家高唱「何日君再來」，大家合送一幅匹茲堡市景做紀念，並希望他有機會回來看大家。(張瓊月)

The son of the Chinese Schindler, Magnanimous and generous donation to the University of Pittsburgh

On January 4 we attended the memorial service of Dr. Monto Ho (何曼德), a world renowned infectious disease specialist, who died of complications following a fall at age of 86 on December 9, 2013.

Katy’s dispatch reporting the memorial service was published at the World Journal (世界日報) on January 5; you may read it directly online,

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_pa/24334894/article-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E8%BE%9B%E5%BE%B7%E5%8B%92%E4%B9%8B%E5%AD%90%E4%BD%95%E6%9B%BC%E5%BE%B7-%E6%8D%90%E6%AC%BE200%E8%90%AC%E9%81%BA%E6%84%9B%E5%8C%B9%E5%A4%A7?instance=hot_nj

(the following is my loose translation)

Upon his death, Dr. Monto Ho, the son of the Chinese Schindler, and his wife, Carol, donated $2 million to establish an endowed chair in infectious disease and microbiology in University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, greatly benefiting Pitt students in years to come.

The memorial service took place at the St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh on January 4.  Over one hundred people in the fields of medicine, science and education from American and Chinese community attended the emotional and noble memorial service, celebrating Dr. Ho’s great life.

Dr. Rinaldo, Professor and Chair of the Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, talked about Dr. Ho’s important contributions in medicine.  After graduating from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Ho did research with Dr. John Enders, a Nobel laureate, focusing on interferon research, becoming a pioneer expert in this field.  Dr. Ho collaborated with Dr. Thomas Starzl, the father of modern organ transplant, taking measures to prevent and reduce post-transplant infections.  He helped obtaining up to $500 million grants in AIDS/HIV research, rendering Pitt Graduate School of Public Health in the top 20 institutions in the nation.

After retirement from University of Pittsburgh in 1997, Dr. Ho embarked a second career (1997-2002), as distinguished as his first, in Taiwan.  He established the Division of Infectious Diseases in the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI 國家衛生研究院), serving as its first director and the honorable researcher.  While in Taiwan in 1998, Dr. Ho identified the cause of the outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina as enterovirus 71, helped the control of this epidemic.  His contribution to reduce the antibiotic overuse/abuse in Taiwan is well known and appreciated.

On behalf of the University of Pittsburgh Dr. Rinaldo expressed the appreciation to Dr. Ho and his wife, Carol (朱慧敏) for the magnanimous and generous donation ($2 million) to establish an endowed chair in infectious disease and microbiology in University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, greatly benefiting Pitt students in years to come.

At age of five Dr. Ho lost his mother; his half-sister (from San Francisco), Manli Ho (何曼禮), had high praise for her brother.  Dr. Ho was extraordinarily intelligent since childhood, mastering many languages living with his diplomat father in many countries including Turkey, Germany, Austria and America.  His character was as humble and gentle as his medical knowledge was deep and broad.  An excellent mentor he was.

Feeling so sad about the sudden passing of her grandfather, Dr. Ho’s granddaughter, Margaret Carlson (何樂恬), sobbed while making an emotional remark on her beloved grandfather.  She is aspired to be an excellent doctor like her grandfather was.  She takes great pride in all of her grandfather’s achievements in the fields of microbiology and infectious disease, which were many and profound.

Dr. Ho’s son, John (何嘉文), also studied medicine, presently works at Wesleyan College, Massachusetts.  The grandson, Gregory, is also very proud of his grandfather.

Dr. Hsing-Jien Kung, Professor and President of the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI 國家衛生研究院) in Taiwan spoke about Dr. Ho’s contribution to the healthcare.  Dr. Ho was elected as an academician in the Academia Sinica (中央研究院院士) in 1978.  He established the Division of Infectious Diseases in the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI 國家衛生研究院).  Dr. Ho identified the cause of outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina as enterovirus 71, bringing the epidemic under control.  His effort and campaign to reduce the antibiotic overuse/abuse in Taiwan is well known and appreciated, not only improving the quality of medical care, but also reducing the cost.

Dr. Ho passed away at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) at age of 86 on December 9, 2013.  A long and great life, indeed.  (Katy Tsai 張瓊月)

「中國辛德勒」之子 遺愛匹大

【賓州匹茲堡訊】

January 07, 2014 06:00 AM 

日前去世的「中國辛德勒」之子、干擾素研究先驅何曼德遺愛匹茲堡大學公共衛生系，身後將捐款200萬元造福匹大學子。

何曼德追思會1月4日上午在黎巴嫩山聖保羅聖公會教堂（St. Paul's Episcopal Church）舉辦，儀式簡單隆重，逾百中外科學界、醫學界、教育界嘉賓出席，送何曼德最後一程。

匹大公共衛生研究所教授里納多（Dr. Charles Rinaldo) 簡述何曼德生前重要醫學貢獻。 他1954年自哈佛醫學院畢業後，開始與諾貝爾獎得主約翰‧恩德斯（John F. Enders） 研究干擾素, 成為干擾素研究先驅 。曾與有「現代器官移植之父」美譽的史達 （Thomas Starzl 配合研究防止器官移植感染疾病, 並極力申請到迄今共約500萬元 的愛滋病研究經費，使匹大醫學院公衛研究所愛滋病研究地位提升到全國前20名內。

何曼德1997年自匹茲堡大學榮譽退休後，曾任台灣國家衛生研究院創院諮詢委員、臨床研究組首任組主任，與名譽研究員。1998年對找出腸病毒71型病原及疫情之掌控與遏止，功不可沒，對台灣醫學界抗生素濫用控制的貢獻頗巨。

里納多並感謝何曼德與妻子朱慧敏，決定在何曼德身後捐款200萬元造福匹茲堡大學公共衛生研究所學子。 

何曼德五歲喪母。他居住加州舊金山的同父異母妹妹何曼禮，盛讚哥哥自幼聰敏過人，隨外交官父親何鳳山旅居土耳其、奧地利、德、美等國，精通多種語言與醫學，虛懷若谷，平易近人，樂於提攜後進。

何曼德居住猶他州的雙胞胎外孫女何樂恬（Margaret Carlson）對外祖父辭世十分不捨, 對外祖父辭世十分不捨，她在喪禮上泣不成聲，表示希望繼承外祖父衣缽，並深以外祖父對匹茲堡大學與人類的微生物細菌與感染等方面成就為榮。

何曼德兒子何嘉文在麻州衛斯理學醫。他稱讚父親是謙謙君子，堪為晚輩楷模。他的兒子Gregory Ho長大也會以祖父為榮。

台灣國家衛生研究院院長龔行健稱讚何曼德1978年當選為中央研究院院士，推動中央研究院生物醫學科學研究所的成立，並找出對台灣腸病毒71型病原及疫情的掌控與遏止，對防止濫用抗生素、減少國家醫藥保險巨額經費等功不可沒。 

何曼德是上月九日在匹茲堡大學醫學中心（UPMC）長老醫院去世，享年86歲。（張瓊月）

Pittsburgh Conference (PittCon) Christmas Party

Katy’s dispatch to the World Journal (世界日報 ) reporting the Christmas Party of Pittsburgh Conference (PittCon) was published today (December 13, 2013).

You may read directly online,

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_pa/24220112/article-%E5%8C%B9%E8%8C%B2%E5%A0%A1%E5%8C%96%E5%AD%B8%E5%AD%B8%E6%9C%83%E8%81%96%E8%AA%95%E8%81%9A%E9%A4%90?instance=nj1

 

The Christmas Party of Pittsburgh Conference (PittCon) was held at Fairmont Hotel locates in the heart of Pittsburgh downtown.  There were about 150 attendants; most were the Organizing Committee members of PittCon; a few were invited quests.

 

PittCon Committee members come from the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh (SSP) and Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (SACP). Professor Fu Tyan Lin (林富田教授), Dr. Fu Mei Lin (林富美博士) and Dr. S.Y. Tzeng (曾世英博士) are all PittCon Committee members.

 

PittCon is the world’s largest annual premier conference and exposition on laboratory science, attracting more than 18,000 attendees from about 90 countries.

 

The 2014 Patton will be held at McCormick Place at Chicago Illinois.  The conference/lecture will be March 2 to March 6, whereas the exposition will be March 3 to March 6, 2014.

 

PittCon donates more than one million dollars a year to support various chemical science related projects and activities and scholarship to high school and college students.