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2018年6月26日驚聞三天前唐仲英爺爺去世的噩耗，我一時震驚語塞，眼淚止不住流下來。最爲懊悔的是，在他去世前的一周，我還曾經經過Las
Vegas，只是因爲時間短暫所以改了原來要去探望唐爺爺的計劃，誰知道這一改和唐爺爺永遠失之交臂，後會無期。當時還想着，八月份等唐爺爺生日的時候，帶先生和兩個孩子去探望他，可是現在卻永遠沒有這個機會了。傳道書3:1説“凡事都有定期，天下萬物都有定時”，我只能調整自己去相信這一切都是上帝最好的安排，也禱吿唐爺爺在天國永得安息。
認識唐爺爺是在18年前，當時我還是一名南京大學大二的學生。因爲大一時我的成績是全系第一名，經過同學和老師的評選，我獲得了南京大學第一屆唐仲英奬學金。第一次看到唐仲英先生，他低調而親切，完全感覺不到作爲一個成功實業家常有的驕傲，相反他讓同學們感覺就像爺爺奶奶那樣和藹可親，所以從那時候起我們同學們就都親切地叫他唐爺爺。因爲事先並不知道唐爺爺要來學校，我沒有準備任何禮物，知道的時候，我翻了一下自己的東西，只有一雙新的外婆給我綉的綉花鞋墊，一直沒有捨得用，所以就拿來送給了唐爺爺，沒想到那一幕還有珍貴的照片留了下來。第二次看到唐爺爺是同年的秋天，我參加了第一屆唐仲英德育奬學金在上海的交流會。當時有11個學校的學生代表都聚集在上海交通大學閔行校區。在交流大會上，唐爺爺號召我們要努力學習，服務社會。會後各個學校都紛紛響應，建立自己的社團。我們南京大學的學生建立了南大天健社，取義于易經的“天行健，君子以自強不息；地勢坤，君子以厚德載物”。通過天健社，同學們展開了一系列的服務社會的義工活動，包括去敬老院探望老人，去孤兒院探望孩子們，做環保的廢舊電池回收工作，甚至包括去擦洗各個南京大屠殺紀念碑以求警鐘長鳴不忘國耻，等等。唐仲英奬學金的獲得者大多都是品學兼優，家境貧寒的學子，通過這一系列的義工活動，在回報社會的同時讓我們減少了self-pity,而找到我們的社會價値。許多年以後，我們的獲奬者想起來，都認爲這是我們最有意義和特別的奬學金，不僅僅從經濟上幫助我們完成了學業，而且讓我們學會感恩並且能夠以己之力回報社會。
第三次見唐爺爺的時候是2007年的夏天，我當時在美國田納西大學讀硏究生。聽説唐爺爺有中風，所以我聯繫了基金會去Las
Vegas探望他。感謝基金會韓延清的照顧和安排，在那三天里我有幸和唐爺爺一起吃飯和交流。其中有一個令我特別感動的場景是在一個自助餐，唐爺爺看到我愛吃一種甜品蛋撻，儘管他當時在中風恢復後走路有一點費勁，他還幫我帶過來，讓我多吃一點。還有一次在午飯後，我們在Bellagio酒店走廊上一起散步，他給我講述了他剛來美國時候的奮鬥歷史，説開始的時候要一個人兼幾份工，在飯店端盤子等等。他問我我的夢想是什么，還吿訴我做事業要一步步來，關鍵要勤奮誠信。這一切都還歷歷在目，仿彿就在昨天，眞的很難相信唐爺爺已經離開了我們。斯人已去，但這些音容笑貌，智慧良言卻永遠留在了我心間。
爲了送唐爺爺最後一程，也希望能有機會給唐爺爺的家人表達我的感激之情和送去慰問，7/14日我去參加了唐爺爺在芝加哥的追思會。事情都很巧，7/13日是我的生日，我乘坐的是晩上最後一班的red
eye飛機，要check-in的時候才發現，我買的票是7/14日的飛機，還好當天晩上飛機不滿，加了一百多美金，最終順利成行。背着行李，在會場我去洗手間刷牙整理一晩上的勞頓。在那里意外地碰到了唐爺爺的妹妹Lily還有和她同行的浦瑛女士。在出行前，我有做一些research,
知道唐爺爺家里的主要人員，也知道他妹妹Lily是非常有名的鋼琴家同時也是一名牧師。但是沒想到，第一次見面卻是在洗手間。同她哥哥一樣，Lily才華橫溢、典雅大方，也像家人一樣親切。之後在浦瑛女士的介紹下，我們幾個奬學金獲得者又有幸和唐爺爺的弟弟，兒子還有女兒做了交流表達了我們對唐先生以及他們整個家族的感謝。其中深有感觸的是，整個唐氏家族的人都低調而內斂，眞誠而謙遜。
John12:24 “我實實在在地吿訴你們：一粒麥子不落在地里死了，仍舊是一粒；若是死了，就結出許多子粒來”,
唐爺爺雖然離開了，但是他的精神卻永遠留了下來，活在我們心中。他不僅僅是自己身體力行幫助別人回饋社會，並且激勵了別人去做同樣的事情，所謂薪火相傳，生生不息。他立志于建立中美文化交流的友誼的橋樑，這一切努力都會被我們後人永遠記得並感念。
唐爺爺，感謝您出現在我們的生命里，我們会想念您，期望天国的再会。
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I am deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Tang’s passing. I am
one of the thousands of students Mr. Tang has helped through years.
I first met him in 2000 at Nanjing University, China when I was
awarded Cyrus Tang Scholarship. At the first meeting, I was so
impressed by his demeanor, wise, caring and down-to-earth, which
reminded of me not only a successful entrepreneur but more like our
grandfather. As a result, our students called him ‘Grandpa Tang’.
Later that year, I met him again at Shanghai, where the first Cyrus
Tang Scholarship Conference was held. In the conference, he inspired
us to serve community and contribute to society. Answering his call,
students from 11 universities in the conference all built up groups
afterwards volunteering in different community services such as
visiting elder homes, orphanages, homeless people, or even recycling
batteries. As many scholarship recipients recalled, this was the
most special scholarship we have ever received in our life, which
not only helped us finish our education financially but also taught
us how to be a better citizen.
My third and also the last meeting with Grandpa Tang was back to
July 2007, when I heard that he recovered from a stroke. I visited
him in Las Vegas and had lunch together for two days. I can still
remember in the Japanese buffet restaurant, in spite of his
inconvenience in walking, he even managed to bring an egg tart to
the table for me as he noticed that I love that desert. We also had
a walk together with some precious conversation that I will cherish
forever in my life. He talked about his work experience when he
first immigrated to states and when he was only 19 years old. He
also checked with me about my future plans and dreams. He taught me
that career needs to be developed step by step and being honest and
trustworthy is the key. All of those memories are still vivid as
yesterday and it’s so difficult to accept the reality that he
already left us.
However, as John 12:24 says: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls
to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it
dies, it produces many seeds ”. Grandpa Tang is just like a grain of
wheat from which much fruit has been and will be produced. Despite
the pain of losing him, we should celebrate his successful and
fulfilling life, which left a lasting tribute of man who has not
only served others generously but also inspired others to do the
same. The bridge he has built between US and China to foster greater
understanding and mutual respect will forever be remembered and
appreciated.
To Tang family, please accept my deepest condolence for your
family’s loss. My heart and prayer are with you. Grandpa Tang, we
will miss you and your wonderful and gentle soul will forever remain
in our hearts.
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楊柳燕與唐仲英的弟弟 |
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