In Memory of Our Dearest Friend, Yizhe ( Sunny)
----David Daqing Wang
Hello Everyone and thank you for coming.
（My name is David Wang. I have known Sunny for 33 years and it has been an honor to call him my friend. We are both from the same hometown in China and we both attended Henan Medical University as classmates. Even our parents were family friends, so my relationship with Sunny is very deep. For the next portion of my speech, I will be speaking in Chinese. I apologize in advance to all the non Mandarin speakers. A translation of my speech will be provided for your convenience. ）
Today, we gather here in memory of our dearest friend, Yizhe (Sunny). Upon hearing of Yizhe's sudden departure, we were all shocked and in disbelief. Our grief over his passing is beyond description. On behalf of the Class of 1986 of Henan Medical University, I would like to express our sincere condolences to Yizhe's family, as well as send our gratitude to the Cleveland Evangelical Chinese Church (CECC), Renovo Neural Inc., and everyone sitting in this room today. Thank you all for coming.
Just like his name, Sunny, he was bright, kind, and humorous gentleman, a loving husband, and a caring father. He will be tremendously missed by all of us. Our hearts and prayers go out to your dear family.
Thirty three years ago, Yizhe began his journey into the medical profession with the rest of the Class of 1986 at Henan Medical University. He was an outstanding student who impressed everyone with his hard work and positive attitude. He earned scholarships every year during medical school and was actively involved in all aspects of school activities. He was not only a skilled debater, but also an excellent musician. After graduating from medical school, Sunny pursued a Master's degree at Beijing Medical University, and later practiced as an otolaryngologist at the First Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Medical University. He treated all of his patients with love and respect, and was remembered by all as a kind, caring, and dedicated physician.
In 1993, he came to Medical College of Ohio for his Ph.D. study. He demonstrated outstanding leadership as well as excellent academic achievement. He was elected as the President of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) for his exceptional communication and organizational skills.
Although he was raised as an atheist, Yizhe turned himself to God seven years ago. His son, Nathan, injured his cornea as a baby in an accident and was told that a full recovery was impossible. Desperately, Yizhe turned to God and prayed for miracle. God showed him his grace and healed Nathan. Yizhe along with his wife, Fengying, became Baptists since then, because “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Yizhe decided to share with the world all God had given to him.
Besides his family here in Cleveland, his 80 year-old parents are still living in his home town in northern China. Every Sunday evening at 10 pm, he would call his parents and chat with them. Every two years, he would bring his entire family to visit his parents. At work, Sunny worked in a lab that often required regular monitoring over a long period time. Voluntary overtime on the weekends and long working hours was normal for Yizhe, but you would never hear him complain. For many years, Yizhe had also supported a Chinese child who lost his father. He was a popular man with a big, warm heart and had many friends whom he had helped. Unfortunately, he has parted from us to go to the next life. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, …”
Yizhe, you have left this world, but you will never ever leave our hearts. “Let life be beautiful like summer flowers and death like autumn leaves” as written in Tagore's poem.
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For you are with me; Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
