錢子寧先生吴文敬女士夫婦長女錢福煦女士於公元二零一六乙辛年九月廿四曰晨四晨四時五分在美国加州羅省家中乘鶴西去享年八十三歳 錢女士于歸凌氏六十年

未亡夫婿凌德安 Andrew Ling

偕子凌家華Van Ling

子媳 Casey Cannon

女凌綺華 Leona Ling

女婿 William H. Stevens, Jr. 

孫William 翔林Stevens

孫女Marguerite 燕玲Stevens

泣啟

 

   公元二零零六丙戍年夏余與愛妻錢福煦結髮五十年齊眉偕老作此詩以贈

 

偕老

 

負 笈 重 洋 一 線 牽

寄 情 兩 岸 有 兒 孫

家 成 難 得 賢 内 助

生 平 最 樂 故 人 喧

齊 眉 偕 老 無 遺 憾

全 身 休 退 有 餘 樽

一 片 洛 城 一 灣 水

半 天 山 色 半 畝 園

 

 

 

公元二零零八戍子年春余妻錢福煦七十五大夀作此詩以贈

 

偕老二

 

萬 里 姻 緣 一 箭 穿

糟 糠 情 義 两 心 知

子 女 孝 悌 懷 陸 績

親 朋 康 樂 富 陶 朱

雞 兔 齟 龉 唯 忍 讓

連 理 耄 耋 貴 相 依

耆 年 偕 老 談 何 易

白 髮 攜 手 看 孫 兒

 

 

 

 

 

 

公元二零一三癸巳年秋愛妻錢福煦結髮五十七年齊眉偕老作此詩以贈

 

偕老三

 

莫 道 姻 緣 非 天 定

費 北 錯 落 到 吾 家

慧 心 獨 委 賦 于 歸

相 夫 教 子 費 持 家

人 到 暮 年 難 依 舊

再 度 銀 河 隔 兩 家

六 十 年 來 如 一 日

蘭 閨 深 處 是 吾 家

 

 

 

公元二零一六乙辛年九月廿四日早晨四時五分六十年愛妻棄世以此誌哀

 

偕老終

 

 

五 三 錯 遇 緣 天 定

能 妻 嚴 母 益 友 先

兒 媳 女 婿 誠 無 憾

甲 子 姻 緣 應 羡 仙

八 二 卦 難 竟 成 讖

两 點 情 淚 難 回 天

一 缸 香 灰 歸 真 土

未 亡 偕 老 在 心 田

 

Fuhsi Tjian Ling, a woman of great determination, ability and passion for life passed from this world on September 24, 2016 at the age of 83 years.  She completed her life as she had desired, in the home she designed and built in Palos Verdes Estates overlooking the city and coastline of Los Angeles. 

She was the oldest of nine siblings born to a pioneering industrialist from Shaoxing, Zhejiang, Tjian Dze-Ning (錢子寧, i.e. in modern Chinese Qian Zining, 钱子宁), and a young lady from Jiansu, Wu Viking (吴文敬), i.e. in modern Chinese, Wu Wenping.  Tjian Fuhsi (錢 福 煦) was named using the phonetic translation of the French name “Foch” as their home was on Avenue Foch in Shanghai. The Chinese character Fu福means good fortune and hsi煦means radiating warmth. 

Fuhsi enjoyed the privileges of being the oldest, but also the expectations and responsibilities of being大姐(big sister) and oldest representative of her family’s new generation.  As the oldest, she helped each of her siblings get established in the U.S. and in their careers.  She was大姐(big sister) to everyone she met using her great will-power, outspokenness, generosity and passion to let everyone know exactly where she stood.  She was quick to speak out against an injustice and to show empathy for those in need.

Fuhsi’s life was one that was balanced between traditional values and modern developments, new opportunities and historical upheaval, great expectations and responsibility.  Her parents grew up during the birth of the Chinese Republic and the beginnings of China’s modernization in the 20th century.  During WWII, her father developed China’s first newsprint process and started one of China’s major paper manufacturing companies while introducing to China, novel paradigms in management structure and employee development. 

 As a young child, Fuhsi experienced the violence and displacement of war, but also the resilience and industriousness of her family and the Chinese people.  Fuhsi traveled across China with her mother and at times with their extended family and factory workers.  They moved ahead of the advancing warfront, but were subject to bombardment in Guilin.  The family finally reunited and settled in Yibin, Sichuan where her father's factory was finally established.

In her teen years, Fuhsi traveled from her hometown of Shanghai to Hong Kong and then Buenos Aires, Argentina where she graduated from the American International High School.  During these travels, she learned numerous dialects of Chinese and met diverse people from internationals to local urbanites to villagers from remote regions of China.  She also developed her love of dance, song and performing on stage at this time during school shows and at factory dance classes and social gatherings.

Fuhsi’s strong academic abilities and character brought her to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston to study architectural design.  There she thrived as one of the few female students or “co-eds” and one of a small number of international students.  Her MIT experience not only propelled her into a career as an architectural designer, but connected her to a smart and handsome young MIT engineering graduate named Andy Ling.  They were married in 1956.  

Fuhsi and Andy settled in New Jersey with Fushi working at her first job at the architectural firm of Harbeson, Hough, Livingston and Larson (H2L2) in Philadelphia and Andy at Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in Camden.  As in MIT, Fuhsi was a rare female architectural designer in those days. One day a contractor came in and upon meeting Fuhsi, asked to discuss the plans with “the architect” not “the secretary”.  Fuhsi walked out of the room then walked back in and introduced herself again as “the architect” after which they worked together with no issues. 

Fuhsi and Andy had two children during this time, Leona and Van, who enjoyed meeting the many aunties, uncles and large network of friends who visited or stayed with Fuhsi and Andy.  Fuhsi and Andy enjoyed socializing with many friends hosting lively basement soirees in their home, playing Saturday night mahjong and attending social functions that often culminated in a bunny hop or conga-line.

Meanwhile, Fuhsi continued to develop her architectural skills at a second firm and as an independent architectural designer.  But she longed to build her own dream house.  Her first attempt in New Jersey was abandoned upon Andy’s move to his new job in Los Angeles.  After moving to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1966, Fuhsi found a perfect setting, a dramatic location in Palos Verdes Estates on the crest of Via Coronel.  She purchased the steep lot and began designing her dream home. In 1979, she initiated construction acting as her own general contractor.  The family moved into her dream home in 1983.   

In addition to her architectural pursuits, Fuhsi developed an interest in investment strategies including stocks and real estate.  Her quick thinking, photographic memory, architectural experience, will-power and plain-speaking also served her well in this area.  

However, Fuhsi’s greatest passion was for performance, first as a classically-trained singer, then in competitive ballroom dance.  She greatly enjoyed traveling to participate in competitions and to watch inspired performances.  Dance provided a perfect outlet for her creativity, desire to learn and love of artistic expression both in dance routines and in using her sewing and clothing design skills to create her own dance outfits. 

Throughout her life, Fushi espoused a love of art and performance; a desire to learn and create; a keen observational ability and a desire to employ her will-power and assertiveness to help others.  She inspired her children and those around her with her energy, sense of responsibility and determination. 

Fuhsi is survived by her husband Andrew, daughter Leona, son Van, daughter-in-law, Casey Cannon, son-in-law, Bill Stevens, grandchildren, Marguerite and Will and her siblings, Fukan Yen, Fuhuan Ho, Ann Tjian, Carol Tjian, Jane Tjian and Robert Tjian.  Her cherished siblings, Fuyun Tsai and Hans Tjian, predeceased her.

There will be a celebration of Fuhsi’s Life in 2017 (Date TBD).  We invite Fuhsi’s friends and family to contribute photographs, comments and stories here to help us remember her extraordinary life. 

 

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to MIT, in memory of Fuhsi Tjian Ling, Class of 1957.
Checks may be made payable to MIT and mailed to
Emily Hatch, Memorial Gifts Office
600 Memorial Drive, W98-500, Cambridge, MA 02139