I first met Wei Chen at the Chinese New Year Festival gala in 2015. He flew back to Memphis from Los Angles specifically to attend the celebration. I vividly remember that he wore a purple silk traditional Chinese Tang suit and greeted me with a big smile and a firm handshake. He thanked me for taking the lead on this event, and encouraged me to do whatever we saw fit for the Chinese community. We chatted about the history of Greater Memphis United Chinese Association (GMUCA) and the fond memories of previous celebrations. I can’t recall the details of our conversation, but I do remember that he assured me not to worry about the financial issues. Indeed, every year, when we began the fund raising for the Chinese New Year Festival, he always cut a large check for the event, making up the gaps for whatever we needed.
In early 2003, Wei Chen, together with a group of Chinese Memphians, decided to establish an association to help Memphis Chinese and promote Chinese language and culture. The first meeting was held in his house, and the Greater Memphis United Chinese Association (GMUCA) was born. As a founding member of this organization, he opened his house and his office for meetings, he opened his wallet to support the vision, and he contributed his time to design the brochure for the first Chinese New Year celebration – the Year of the Sheep. Out of the three original initiatives – establishing a Chinese Language School, hosting the annual Chinese New Year Festival and running a weekly Chinese newspaper, Memphis Chinese Times, two of them are still going very strong.
Since then, Wei Chen had been an active member and main sponsor for all the Chinese events. He might not be able to participate all the activities because of his busy schedule, but his presence was everywhere. He made sure funding was available and activities were well prepared and organized. His family often attended those events as well. We became so used to receiving his support that whenever we were planning something, Wei Chen was always the first person we asked for help.
Of my many interactions with Wei Chen, what impressed me most was his positivity, warmth and kindness. I never heard he had said any negative words towards anything. I always saw him smiling, even when facing difficulties. He would praise whatever we did, and appreciate the efforts we put forth. His comments were always something like “Go ahead do it. Just let me know if you need any support.”
Supporting other people unconditionally. This is what he has always done, from the very beginning when he came to the U.S. in the 1990s. In the memorial website we have set up for him, appreciation stories from past beneficiaries are extremely touching. Many of them have never actually met him. For example, when one Chinese student came to the University of Memphis and somehow did not have financial support for his study, he sent a brief email to Wei Chen asking for help. Immediately, Wei Chen sent him a check without any conditions. Later on, Wei Chen didn’t even remember that he had ever done that. Another example. He once sent a huge check to help education in Harbin, a northern Chinese city. No one knew about it, even his family members. It is only until now that the beneficiaries showed the picture of the check to thank him that we knew what happened.
One of the most memorable adventures Wei Chen took was his flying around the world in 2011. On my bookshelf at home, I have the book “Around the World in 69 Days” signed by Wei Chen. I read the book again during the past few days, and was deeply inspired again by his amazing trip. In fact, in the memorial website for Wei Chen, many people have expressed thankfulness to him because of his travelling story. Some were inspired by his braveness and began to learn flying the airplanes. They hope one day they can fly around the world too.
Wei Chen’s good deeds and adventurous stories were well recognized worldwide. Hundreds of agencies, associations and individuals, from the Chinese Embassy in the United States, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and City of Memphis, to Friends from Hunan Providence have sent letters of condolences and flowers to express the sorrow for the loss of the exemplary leader, Wei Chen.
We will pray for Wei Chen. May he rest in peace! We will pray for his family. May they be strong! The Memphis Chinese community will never forget about his bravery, generosity and devotion, and will always cherish his warm heart and remember his encouraging smiles.
(My speech at Wei Chen's Memorial Service on 1/5/2019, U of M Rose Theater)
怀念陈玮
大孟菲斯华人联合会 主席:郁新华
我第一次遇见陈玮是在2015年春节联欢晚会上。他专程从洛杉矶飞回孟菲斯参加庆祝活动。我清楚地记得他那天穿着一件紫色丝绸传统唐装,笑容满面地紧握我的双手,感谢我组织这次活动,并鼓励我为华人社区做事。我们聊起了大孟菲斯华人联合会(GMUCA)的历史以及之前庆祝活动的美好回忆和有趣的花絮。现在虽然我不记得我们谈话的很多细节,但我确实记得他向我保证,让我不要担心财务问题。事实上,每年当我们开始为中国春节晚会筹款时,他总是开一张大支票,弥补我们所需要的任何财务上的缺口。
2003年初,陈玮和一群孟菲斯华人决定成立一个帮助孟菲斯中国人并促进中华语言和文化交流的协会。第一次会议就在他家举行,大孟菲斯联合华人协会(GMUCA)也就此诞生。作为该组织的创始成员,他提供了自己的家和办公室来举行会议,他打开钱包支持各种活动,他也贡献了大量时间来设计第一个中国新年庆祝活动--羊年新年晚会。在三个最初的设想中--建立一所中文学校,举办一年一度的中国新年节和每周一次的中文报纸(孟菲斯中国时报),其中两个项目仍然非常活跃和持续壮大。
从那以后,陈玮一直积极参与和赞助所有华人活动。虽然他的工作繁忙,可能无法参加所有活动,但他无处不在:他确保资金充足,活动准备充分,各项活动组织有序。他的家人也积极参加这些活动。我们也习惯于接受他的支持。无论何时何地我们计划什么活动,陈玮始终是我们寻求帮助的第一人。
在我与陈玮的交往中,最让我印象深刻的是他的正念,温和和善良的心态。我从来没有听说他对什么事情发表任何负面言论。即使遇到困难,我总是看到他微笑以对。他会赞赏我们所做的一切,并感谢我们所付出的努力。他的口头禅就是“继续这样做下去。如果您需要任何支持,请直接告诉我。”
无条件地支持他人,这就是他的信条。从90年代来到美国的那一刻开始,这就是他一直以来所做的。在我们为他设立的纪念网站上就有很多来自过去受益者的感人故事。他们中的许多人也许从未真正见过他。例如当一名孟菲斯大学的中国学生因为某种原因而没有经济支持时,他发了一封简短的电子邮件给陈玮寻求帮助。陈玮立刻无条件地给了他一张支票。后来,陈玮甚至没有记得他曾经这样做过。另一个例子。他曾经给中国北方城市哈尔滨开出了一张巨额支票来帮助当地的学生。但是没有人知道这件好事,甚至他的家人也不知道。直到现在受益人显示支票图片以感谢他,我们才知道陈玮的无私奉献。
陈玮的最令人难忘的冒险经历之一是他于2011年的环球飞行。在我家的书架上,我有一本由陈玮签名的“69天环游世界”一书。在过去的几天里,我再次阅读了这本书,并为他的惊险旅行再次深受启发。事实上,在陈玮的纪念网站上,很多人就是因为他的旅行故事而感动。他的勇敢也启发了不少人,他们也开始学习驾驶飞机。他们希望有一天他们也可以在世界各地飞行。
陈玮的善行和冒险故事在世界范围内得到了广泛认可。来自中国驻美国大使馆,中华全国侨联和孟菲斯市的数百家机构,协会,以及湖南同乡会的朋友们都致函哀悼并献上鲜花,痛悼失去了这样一个模范领袖。
让我们为陈玮祈祷,愿他安息!我们也为他的家人祈祷,愿他们坚强!孟菲斯华人社区永远不会忘记他的勇敢,慷慨和奉献,永远珍惜他暖暖的爱心,并记住他鼓舞人心的微笑!