Tribute to My Dearest Grandpa

My beloved grandpa who raised me during my early life in China had forever left us on January 28th (CST), 2024, aged 87.

Throughout his life, he had always been a harder worker, a devoted husband and father to my grandma, dad and my aunt. He is a generous, independent and stubborn person with a big heart. He loved singing, working out, trying new gadgets, buying wood furniture, and riding his electric bike. During my childhood, he’s the one that would take me and pick me up from school. When I got a little older, I’d walk to school without his company. Everyday after school, he would always peek his head out, and waiting for me at the window of his condo until I went inside the building. Even though he lived on the fifth floor of his condo which doesn’t include an elevator, he still managed to climb stairs almost every day - so he could go outside and running errands. Now he’s older, so he needed to make a few stops. He would stop and catch his breath, then kept climbing to get home. Grandpa is someone always on the go, and never wanted to stop - despite the fact that he still had some neurological deficit resulted from the stroke he had years ago.

Circa 1962. One of Grandpa’s professional headshots.

Grandparents’s first visit to the states. 2014, Daytona Beach.

Grandpa took care of his appearance as always. I loved shopping for him whenever he wanted anything.

Dad has been visiting China for the past two months. One day before he was supposed to fly back to the States, he returned to grandpa’s house to see them one last time. Grandpa insisted to go to the local market to get some fresh veggies for a family meal - even advised not to by my dad. When he came back home - that was after climbing five flights of stairs, he told dad that he started feeling chest pain. Dad sat grandpa down as his chest pain usually went away after rest. But this time, grandpa started vomiting. My dad hugged Grandpa and told him who he was and he’s here with Grandpa. Grandpa acknowledged as he slowly lost his consciousness. Soon after, his face lost its usual radiance.

Dad called the ambulance, and for the first time ever, he performed CPR - on his father. My dad is not a medical person, but he followed the exact instructions from the phone and did almost 15 minutes of CPR until the ambulance arrived. They took it over and resuscitated grandpa for an hour. But grandpa is tired this time; he couldn’t keep going anymore.

2017, Shanghai.

The night before grandpa passed away, grandma said grandpa cried like a child for a long time: he knew at age 87, he wasn’t going to see dad again after he left China this time. I know Grandpa was heartbroken.

I've always known one day I’d have to face losing you, but I was still not prepared for this. Grandpa, I’m so proud that you made it to the fifth floor to see dad one last time. You’ve been a warrior all your life until your last breath. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be there to save you. You’re my best friend. I will hold onto all the good memories. Thank you for giving me so much love when I lived with you as a child, I’ll love you forever and ever.



Love,

Grand daughter Gia

2024.1.29

Riding my favorite ride with grandpa

Circa 1997. HePing Park, Shanghai, China.

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