Wayne Wei-Jen Fu

生死兩茫茫
夜伴欲斷腸
中秋傷明月
獨映星國涼

前世情未嘗
轉眼又陰陽
雪夜成追憶
只剩淚兩行

此情此夜長
豈能不思量
心痛無處寄
只盼你安詳

It took me a long time to write. Perhaps it was the short time I've known Wayne....but in that short time, the deep impressions he'd left reflected the remarkable person he was. Wayne was a person known to me even before I came to the School...Let's just say his reputation as a scholar precedes him. It surprised me, therefore, when we finally got to know each other better as colleagues and friends. For all that brilliance, he was amazingly patient, down-to-earth, and humble. He was both a mentor and a friend to me. When I needed a uplift he was always there to provide encouragement and a good joke if need be. I knew by the end of our 4th or 5th lunch together, that I can always count on him to provide honest and sound advice. We exchanged many stories of adventuring and hiking, and tried to tempt each other with the national parks we knew (Taiwan for him, Australia/New Zealand for me). Wayne, I will always remember what a loving father, brilliant scholar, an avid adventurer, and a good friend you are. Will always miss our lunches and meetings.

I hadn't been in touch with Wayne for a long time, too long. Been meaning to but now .... regretably, this is the only way now to thank him for being a friend.  How could one forget when it was him who took me to a hospital when it was suddenly to painful to walk? It was with his support that I was able to hobble my way to a taxi and on to NUH. Thanks Wayne for this and all the time you have shared with me in my time at NTU.   

It was Wayne who introduced me to WKWSCI and asked me to do research methods course for a few years while I was at the Business School. He was such a good freind. On leaving Singapore he gladly accepted to be on the editorial board of a new Sage Journal that I requested him to be on. Gladly and very appreciating of my work he accepted the role. Today I wanted to write to him in this respect, thankign him of his support on the launch of the first issue, and wanted to visit his webpage to find out this terribly shocking and saddening news. How could this have happened to such a good person, always full of support and such positivism that made me shy of my own limitations.

Will miss you much Wayne, may you rest in peace!

I met Wayne in Hong Kong -- before he formally left his teaching position in Taiwan to join WKWSCI. Professor Eddie Kuo introduced us at a conference and we wanted to attract him to Singapore. Wayne had lots of questions about Singapore and WKWSCI -- a very good sign. Our longest conversation occurred on a conference organized trip to the movie studios. We were crammed in a bus, with conference bags on our laps; and Wayne was all excited about WKWSCI and Singapore. As we were walking on the streets of a fake ancient Chinese town weighing down by our heavy conference bags, I was sure that Wayne had convinced himself to move to Singapore. Meanwhile, he was a little embarrassed to distract me from sight-seeing; and I was embarrassed because he was embarrassed. (I was hoping to spot a few movie stars doing kung fu. It didn't happen.)

When he started work, I was so happy. Finally, I had a person to turn to when I need help in statistics. At that time, he had a fish tank in his office. I told him it stank (it did!) and I wondered out loud if it was against school/university policy. In between telling me if my statistical assumptions were right or wrong, we would try to spot a fish or two. It was quite relaxing.

I am shocked and sadden by Wayne's passing. But all my memories of Wayne are positive -- in fact, down right funny. His life was short, but productive and meaningful. I am sorry that his wife and young children have to go through such great loss. May Wayne's good humor and positive nature continue to support them through the years to come.