美國新冠疫情日記 10/07

Chinese American Pioneer Uncle Art Ping Lee

Uncle Art Ping Lee was laid to rest in peace last week in Washington, DC. He was born in 1914 and has lived to the age of over one hundred years and he is a true pioneer in our community. He was the founder of the America Lee’s Family Association and the An Leung Association and was a leader in the promotion of our civil rights in America.

In the early 1970’s when I arrived in San Francisco, I had the opportunity to edit Lee’s monthly newspaper and I knew all of the Lee elders and leaders in San Francisco, Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles and all the major cities because I was his editor who reported and wrote the news for all of them.

In the late 1980’s, my brother Dan and I went to DC on a snowy day and we met with my classmate CC Hu in Chinatown. He asked us, “what are you guys doing here?”

We replied that we wanted to publish a weekly newspaper here and he was so surprised. From his expression, you knew he thought it was mission impossible. We then went to visit Uncle Lee at the Chung Hwa Association. He greeted us with a warm welcome and introduced us to Mr. Chow who later became our community reporter. Because of Uncle Lee’s support, we were able to expand our connections and we gradually started to publish a weekly paper in Washington, DC.

About five years ago, Uncle Lee came to Houston to visit. We hosted his one hundred year birthday party at our Houston headquarters. Many of our friends got together to cut the cake and enjoyed the party.

Speaking to all the guests, I said, “I just want to express my appreciation to Uncle Art Ping Lee again and again. Because of your guidance and assistance, we were able to start our journey in the nation’s capital.”

Uncle Lee, you have fully enjoyed your life because your kindness and contribution will always be remembered by all of us. Please Rest In Peace.

By Wea H. Lee

Republic of Guinea Honorary Consul of Houston, Texas

向移民前輩致敬

--- 悼念達平叔

值此全美各地正是疫情隂影籠罩之時，從華府傳來李公達平叔仙逝之惡耗，聞訊後心情隱痛萬分。生於一九一四年的達平叔，享壽已逾百歲，早年從鄉下台山移民美國，成立華人福利會及美國李氏公所，為鄉親及僑胞爭取福利，經常奔走東西兩岸，並在首都華盛頓再創中華會館、安良工商會及美京洪門致公堂等重要社團，是位美國傳統僑社之重要精神領袖。

七十年代初，我剛抵舊金山，在都板街的李氏公所四樓為全美李氏公所創辦了李氏月報，和宗親們結下不解之緣，遍佈在全美各地，包括紐約、舊金山、華府、洛杉磯等各大城市之元老，總長及主席都曾在我编撰的李氏月報上出現過。

八十年代末，我和舍弟著華出征首都華盛頓，在一個嚴寒飄雪的上午，我們在華盛頓中國城巧遇中央社駐美特派員胡宗駒學長，他看見我們手中捧著的報紙感到非常託異，我告訴宗駒兄是到華府來辦報的，從他的表情可以看出這是項不可能的仼務，我們道別之後立即到H 街的中華公所去拜訪李公達平叔，他非常高興我們的來訪，並立即介紹公所秘書周連超先生相識，並在他不遠的餐廳為我們接風，並對我們長征美國首都之豪情表示支持和鼓勵，在這陌生的城市一直是達平叔之指引及周連超不斷提供的僑社活動新聞，讓我們在此紥根成長。