悼念亡友 許文正兄

悼念亡友 許文正兄

To the Dear Departed- Wen Cheng Hsu (a.k.a. Victor Hsu)

                                   

                             故 許文正先生遺照

                                  

許兄簡歷：

生: 11/04/1940             歿：04/28/2017 (享壽76, 虛歲78)

過世地点：美國俄勒崗州

嘉中校友(1959) ，台大外文系畢業(1963) ，嘉中英文教師，JAL(日航) 台北分公司高級職員，台灣及巴西兩地拆船工業先驅之一，後經營國際鋼鐵業買賣生意。

【本文】：

2017年7月7日，聞汝喪雙旬之後，始能銜哀致唁，弟深感惶恐與震驚。

自1953年在嘉義中學首次相識，已逾數十寒暑。1959年汝我同時考上台大外文系，同班者尚有羅正展、范板雄、賴國雄(歿)、陳吉雄、賴政孝、暨本人共柒名。在校中，吾人雖常被同學背後暱稱為『嘉義幫』，但不成群亦未結黨，有時甚至『七人八派』。

大學四年中，我們生活在一起，住在台北市基隆路的台大第九男生宿舍，汝、吾和呂學周同學三人，且同住一寢室-107室，連續共達三年之久。系上王葆生同學後來搬入，住了兩年。

大學畢業後，兄、國雄、板雄和本人共肆人，同時回到母校-嘉義高中任教英文。但不久後，汝離開嘉中前往台北另謀高就。相處機會頓然減少，直至吾兄因工作關係全家移民巴西。2000年在美國有過電話交談，但未見面。爾後有一次在嘉義重逢，本人有幸做個『小東』，並邀故鄉-嘉義市其他共同相識同學作陪。久別重逢，倍感親切。

2010年本人由洛杉磯遷居西雅圖，而汝恰巧由巴西前來探望住在俄勒岡州的令郎。從此保持連絡，幾乎每個月一通電話，互報平安。余曾戲曰『每月通話一次，一年十二次，吾人壽命即減少一年』，彼此相悟而笑。

某次吾等相約，在波特蘭和西雅圖之間，選一適當會面地點，結果，令郎熱心為吾等挑選了地点。可惜，約定時間之前两日，本人突患重感冒，約會被迫取消。如今回憶，仍覺十分遺慽。

2016年9月，賴政孝同學來美度假，突生意外, 受重傷住院，經本人告知後，汝十分熱心地在令千金Liyun，陪同下，親住史丹福大學醫院，前後探視政孝，共達『五次』之多。每次探視後，汝必向余彙報其復原狀况。汝如此作為，一方面固因同窗之誼，另一方面，則因汝受余之託。縱然政孝家屬對余之熱心與關懷，毫不領情，然汝對同學和朋友之情卻遠勝『兄弟』之親情，也令人感動。

2016年年底，汝滯留巴西未回，余被告知汝將於2017年2月返回。如所期盼，2月中，汝從波特蘭致電本人，汝已返美。彼此俱盼望安排見面，汝提議去南加州的橙縣，因為我們共同好友和同學-劉吉棠兄與汝內弟亦住該地。豈知此等期望竟成泡影。

兩個月前即2017年五月，余心中突有奇怪預感。平常余去電，汝必回電。若未去電，汝亦主動來電。两個月來音訊全無，事情恐有蹊蹺。

惟頃聞汝家人提及，返美後汝突患「直腸惡疾」，然短短數十日，竟以此疾之手術併發症而殞汝生乎，恐尚難令人相信，抑別有疾而至斯極乎? 吾等同學仍覺茫然。

直至2017年7月7日，據可靠消息得知，吾兄確已於本年四月下旬『離開人間』。但未何整整遲了兩個月之久? 嗚呼！『汝病吾不知時，汝歿吾不知日』，何足堪稱「同窗、好友」乎?

汝之軀體業經火化，骨灰也散入太平洋中。汝之畢生為人也，乾淨俐落，生不帶來，死不帶去，簡單明白。但却留給同學們一片難忘的回憶。

嗚呼！『言有窮而情不可終』，汝其知也? 余『生而無法見汝最後一面，歿不得親瞻遺容』，嗚呼哀哉! 尚饗!

文正吾兄，一路好走! 上帝和你同在，佛陀向汝招手。

謹向 許大嫂暨其他 許府大小致上無限關懷，並請節哀!

陽賴正雄-阿賴 (Justin Lai)

寫於美國南加州

07/09/2017

P.S. 以下另附英文翻譯,以符全球校友之需要

《悼念亡友 許文正兄》：

To the Dear Departed- Wen Cheng Hsu (a.k.a. Victor Hsu)

Obituary:

Born: 11/04/1940

Deceased：04/28/2017 (享壽76, 虛歲78)

Death Place: Oregon, U.S.A.

Survived by: wife, two children & three grandchildren

Reg. # at Waiwenxi, Taita (台大學號): 481226

Expertise: language proficiency in English, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, Amoy, etc., and business management

Not until July 7, 2017 -two months after your passing could I hear of your death. I feel so fearful and indescribably shocked.

We have known each other on high school campus for decades since 1953. In 1959 we were simultaneously admitted to Waiwenxi, Taita.  There were then 7 people of us-alumni of same high school, including羅正展、范板雄、賴國雄、陳吉雄、賴政孝、and myself. Some fellow classmates in Taita nicknamed us “The Gang of Chiayi” though we were not gangs at all.  Sometimes, we were even much divided in our thinking.

On college campus we studied and lived together, at same dorm-9^th Boys’ Dorm, at Kee-lung Road, Taipei. In the same room. You, Sam Lu (呂學周), and I lived consecutively for three years. Then 王葆生moved in, joining us for two years.

After graduation from Taita, you, 國雄、板雄與本人，all four of us returned to our Alma Mater- Chiayihi High school to serve as English teachers. However, a few years later you gave up the teaching job, going to Taipei to search for a higher position.  Time for meeting with each of us became less…. Finally you and your family left for Brazil for even higher positions in the field of shipyards.  In the US we had a valuable chance of telephone conversation once in 2000 though we did not actually see each other in person. And then one day you dropped in on me in Chiayi. It was such a really pleasurable encounter after a long time of separation that I invited you to have a long chat at a small welcome dinner, with the company of some other classmates we both knew.

In 2010, I moved from L.A. to Seattle, and you happened to visit your son in Portland, Oregon. It meant we were closer than before.  Ever since then, we kept corresponding by telephone once a month, paying best regards to each other. I told you jokingly, “We talk once a month. We may talk for a dozen times a year.  And then our ‘life span’ would supposedly thus be lessened for one year.  We both laughed, realizing its ‘delicate but wise’ implication.

To meet each other face to face, we agreed to choose an ideal place located in the mid-way between Portland and Seattle. Luckily, your son helped us to find a good location. However, the appointment had to be canceled because I had caught a bad cold a few days previously.  So far I have thought it most regrettable.

In September, 2016, one of our classmates, Eugene Lai came from Taiwan to the US for vacation and had a serious accident, lost consciousness, and was hospitalized for a few months.  On being told by me, for yourself and instead of me, you went to the hospital, accompanied by your ‘helpful’ daughter,Lyun for as long as “FIVE” times.  After each visit, you would immediately keep me updated about Eugene Lai’s condition. Even though Eugene’s family were totally unappreciative about my concern, your love and concern for a classmate is way above ‘brotherhood & affection’ of real brothers.  Your benevolent and gracious act did win classmates’ respect and appreciation. 

At the end of 2016, you were in Brazil, informing me that you were scheduled to be back to America in February, 2017.  As expected, you called me in Feb. 2017 from Portland, telling me you were already in USA.  We both longed to plan a reunion to see each other. You kindly proposed to meet in Orange County in southern California.  Because one of our best friend and classmate, 劉吉棠 and your brother-in-law both are both living there. Who could possibly predict that such a proposal and plan for a small reunion should fail to come true?

Two months ago, or May, 2017, I had a hunch that something must have gone wrong for I had not heard from you since early March of 2017. As usual, I called you, and you were certain to call me back or even initiatively and actively called me.

We were recently informed that you suddenly contracted “Colon Cancer” after coming back to America. But how could this illness deprive you of your life in dozens of days? It is hardly believable. And some of classmates are still confused that there might have been some other illnesses than this oncological problems.

I did not get the confirmation that you are really gone until the day before yesterday- 07/07/2017. Alas! How regretful I am for not having had least idea of when you were ill, and when you should have passed away! I am immensely ashamed of being called a ‘good classmate and bosom friend of yours’.

Your body was cremated, and ashes of your remains were sprayed and or thrown into the Pacific. You have been a person who calls a spade a spade. No tomb stone, no urns, no epitaph, nothing, whatsoever. But, to be sure, you left behind a lasting memory of how nice and kind you were.

Alas! “Speech is limited; our good feelings for you are boundless” Hopefully, you are aware of this.  Nevertheless, it is my deep regret that I failed to see you before you departed from us for good, and took a good look at your face when you breathed your last. Alas!

Brother Victor, have a nice trip! God be with thee!

May we present condolences from the bottom of our hearts to the bereft family of the Hsus?

Justin Lai 賴正雄-(阿賴)

In Southern California, USA

07/09/2017