Fred

Fred, Prince of the family:

You guided us and you guarded us,

To discipline us, you exercised authority,

Yet rendering nurturing care at the same time!

Yes, you commanded, and you never demanded.

Nevertheless, your charismatic charm always drew people to adore you.

Now you are leading the way of homecoming to peace,

Returning to the blessed loving arms of Papa and Mama;

“Sweet Prince,

Flights of angels sing thee to thy sleep!”

— Your siblings, 10/21/2023

Uncle Fred, 

You always made me laugh! You are in our thoughts and hearts and you will be truly missed. 

Love

Jeannie 

The Unabridged Version of "What Would Uncle Fred Do?" 

Uncle Fred arrived in Detroit from Taiwan about the time that I was old enough to begin elementary school. He was on his way to attend the University of Illinois in Urbana- Champaign to continue his architectural studies. Uncle Fred was probably not aware of the impact that he would have on my life.

Uncle Fred was COOL! He wore athletic tee-shirts that made his muscles look even bigger and he wore a dark navy blue pea coat with a black knitted beanie cap. He wore a gold cross on a golden chain around his neck with his jet black hair which was neatly combed. I always envisioned Uncle Fred as a Chinese Marlon Brando or James Dean. Often times, Fred would come to visit us in Michigan on a weekend or we would drive to Chicago to spend time with Fred and his friends. Uncle Fred always had the most beautiful girlfriend. The one I remember was Monique (or Monica?). Anna and I liked her a lot because she was not only pretty but was always nice to us. Uncle Fred was a great artist and would often sketch an image (with a ball-point pen) of the latest songs of the time from a Nat King Cole (Unforgettable) or a Patti Page (The Tennessee Waltz). Fred would write all the lyrics in his architectural styled lettering and he would sing the song (his great voice) and I memorized the words to those tunes. His accompanying sketches would make each song come alive and forever etched them in my mind. A song introduced to us by Uncle Fred, Doris Day's song "Que Sera, Sera", which was used in the Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much", provided a mantra for my life. Those singers and songs of the 1950s are still among my favorites.

Soon, Fred met the love of his life, Juliana, and Anna and I got to be the flower girl and the ring-bearer in their NYC wedding. That was my first suit and I got to use Brylcreem in my hair for the first time. Uncle Fred and Auntie Juliana became one of our summer destinations for the next 6 or 7 years as their family grew with 4 new cousins. We got to visit Uncle Fred's work office at I.M. Pei, who I remember meeting a few times. Auntie Juliana worked for Taiwan at the United Nations, which was such an impressive place to see when Uncle Fred took us there to meet with her. Going to NYC, with Uncle Fred was always a treat and he would point out architectural structures and tell us stories. I remember Rockefeller Center, St. Johns Church, Empire State, Statue of Liberty, and the Citicorp Building. Trips to the museums were always better with an Uncle Fred narration and commentary on historical events. Whether it was the Metropolitan, the Guggenheim, Natural History, or the MOMA, I always learned new facts. The nearby trips to the Cloisters and West Point also stood out. The most memorable trip was in 1964 when we saw the NY World's Fair in Flushing Meadows. The steel globe that still sits near the site of the US OPEN pavilions and some man-made ponds are all that remain today, but the sites and sounds of "It's a Small World After All" and the visions of the future on display shaped much of the dreams that I continue to draw from.

Often times, I would reflect on "what would Uncle Fred do in this situation" and that has proven to be the path that I would take. Uncle Fred remains an inspiration and aspiration for me throughout my life.

THANK YOU, Uncle Fred!!! Love, Bobby.

Rest in absolute peace, Uncle Fred. I will always remember you with a big smile on your face, dressing dapper. You once came to visit us in Michigan when I was about 7 yrs old. My mom Jeannie cooked us burgers and as we sat on our porch, you taught all of us kids about the Pyramids of Giza through your vivid, gifted way of storytelling. We were all riveted, soaking in your curiosity about the world and life. 

All my love,

Chase Sui Wonders 

"What Would Uncle Fred Do?"

My Uncle Fred has always been an inspiration in my life.

I first met Uncle Fred when he arrived in the US to attend the University of Illinois in the mid-1950s. He was both handsome and physically fit. Fred's larger-than-life persona represented an Asian Marlon Brando or James Dean to me. He often wore a navy blue peacoat jacket and a wool cap during the Fall/Winter season. I remember his sleeveless athletic t-shirts with his gold crucifix chain. He introduced my sister and me to pop music of the 1950s and taught us the lyrics to many songs of that era. He studied architecture and with a simple ballpoint pen, Fred would sketch a vision of each song as he wrote out the lyrics for us to memorize and sing together with him. The precise legible architectural style of each hand-lettered word was always evident on the lined notebook paper sheets. "Tennessee Waltz" and "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window" suddenly came alive in our imaginations.

Fred would visit with us during his Spring Breaks and holidays. On a trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts, Fred would point out artists and narrate the background or highlight the "vanishing point" or symbolism of a given artwork. Whether singing or lecturing, he was always enthusiastic and maintained a joie-de-vie that was both contagious and inspirational. A trip to the museum or historical location truly felt like a "Magic Schoolbus" episode.

There were always possibilities with Uncle Fred. His quick thinking and smooth talk got us through security at the United Nations and he conducted a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. He seemed to be able to converse his way into and out of any situation. That is the life lesson that will always stay with me - "What Would Uncle Fred Do?"

Love, 

Bobby

I regret not meeting Fred Fang. His journey sounds like a facinating one and his life well-lived. Learning about him provided insight as to why it was such a pleasure, as an architect, working with Edward.

My condolences to the family. John