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On the morning of August 11, 2024, the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences held a memorial service for Mr. Tsung-Dao Lee. Professor Li Zhongqing, the eldest son of Tsung-Dao Lee, was unable to attend in person due to health reasons, and entrusted Professor Liang Chen, Vice Dean of the School of History of Nanjing University, to deliver a speech as a representative of the family, entitled "I will always be a part of you, and you will always be a part of me."

The speech is available in both Chinese and English versions. Fanpu is authorized to publish them simultaneously. The title of this article is added by the editor.

Speech | Li Zhongqing

“I will always be a part of you. You all will always be a part of me.”

I will always be a part of you; you will always be a part of me

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for your condolences, sympathy and support to our family after my father passed away!

Since we announced this sad news on August 4, we have been flooded with private condolences to the family and public memories of my father.

Today's memorial service is the first event to commemorate my father.

In fact, you all know Tsung-Dao Lee as a physicist, educator, and scientific leader better than I do; to me, Tsung-Dao Lee is also a generous and loving father, my dear dad.

Dad is not only my intellectual inspiration, but also my source of strength and vitality. I could tell you many details about the significant impact he had on my life. But what I am most grateful for is that he taught me to explore knowledge, pursue truth, focus on work, be humble, be responsible, maintain national pride, be honest, appreciate art, and pursue innovation and make a difference instead of chasing money, material things and fame.

I also want to share with you today the vitality and thoughtfulness that my father displayed in his final months. Almost until the end, he could still walk a short distance with help. Even when he was bedridden, he was still able to speak, think, and communicate with us. He repeatedly told us how much he loved us. He spoke more and more about his relationship with my mother.(My mother died in 1996)The wish of reunion and going home. Now, I hope they can fulfill their wish.

In the last few days of his life, Dad would say, "I will always be a part of you, and you will always be a part of me." Although only his family was around him at that time, I think his words were not only for us, but also for his teachers, colleagues, friends, science and motherland over the years.

Finally, like you, I am very honored to be a part of my father's life; and like you, I will cherish the part of my father in our lives.

Thank you very much! Thank you very much!

Tsung Dao Lee 1926-2024

11 August Memorial Service

Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science

James Lee

English version

“I will always be a part of you. You all will always be a part of me.”

I will always be a part of you; you will always be a part of me

Thank you so much for your condolences, appreciations, and expressions of support.

The swell of personal messages and public postings since we announced 4 August the news of Dad’s passing has been overwhelming.

Today is appropriately the first memorial service organized to remember him.

Publicly in ways that you know better than me, Dad was a physicist, an educator, and a scientific leader, but I knew him mainly as my father.

Dad was my bulwark of strength, of overwhelming vitality, and of wisdom. I could dwell for pages of his role in my life. What I appreciate most are the values and importance he taught me of intellectual pursuit, of concentration, of humility, of duty, of national pride, and personal integrity, of appreciation of fine arts, and of making a difference rather than making money.

However, I would like to conclude today with something about Dad’s vitality and thoughts during his last few months. Almost up to the end, he could still walk short distances, albeit with assistance. Even when he became bedridden, he was still able to talk, think, and communicate.

In Dad’s last few weeks, he repeatedly said how much he loved us. During his last few days, he would also say “I will always be a part of you. You all will always be a part of me.” Increasingly, Dad also talked about reuniting with Mom (who died in 1996) and returning home. Hopefully in some way, he achieved his wish.

I, like you, am proud to be a part of my Dad; and also like you will always treasure the part of him in me.

Thank you very much.