溫志達老師紀念特刊

This webpage was set up and designed on Apr 16, 2016 by Tyrone Vuong 王永健

Teacher Wen's Special Edition

啓智首頁 KT Home Page 老師相簿 Teachers' Albums Contact us: 王永健 tv0808@hotmail.com

適逢溫志達老師十二週年逝世紀念日，啓智網站接到69年文科校友陳淑萍寄來的『溫志達老師』紀念特刊，裡面有溫老師女兒 Lucille 親自執筆的文章 “In Memory of Our Parents”，以及『父親的一生』圖文並茂介紹。

啓智資深望重英語教師溫志達

每個明日懷念我 溫志達老師紀念畫冊陳淑萍（啓智69年文科）

無冥冥之志者，無昭昭之明；無惛惛之事者，無赫赫之功。這是已故溫志達老師，所抱持的宏偉信念，以致晚年仍然能夠完成《征服英語介詞》的著作。加上早年的《英語語法大全》（上下兩冊），這兩部英語文法巨著讓溫老師傳授，鑽研已久的淵博英語學識時，不再受限於時空束縛，而得以垂輝映千秋。

溫老師1907年2月22日在印尼出生，2004年4月16日在美國加州辭世，享年97歲。他五名事業有成的子女，永言孝思，昭哉嗣服。在溫老師逝世12週年，忌辰即將於4月16日來臨之前，為緬懷慈父，女兒們重新精心製作一輯感人的紀念畫冊，圖文並茂介紹父親的生平、家庭、離開越南的難忘經歷、重新在美國建立幸福家園的一生里程。

畫冊內容豐富，涵蓋：溫老師逝世前幾年，寫給學生的親筆書信；在陳治國同學提議下，一張環繞地球一匝，表達敬愛的彌足珍貴生日賀卡，填滿了僑居世界各地門生的親筆簽名；老師最後一次97歲壽辰慶生宴的歡樂圖片；生辰兩月後離世的葬禮與追思，以及老師遺言叮囑展示的攝影作品。溫老師漫長的著作心路歷程，以幽默形式呈現在《寂寞長征介詞》一文上。

溫老師自小愛好學習英語，一生與英文結下不解之緣。13歲跟隨父母，從印尼返回中國梅縣祖家接受教育。他好學不倦，在中學時已經飽覽群書。從高三開始初試啼聲，翻譯世界名著《堂吉訶德》，譯文每天在廣州報章，長篇連載整整一年。升讀大學時，不幸家道中落，年輕的溫老師努力不懈筆耕，翻譯荷馬史詩《伊利亞特》，所賺取稿費，足以自供自給完成大學課程。畢業後，溫老師在廣東防城中學教導英語，至抗日戰爭爆發不久與妻移居越南之後，繼續在知用中學和啓智中學重執教鞭。

高瞻遠矚的溫老師，作為一名教員，未能滿足其鴻鵠之志。他毅然決定全心投入寫作生涯，在門徒呂少芳的協助下，孜孜不倦編撰了上述學習英語語法的輔導書。溫老師著作與編纂這三冊在北京出版的書籍，成為學習英語者的優良助學工具，造福了無數莘莘學子。

陳淑萍（啓智69年文科）

In Memory of Our Parents Lucille（溫老師女兒）

INTRODUCTION: I cannot recall a lot about our Dad’s childhood. My knowledge of his early life is based on his autobiography, “A Lonely Expedition”, which recounts how he was in Indonesia. At 13, he went to China with his parents and was raised and grew up there. He finished his University, obtained a teaching career and married our Mom. To my astonishment, at an age of over 90, Dad still remembered how to speak Indonesian with my friends who were from Indonesia. In fact, they were surprised that he was able to speak the native Indonesian that was very difficult to pronounce. This was a surprise to all of us. It was amazing that Dad might not remember something he did or spoke of only overnight, yet he would never forget something that was very important to him although the incidents might have happened many years ago! The following is what I could remember about our dear parents. The memories are unforgettable!

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: Dad had a passion for literature at his young age. He had studied about 30 world famous books that were translated from English into Chinese. He had also translated Don Quixote by Cervantes and Iliad by Homer, from English into Chinese. He had also assisted me in translating “Look Younger, Live Longer” by Gayelord Hauser, which was published in the Chinese newspaper in S. Vietnam. He had taken thousands of pictures in the past. He had won several awards for his photo exhibits in both S. Vietnam and San Francisco. An American Reporter interviewed Dad in S. Vietnam, and wrote an article on his interests, work and his family. Dad enjoyed reading and writing. He would spend a considerable amount of time looking for a good book in the bookstore. He enjoyed reading books on nutrition, health, art, history and politics. He enjoyed walking every day, and that was considered good exercise for him. In his early years, he traveled with Jan frequently. He asked me to sing for him and to share my music books. He appreciated nature and beauty. He loved flowers and plants, particularly the Aloe Vera. He read a great deal about the miraculous cure that this plant could perform on human. At his age of over 90, he still loved to go to the concerts although he couldn’t hear very well. He had so many interests that his life was always occupied and exciting. When I was with Dad, I could learn a lot from him, not only his gentleness and kindness, but also his wisdom and patience. He enjoyed “life”, and he was a man who treasured simple things. In those things he valued he was truly wealthy.

GOAL AND CAREER: Dad had spent most of his life time working as a teacher in English and was entitled “King of Teachers” among his students in S. Vietnam. He always believed in one thing: “The most important thing in life is to live not for money or fame, but to live with a goal that could help others.” He had kept this goal as his promise to others all of his days on earth.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Dad had spent 13 years in writing a 1700-page book on Comprehensive English Grammar. With the great support by his student, Siu Fong Evans, and especially the review by the famous writer, Prof. Dao Zhen Zhang, the book was published at the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press in Beijing, China in late 1998. It received a great demand from people in China. Within a year, it was re-printed for five times. Mom passed away on September 29, 1997. It was with deep regret that she was not able to see this book!

THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHILDREN: In order to escape the tragic war in S. Vietnam, and to build a better life for the children, Dad and Mom had tried their utmost to send us, one by one, to China (before World War II), Taiwan, Hong Kong and America. I was sent to Hong Kong in 1969. At that time, I realized our parents had really worked so hard to provide their children with a better life of freedom. Without their support and loving gesture in hiring a lawyer to submit their application for my entry to America, today I should not have ever lived in this country! I owed them more than I could ever repay for their love. Never should I forget the moments of my deep sorrow amidst my hopes for the future when I had to leave our parents in S. Vietnam. You can imagine my great joy when I was again united with our parents in America in October 1977. Although the passing 8 years had added more gray hair and wrinkles to our parents, they were still healthy and happy to see me. Dad had prepared a big sign: “Welcome to America!” in the living room and I saw it as soon as I walked in. Considering their efforts and sacrifice, I am a very fortunate child!

THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: Our parents had lived a simple and humble life. They loved to save every penny if they could. Never did they spend any money on something that was considered “expensive” or “luxurious”. On the contrary, they were happy to help their children in any way they could. Their love for their children was “equal”. Everything they did for the children was out of love and good intentions. Throughout their lives, they only played a role as a “giver”! When I was very ill in S. Vietnam, while Mom was practicing acupuncture in the village, Dad was so worried about my condition that he submitted a resignation to my employer to ensure that I could forget my job, and be able to rest. He paid a doctor to check on me at home every day. Dad was worried and did not sleep all night.

THEIR COMPASSION FOR OTHERS: Mom used to help the poor relatives and friends in S. Vietnam. She sympathized with poor people. In her early years in America, she was dedicated to her church. I was surprised to learn that Mom never missed her Sunday services and was always early. She used to enjoy the company of the children at the church. During her last years, she could hardly walk, but she still tried her best to cook for the members at the Church, which she enjoyed tremendously! Dad used to walk to China Town twice a day. He used to give money to the beggars, or used clothes to the homeless people. He thought those people were less fortunate than he was. He particularly sympathized with those aged people who needed to beg for money and were not cared for by their children. After Dad and Mom finished reading the Chinese newspaper in the morning, Dad would fold the paper neatly and return it to the man whom he bought the paper from, so the man could sell it to another customer for extra money. To others, this could be considered as “unworthy”, but to me, it showed they had a kind heart for people.

There is a Chinese saying: “Those who have done “good” on earth will be sent to Heaven during their passing.” I believe our parents should now be in Heaven where there are beautiful flowers, streams, oceans, mountains, libraries and churches. There are angels who sing hymns in praise of them.

Farewell, dear Dad and Mom, until we are together again. We miss you!

Lucille