Peter Chang

February 28, 2020
Dear Bruno,

I was looking forward to celebrate your 90th birthday in your Champaign home in March 2020, but was so saddened to learn that my wish has become impossible. You’ve been on my mind ever since January 15th, 2020, and I still can’t accept the fact of living without your presence. I miss you so much! And I have seen you in a dream two days ago. I was hoping to share my grief with students and friends to make me feel better, but that didn’t help much. It’s going to take a long while for me to recover.

I first met you in summer 1988 in Seattle at the University of Washington when you were teaching a summer course, and I was visiting my Central Washington University’s school friend in Seattle. Shortly after, I arrived in Champaign on August 15, 1988 to begin my Ph.D. program. You invited me to dinner at your home and drove me around the town to show me around, and took me under your wing as your advisee. For three years of my time taking courses, you taught me some many things, and gave me advices on so many matters from academic advising to life experiences and to exploring the potential in myself. You know I was poor, and needed financial support to continue my study. You have always helped me not only finding support from the university, but also find the ways for me to earn money by letting me paint your house among other projects such as house sitting.

You treated me like a member of your own family with respect, care and affection. All these went far beyond teacher-student protocol. It is your true humanity that allowed you to care for me, a Chinese student with different cultural background and life experiences, to grow professionally. Your generous support and unselfish moral codes have set examples for me to remember and to emulate. I can always sense that you’re happy upon hearing my progress. I cherish every moment of my study with you at Champaign. I was married in Urbana, in 1991, that you helped me to make all the arrangements from filing the marriage license to ceremony, to dinner and to post-dinner gathering; and you bought us wedding presents which have accompanied us for many years. Without your advice and support, I can’t imagine what I have accomplished: I completed my degree in 1995 and landed a permanent teaching job in the same year. I and my 3 Illini friends at NEIU were so honored to host you for your lecture, and to share a delicious cake from “Dear Heaven,” one of the best bakeries in Chicago, after your lecture. As I took you back to your hotel in the loop, I knew you were happy to see us, too! I was very lucky to have you as my trusted friend for your wise advices, and to talk to you freely about many personal matters. You often told me “life can be beautiful” which always gives me hope.

I was very happy to have you come over to my house for dinner and to cook for you in 2006, and to accompanying you in Beijing to translate for your lecture for the Central Conservatory of Music in 2007. It was surreal for me to treat you at a Peking duck restaurant, and walking together after dinner to visit my parents in their apartment on that trip. I know you are a gourmet, and always want to share anything yummy with you, and you are always graciously receptive. You’ve treated me at Bombay Grill in Champaign as well as other restaurants there on my visits to see you in March each year. I remember that you liked a special Chinese restaurant in Chicago’s Chinatown when we had dinner there, and you thought the food was delicious, and the price was reasonably inexpensive. You invited me and my family for an afternoon tea with your own pastries and cakes just 2 years ago, and offered to help Philip, my son, if needed. Phil has graduated from UIUC last year and is currently working in New Jersey for a Biotech company. You have sent me copies of your new books with your autograph as well as the beautiful picture book of Wanda’s artwork. I will always treasure them! For me, you’ve never left us as you will always live in my heart!

With utmost admiration and appreciation,

Yours truly,

Peter Chang