Hong-Yee Lin's Obituary
Hong-yee Lin passed away at home on August 25, 2023. He was resting peaceful when he entered the eternal library. He was 88.
Hong-yee, also known as Henry, was born on March 26, 1935. He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and lived in Taichung, Taiwan with his family. He was the child of Cherng-Jou Lin and A-Joun Lin Wei, the oldest of eight children, a role that took on extra significance when he lost his father to illness in high school. He attended Taichung Agricultural College and earned a degree in plant pathology.
On March 18, 1965, he and Ju-chu (Julia) Lin started their lives together. They had been married for almost 56 years when she passed away in 2021 after a long illness. Their enduring bond includes devotion to their two daughters and three grandchildren, a passion for gardening, and experiences as world travelers. As a young couple they fully took advantage of his position in the airline industry. He seemed to possess an inner GPS, able to find both well-trodden destinations and hidden gems on various countries and continents, a talent that amazed and delighted her.
In 1984 they moved with their daughters to Fremont, CA, a quiet suburb in comparison to the bustles of Taipei. Their lives became quieter as well, but he took on the unconventional challenge of learning to drive in middle age, as well as navigating a new country in other ways. Their spacious new backyard inspired them to take up gardening with enthusiasm. After they had turned the barren space into a verdant oasis, he took pleasure in frequent strolls among their many fruit trees, appreciating both their forms and function, and in sharing the bounty with their lucky friends and family.
He pursued many interests besides gardening, including photography, movies, and music. Although he enjoyed various types of music, his taste leaned towards classical. There was always a good stereo system and a piano in the house, and he encouraged his daughters and grandchildren to take piano lessons. When the mood took him, he would open the piano and play, and Chopin's Military Polonaise was a particular favorite.
However, his most serious hobby was books, both as a reader and a collector. He was fluent in Chinese, Japanese, and English, and he was an avid and adventurous reader in all three languages. His tastes were exceptionally broad. As time went on, his library came to include classics, mysteries, science fiction, and an eclectic collection of nonfiction with topics such as health, travels, essays, history, social studies, and science. There was even a marijuana cookbook! He believed in the power of the printed words and encouraged intellectual exploration in his daughters and grandchildren. Books were a constant companion throughout his life, offering information, entertainment, and solace.
Hong-yee has lived fully as a caring son, brother, husband, father and an indulgent grandfather. He is survived by his daughters Linda Yueh-ling Lin Lindley and Ellen Yueh Luen Lin; his sons-in-laws Eric Lindley and Ted Haard; his brothers Hong-dao Lin, Hong-wen Lin, and Hong-ren Lin; his sisters Ching Lin, Su Lin, Yah Lin, and Ying Chi Lin; his sisters-in-law Yu-jhi Lin Liang and Christiane Lin; his granddaughters Annette and Nora Lindley, and his grandson Adrian Haard. He is predeceased by his wife Ju-chu Lin, whom he missed deeply. As we mourn his passing, we'd like to think of them together again, strolling in a lush garden and a peaceful library.
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