In loving memory of My Father Sheng Chyi Sam Wu (October 1, 1935 – July 30, 2023)
By Jo Wu

As I write this tribute to my 87-year-old father, Shengqi Wu, who is affectionately known as Uncle Sam, my heart is heavy. He is a smiling, optimistic and generous person. He can easily talk to young and old and has a great sense of humor. His resilience, positive mindset, and sheer willpower to recover from the medical struggle were extraordinary. I think of the incredible impact he had on my life and the lives of so many others.

In Taiwan, he conducted a five-year survey of waterworks and hydroelectric dams. He came to the United States to pursue graduate studies in civil engineering and then designed railway train cars for 15 years (1967-1982). At night, he would transform into the owner of the first Chinese restaurant and bar owner in small Missouri (1974-1980). His hard work and determination really inspired me.

For 65 years, my father was not only a faithful husband to my mother, Sally, but also an engaged father. Despite his father's busy schedule, he found time to participate in the community and build long-lasting friendships. When my brother Jim and I were younger, he served as Scout leader and Girl Scout County treasurer. We would drive across the country with family and friends. These budget-limited summers taught us a lot of strategy card games, brought us closer together, and created lasting memories. Later in life, Sam and Sally went on to travel countless times, exploring 33 countries on six continents. These adventures broadened his horizons and enriched his understanding of different cultures.

My father's love for sports was evident, he played softball at a young age and watched sports on TV whenever he had the chance. Tennis became his weekend hobby, and golf was his daily leisure until he was 84 years old. He embraces these activities enthusiastically, always encouraging friends and strangers to join him. He is an avid bridge player who learns through newspaper clippings and takes bridge classes at the Taiwan Center every week.

My father had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a keen interest in the world around him. He enjoys discussing stocks, current news, and politics, and having thought-provoking conversations. His second career was spent approximately 40 years (1982-2019) as a real estate agent in San Diego, making a lasting impact on the lives of the people he served.

He is left behind his beloved wife Sally, daughter Joe, daughter-in-law Jennifer, and beloved grandchildren Jessica (27), Natalie (25), Jenna (25) and Jared (22).

In memory of my father, our family kindly asks for donations in his name to the San Diego Taiwan Lutheran Church or the San Diego Taiwan Cultural Association. These organizations are close to his heart and reflect his passion for supporting the Taiwan issue and protecting our cultural heritage.

As I bid farewell to my beloved father, I am relieved that his spirit will live on in our hearts forever. His trustworthy character and generous kindness will continue to guide and inspire us. May his soul find eternal peace, and may we honor him with the same compassion and devotion he embodied in his extraordinary life.

My heart is heavy as I write this tribute to my father Wu Sheng Chyi, age 87, who was affectionately known as Uncle Sam. He was a man who possessed a ready smile, optimistic attitude, and a generous spirit. He could easily converse with both young and old, with much humor. His resilience, positive mindset, and sheer willpower to recuperate from medical battles was exceptional. I am reminded of the incredible impact he had on my life and the lives of so many others.

In Taiwan he surveyed waterworks and hydroelectric dams for 5 years. He came to the US for graduate studies in civil engineering, and subsequently designed railroad train cars for 15 years (1967-1982). In the evenings, he would transform into the owner and barkeeper of the first Chinese restaurant in a small Missouri town (1974-1980). His hard work and determination were truly inspiring to me.

My father was not only a devoted husband to my mother Sally for 65 years, but he was also an actively engaged dad. Despite his busy schedule, my father found time to be involved in the community and build long-lasting friendships. While my brother Jim and I were young, he served as the Cub Scout den leader and Girl Scouts county treasurer. We would take driving trips across the country with family friends . These budget summer vacations taught us lots of strategy card games, brought us all closer together, and created lasting memories. Later in life, Sam and Sally would continue on numerous travels, exploring 33 countries across six continents. These adventures broadened his horizons and enriched his understanding of different cultures.

My father’s love for sports was evident as he played softball as a young adult, and watched TV sports whenever he could. Later tennis became his weekend passion, but golf was his daily escape, even until age 84. He embraced these activities with enthusiasm, always encouraging friends and strangers alike to join him. He was an avid bridge player, clipped newspaper bridge games to study, and would attend weekly bridge sessions at the Taiwanese center.