Yan Ming was my friend and colleague, a great physicist, fun to interact with, a great person. He was a source of knowledge,  always ready to help, to discuss, to smile. What a loss! He will remain  in my  mind, memory and heart forever. Goodbye my friend,
Wojciech (Voitek) Byszewski 

I am greatly saddened to hear of Yan Ming Li's passing.  I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife and family.  I worked with Yan Ming for many years at GTE/Sylvania/Osram Sylvania.  I clearly remember the first conversation we had during lunch while he was on interview.  We discussed the differential equations of fluid flow needed to describe the competing flow of air in a chimney, the hot air rising as the fire starts versus the cold air falling in from the outside.  Our conversations and interactions grew more interesting and enjoyable over the years. He will be missed by his peers, but is, most probably, in a better place now.

I knew Yan Ming as 大佬叔叔 when I was a child, and as 大佬姨丈 since 2015.  When I was in college, he always made time to have dinner with me whenever I visited Boston, and drove me around countless times. Even my college friends who have only met him a few times have remembered his selflessness and his wide knowledge in a variety of topics.  The photo I'm sharing is from my wedding in 2016. I had the joy of attending his wedding, and I'm so glad he was able to attend mine. 大佬姨丈, I didn't see you as often as I saw other relatives, but I always knew you as a part of our family.  

Love, Ashley

I visited Him on Aug 2017, he drove  me around the whole day to see all the highlights in Boston. He was such a sincere and truful person. We haven’t saw each other’s almost 50 years since our Ying Wa time. I never forget his smile and gentleness. 
Rest In Peace.
From Simon
英華同窗五十載，
波城相會機難再，
天殤英才早先逝，
痛失良朋心難耐 。


Met Yan-Ming since June-4,1989, together organized the 6-4 Memorial service every year and the relevant events at the Boston area, he seldom missed any event, unless he’s not at Boston.
For thirty years friend, I miss you Yan-Ming!

Yan Ming was my high school classmate at Ying Wa College. I remember at Form 4, Grade 10 of American system, our Chinese History teacher asked us to do a project. His project report started with the sentence : "忘記了過去，就是背叛". This is a quote generally ascribed to Lenin, meaning " If you forget about history (of Russian slavery), then you rebel (against the revolution).  Lenin was rarely known to youngsters of colonial Hong Kong. This shows Yan Ming's broad knowledge and intellectual development at a young age.

He was a helpful and joyful guy. At Form 5, Yan Ming and us formed a study group to prepare for the public examination. It turned out he was helping the rest of the group most of the time. And he did it with joy, sincerity and patience. He maintained this attitude throughout his life. There is a quote of Lao Tsz, 天道無親， 常與善人. I wonder that is true. But with Yan Ming's character, he would not mind this. He will live happily in another world.

黃香





Years ago when we planned to move to Boston, a friend in Germany was eager to give us some contacts in case we needed help in Boston. One of the names on the list was Li Yan Ming. So we heard about you before you became our Big Brother.
For every past gathering, we always counted on the food you bought from Chinatown. For every heated discussion, we always counted on your opinion to give us direction. You always found time to talk to our kids too. All these years, we have been accustomed to your presence. Suddenly, we miss our Big Brother, and our kids' Uncle Ming.
Josephine & Alex

If I remember correctly, Yan Ming and I sat next to each other in our 1966-1967 high school class which is the equivalent of Grade 9 under US system. In our high school, seating plan would not change after  semester started.
 Grade  9 is arguably the beginning of intellectual development for youth whose talents and aptitude on his/her studies will surface. Yan Ming was reading mathematics beyond Grade 9. What also strikes me was Yan Ming 's book list includes philosophy, punctuated with political ideology which are not touched by the majority of high school students in those colonial days. 
We lost touch after 1969 but reconnected in recent years and was supposed to meet again in Dec 2018 when he told me he would attend the 200th anniversary of our high school.  Without any elaboration,  he wrote me in Oct 2018 that he won't be able to attend regardless of my  effort to get him a ticket. The rest is history.
Yan Ming, I miss you dearly.

Goodbyes are hard on me.  It did not really matter that we had known what to expect years ago when we learned of his illness, and in the days leading to his departure.  He left us with much memory of our good and sad times together.  We are glad that Yan Ming was our friend.

Yan Ming was a wonderful mix of wit and charm.  He was a frugal person but always generous and easy-going to others.  His inquisitive mind made him an accomplished scientist, and an inspiring big brother among us.  

The obituary photo was him turning away from the speechless Cambridge Police Department at a street festival booth.  He just finished challenging the authorities how come they thought they could compete with esteemed restaurants and cooking schools in that spare-rib contest.  He did not gnaw on the police’s cooking.  The challenge was of logic, which even the authorities need to abide to.  He set a memorable example for me.


Yan Ming had one of the kindest smiles to share with everyone he came across with, and he was indeed one of the kindest people I had known. So sad not to be able to say hello to you again before we had to say goodbye. Your kindness will forever be in our minds, forever. 



I met Yan-Ming when I was a undergraduate student at HKU, 1979,  but really started to know him 10 years later, when I was a post-doc at MIT. The 1989 incident is what brought us and many other friends close together. 

I came back to HK in 1991, and haven't talked with Yan-Ming or with other old Boston friends as much as before. Well, I thought we are all busy contributing in our own way to the betterment of our society, and I always imagine that we can still talk and walk together as in old times after our retirement. 

I am really sorry and regret that this opportunity is now lost. Yan Ming, I shall drink a glass of self-made wine for you tomorrow and play a piece of music for you!

We will always treasure the time we spent walking along the shores of Castle Island together talking, laughing, and arguing.  We will miss you tremendously. Thank you for being a wonderful friend. 

豬潤 (Nickname in high school in Hong Kong):
I remember you as a mild mannered, always smiling and very friendly classmate some 50 years ago at Ying Wa College (high school), Hong Kong.  We were teenagers then.  I have never seen you angry, or aggressive, as some of your other classmates (me included).  You were Mr. Likable.  You were a highly intellectual guy, excited by science, mathematics, philosophy and politics, like many of the Cambridge residents.  I wish we had gotten together more often, as we have been neighbors in the area.  Now I want to see you around more, but you are gone…
Below photo was one of the few occasions where several Ying Wa classmates got together, in the summer of 2017.  You were strong and cheerful then!  Keep smiling at us in heaven!
傻噹


Li Yan Ming!

I have been playing Sam Hui’s songs in the past few days nd I hope that you can hear them!

This photo was taken after the conference for the 25th anniversary on April 26, 2014. You will be missed for the 30th anniversary this year, but we know that when one day we see a free and democratic Hong Kong, you are part of the process and progress. You fought a good cause, and you fought even harder and longer than your old car! It is because of the collective efforts of people like you that history is progressing. 

I hope you are smiling in heaven now saying “哦!”

Rowena

Some forty five years ago, as hallmates in the legendary Old Halls (明原堂) at Hong Kong University, we had the good fortune of sharing our vibrant young lives and dreams together ever so exuberantly under the Halls' inspiring motto: 

      明眼有滄浪，憑欄欲共鯤鵬起 
      原心皆坦蕩，對客何妨門闥開 
      With an eye for the world, we aim far and wide and to fly high like eagles 
      With a heart of gold, we reach out nobly and welcome people of all kinds. 

This is what defined Yan Ming. My dear bro, your thoughtfulness and kindness to all will be sorely missed.   

Brother Ming was the second son of our family. When we were young, we were doing crazy things just like other street kids in that old days. When brother Lam and me got into troubles, he always standby our side and protect his little brothers. Our parents gave him a nickname " King of the Bull " ［牛王明］

Actually he was a gentleman with great personalities and virtues.
A sincere soul with big loving heart. He always has a smile, respect the elders and take care of the young within friends and relatives. We are feeling grateful and blessed for his generosity to give his best for all of us.

Brother Ming, we are missing your loving smile and you are always in our hearts.

Sam & Esther

7 February 2019

Yan-Ming, our Big Brother 
You were the most honest  person and a true gentleman. You loved Hong Kong and were our expert about this land 
I can’t believe that I have known you for almost 30 years.   We were together at Tang Hall, East Gate, 13-3101, Lotus Flower, Far East Cafe, Fresh Pond, Lake George, New Hampshire , ....  You were always a good friend and a great companion 
We have had informal lunch meetings on Wednesday for many years.   It is sad that you won’t be with us any more.    However, you will always be in our memory. 

We met Yan Ming in the 1990s.  He witnessed several big moments of our lives: when Edward graduated, when we got married, when our first son was born.  Before we had kids, we spent many weekends together walking around town, eating the $5 rice box at Chinatown Cafe, renting videos from Blockbusters to watch at our home, and chit-chatting with other Hong Kong friends.  The only problem was that it was hard to get in touch with him.  While most people were carrying a Nokia at the time, he didn’t carry a cell phone at all.  If we couldn’t reach him at home, we would try checking out MIT library.  Most of the time, he was there on a weekend afternoon.

He was a bachelor for a long time.  Once someone asked if he would get married, he replied in a typical Big Brother manner, “尾班車飛站”.  He meant that he missed the right timing.  Well, some people may have found their ride earlier in their lives but that their experience was not good.  He got his ride later but his journey was the most romantic and beautiful one could imagine.

Yan Ming had set many records among people we have known:  owner of the highest mileage car, buyer of a condo after checking out only one or two properties, and the most important of all, he was the nicest person anyone could have met.  He had his special charm that would bond and bring people together.

Thank you for being such a good friend and a forever Big Brother for us.  Rest in peace.

Doris & Edward


We had many talks and many walks together. This one was barely 10 months ago after searching for the fallen baby great horn owl at Fresh Pond. CP and your beloved family, friends and I all returned to that spot the day after you left us.  Couldn't find that baby owl, nor its parents, anymore...  It saddens me that you wouldn't be there for the search with us, anymore.

We will always remember how Uncle Ming gave us an insider’s tour around MIT. This was his favourite place for sleeping in MIT. He said many revolutionary ideas were born from countless naps on these sofas. We will miss his great sense of humour.

We are so blessed to have Uncle Ming touch our lives. He was a wonderful example to us. He taught us to live life with patience, curiosity & of course love. Our memories with him in Boston will be cherished forever. Uncle Ming will always remain in our hearts. 

Love and memory from your old friend and family . Miss you always!

Hiking with Dailo a couple of years ago. 
大佬，we miss you!
                                               with love from 
                                             Chris and Garlin 

OBITUARY

Yan Ming Li

February 23, 1952 – February 3, 2019

Deware Funeral Home

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