华人世界 | 莱镇人文：赵钟英——丰盛人生无止境

Beatrice C. Lee

On September 9, 1931, Beatrice Lee was born in Nanjing. Her father, Chao Shirui, graduated from the fourth class of the Whampoa Military Academy. He once served as the Director of the Inspection Division of the Chongqing Garrison Command, the Commander of Zhoushan Supply, and other positions, with the rank of lieutenant general. Her mother, Feng Xianwen, graduated from Ginling Women's College and was once the head of the Sericulture Department at the college. In her childhood and teenage years, Chung-Ying lived with her military father in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Fujian and other places. The most memorable were the eight years in Chongqing. At that time, her family lived in Chongqing’s Yangjia Garden, neighboring the faculty quarters of the Central University. As a child, Chung-Ying was naughty and often climbed trees with boys. Although she was often disciplined by her mother, the playful experience left beautiful memories and formed her cheerful and optimistic personality. There were also many hardships and sufferings in the memories of young Chung-Ying. She could never forget the scenes of the "May 3rd and May 4th bombings" in 1939, and the tunnel tragedy caused by the Japanese bombings in 1941. Along the way the maid took her home, gun smoke was still in the air, bomb fragments littered everywhere, broken arms and legs hanging on the tree branches, and the corpses at the entrance of the bombed tunnel were piled higher than she was tall. Every time Beatrice recalls those tragic scenes, she feels deep pity for the deceased and hated the crimes of war. In her diary published at the age of 90, she urged people not to forget the “national shame” because “history may repeat itself.”

Beatrice’s 12 years of schooling had her attending nine different schools. Thanks to the strict requirements of her mother and the good teachers, she built a solid academic foundation. Upon graduating from elementary school, she was admitted to the prestigious Nankai Middle School in Chongqing. After the victory of the anti-Japanese War, the family moved back to Nanjing. She first enrolled in Mingde Girls' Middle School, and later at the high school attached to Central University. When she was in high school at the Attached High School of CUHK, she excelled in drawing chemistry lab equipment, writing mathematical formulas, and was nicknamed "Doctor of Chemistry" by her classmates. In July 1949, her family relocated to Taipei. She was admitted to Jianguo Middle School. One year later, she graduated as the valedictorian. She was admitted to the National Taiwan University Law School, while also receiving a four-year scholarship from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the United States. 

During college in the United States, Beatrice majored in social service and minored in art. She was very active in school, loved to study and play. She succeeded in academics and made many friends at the same time. Beatrice was a Chinese student popular with local students and families, and often visited her classmates' homes on weekends. She is talented in art, often painting. A fellow student Corazon Aquino, who later became the President of the Philippines, used to be Lee's model. Aquino's portrait drawn by Beatrice was auctioned off by the school.

On October 15, 2016, 62 years after graduating, Beatrice Lee was awarded by her alma mater the "Give Glory to God" Outstanding Alumni Award, one of two awardees. 

On June 12, 1954, Beatrice married Raymond (Ruijun) Lee, whom she met during her college years. They were married for 56 years and regarded each other as their dearest love. Raymond was a Suzhou native and traveled from Shanghai to the United States to study Chemical Engineering. He was managing a leather factory in New Jersey when they got married. After their marriage, they lived in a small town in Michigan for two years and settled in Massachusetts in 1956. They had five children in seven years after their marriage, and Mrs. Lee was a homemaker for 16 years. When the children started to go to university, Beatrice started her professional career. She worked first as a math teacher, and then for 25 years as a social worker in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, until she retired at the age of 62.

Reminiscing about the 16 years she stayed home with the children, Beatrice said that as soon as she opened her eyes in the morning, she would see the children crawling around on the bed. It was the happiest of the times. She cooked the most meals in the shortest possible time, was constantly hand-washing diapers, and washed clothes continuously, breaking three washing machines over the years. In the busy life of raising her children, the young newlywed, who used to be served by nannies and maids, was transformed into an independent woman and a strong mother. Beatrice believes that teaching by example is more important than teaching by words in children's education. She said that she was strict with herself and set an example for the elder child. She believed that her younger children learned from their older siblings which made raising a large family, daunting by modern standards, much easier. Raymond was also very involved in raising their family which allowed Beatrice, a full-time stay at home mother, to earn two Masters Degrees from Northeastern University, one in education and the other in social services. She also earned a teaching license and Massachusetts civil service qualifications. 

Beatrice and Raymond’s eldest son Patrick enrolled in Harvard University, and all five children have achieved happiness and success in their lives. They have become a medical doctor, a software technician, a lawyer, a Marketing professional, and a teacher respectively. The children have been influenced by their parents and incorporate some parental values within their families.  Their youngest son, Peter, lives in Lexington with his wife, Jiliana, and four sons. 

Beatrice has 13 grandchildren, including 4 adopted from China, and they have also achieved success. Among the second-generation children, their spouses, and the third-generation grandchildren of the Lee family, there are eight Harvard and four Yale degrees, and one is studying for a PhD at MIT. The grandchildren like to be around their old grandmother, and Beatrice is very proud of them.

In the late 1950s, Beatrice and Raymond wanted to do something for the community and the next generation. The couple began to work in the Chinese community. Together with several Chinese families, they established a "Social Club" in 1959, that later changed its name and registered as the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association (GBCCA). They opened the Newton Chinese Language School, where Beatrice was one of the volunteer teachers, and in 1963 established the Chinese Family Camp (CFC) at Lincoln Hill Camp in Foxboro. All three organizations are alive and thriving to this day, more than 60 years later. 

The GBCCA organizes cultural and artistic activities such as the Chinese New Year Party every year and organizes the Happy Age Club to serve the elderly. It has a huge influence in the Chinese community. Newton Chinese School was established 62 years ago and has since developed into more than a dozen affiliated schools with more than 1,300 registered students. October 12 has been designated as Chinese School Day by the City of Newton. Beatrice has spent countless hours and great efforts on the development of the three organizations. They have become established institutions in the Chinese community. In 2012, the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association awarded her a lifetime achievement award for community service. 

The Chinese Family Camp (CFC) is based on the principles of Family, Fun, and Friendship. Annual attendance is usually capped around 200 campers and a waiting list is not uncommon. All of Peter’s children enjoyed attending CFC every year through their high school graduation . Peter has been involved with CFC for many years and is currently the President of the CFC Board. 

Beatrice's community service career did not stop at the three non-profit organizations she helped launch. Volunteering and donating to the community have become her lifelong habits. Currently, she donates $6,000 to various social organizations every year. When she was 74 years old, she picked up the pen and started a column called "Traveling Everywhere" for local Chinese papers such as the Boston American Times, Asia Times, Boston Community News. The column reports on various theatre performances, tourism, and cultural activities. She wrote it for ten years, totaled hundreds of thousands of words. In the era of new media, she began to write daily essays at the age of 89. She has since accumulated more than 100 articles. These essays have become a rich book of life with fond memories.

As a nonagenarian, Beatrice likes to interact with young people and learn about new things. In the Medford Senior Center, she is often referred to as the “young woman” by those who are much younger than her, because she always seems to have endless energy. The secret of her youth at an advanced age is not only in her open-minded and optimistic character, but also in her confidence in her values. Beatrice has a very positive “can do” attitude, is actively involved with her many friends and local organizations, and constantly derives nourishment from new things. 

When I first met Beatrice Lee, seeing her in the crowd was like a moon among the stars. She commanded respect because of her age, experience, and achievements. However, after meeting a few times and getting to know her better, I began to understand that she is sincere, enthusiastic, and does everything with utmost effort. That kind of passion and persistence comes from her broad and exuberant vitality. It is her very radiant personality that gives her a strong aura and makes her the center of the crowd. It makes people forget her age and only feel her lively energy. At the age of 85, Beatrice received a congratulatory birthday letter from the White House. Then-President Obama and first lady Michelle wrote in the letter: "You have become a part of the great American story." Beatrice, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, joked: "Why doesn't the White House send me a congratulatory letter at the age of 90? My story hasn't been finished yet."

Beatrice Lee, a 90-year-old young person, continues along on her journey and writing the story of her prosperous life.

Everyone is able to live long, the secret is to live happily in the present. What did a family do to raise 8 Harvard, 4 Yale and 2 MIT alumni? Why did they found Greater Boston Chinese Culture Association and Newton Chinese Language School 60 years ago?

As the proverb says: Home is the first school for children and mother sets the tone at home. So what kind of teaching and example does Beatrice set for her children? How does she  cultivate so many outstanding members in the next generation? In her youngest son Peter Lee’s eyes, what kind of mother is Beatrice?

Peter Lee is a 29- year resident of Lexington with his wife, Jiliana, and their four sons, ranging in age from 22 to 34. Following Beatrice’s lifelong example, Peter is also an service-oriented volunteer. He has been a town meeting member since 2007 and served on a diverse range of boards and committees in Lexington. He served as the first President of Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL). In 2016, Peter was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the nationally recognized President’s Volunteer Service Organization. Outside of Lexington, Peter has carried on his parents’ legacy with the Chinese Family Camp (CFC) in various roles over more than 30 years. He currently serves as President of the CFC Board of Directors.