Neil-Lai-Obituary

Neil K. Lai

East Windsor, New Jersey

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East Windsor, New Jersey

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Seeking Political Stability
In 1958, Neil K. Lai left Shanghai by himself at the age of 16. His father was dead, and his mother wanted Neil to flee for security to Hong Kong. Their family had been turned upside down by the Communist Party rule that started in 1949. Mr. Lai's father, a former factory owner, had been branded a capitalist.

Neil Lai worked for two years in his uncle's tailor shop in Hong Kong before attending night school. He learned English, which landed him a series of relatively well- paying jobs through the mid-1970's. But the sight of Vietnamese boat refugees in the waters around Hong Kong made him realize that the Asian political situation was unstable. So at the age of 34, he came to the United States to study at a community college in Arizona.

He transferred to Arizona State University, where he studied accounting ‹ a skill that eventually led to his job at the New York State Office of Taxation and Finance.

Mr. Lai wanted his two teenage children to maintain straight A's in school. "His experience had told him education is a path to success," said his wife, Yvonne.

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In Memory
With Honor & Respect.

Neil Kwong-Wah Lai, this year at the September ll,, 2010 ceremonies I will be honored to read your name. God bless you and your family. We share the same sorrow.

Gospeed Neil. You are what America is all about.

Your firends @ The Free Pioneer.

In memory....

As I stitched your name on the memorial that I am doing for all of the victims, I prayed for you and your family. Please know that your death was not in vain. We will always remember. God Bless.

Neil, May you REST IN PEACE.

WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS WHAT I FEEL IN MY HEART FOR YOU YVONNE AND YOUR CHILDREN, I AM SO SORRY, MAY GOD BE WITH YOU EVERYDAY, AS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MOVE FORWARD. I WIPE THE TEARS FROM MY EYES AS I WRITE THIS TO YOU, THE SORROW I FEEL IS GREAT, I REMEMBER SHARING DISCUSSION AT WORK WITH YOU ABOUT NEIL, MANY TIMES, I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME OF SHARING WITH ME, I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR CONVERSATION, GOOD AND NOT SO GOOD. LOVE AND PRAYERS, FROM YOUR PAST CO-WORKER, DEBBIE.

I met Neil while he was auditing a client of mine. He was a sweet and kind man who enjoyed a good laugh. My best wishes to his family.

Rest in peace..........