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Kwangjai Park

1934 - 2014

Kwangjai Park obituary, 1934-2014, Eugene, OR

Kwangjai Park Obituary

1934 - 2014

Kwangjai Park died peacefully at home on March 21, 2014, in the arms of his wife Helen and surrounded by loving family and friends. His long struggle with Parkinsons disease, spinal stenosis, and primary progressive aphasia is over.

He was born in Wonsan, Korea on October 12, 1934 while the peninsula was under Japanese occupation. At the end of World War II the family was in Manchuria for his father's work. To escape the civil war erupting in China, the family had to travel 500 miles, mostly on foot, back to Korea. Eleven year old Kwangjai helped his younger siblings pass the long hours of walking by telling them stories from books he had read. The family finally arrived in Seoul in 1946, but the Korean War in 1950 made them refugees again, as they fled to Pusan in the far south. Young Kwangjai was at the top of his class in school, but had to take time out again to help support his family, working for American GIs. He learned enough English to serve as a translator. One of the sergeants he worked for told him all about America, igniting a powerful desire in the teenage boy to go to this wonderful place. With the support of his family and community, he was able to immigrate in 1953, just as the Korean War was winding down.

After graduating from Monterey High School in California, he applied to colleges, and was accepted with a full four-year scholarship to Harvard, where he majored in Electrical Engineering. He married and began a family as he went on to complete a PhD in Physics at the University of California in Berkeley. For a few years he worked at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, then in 1966 he came to the University of Oregon as a Professor of Physics. His first marriage came to an end in 1973, but in 1974 he married Helen (Hodson) Park. They had a marriage of true love for nearly 40 years.

Kwangjai's name is composed of the Chinese characters in Genesis 1:3 that mean "There was Light." His study of physics included many years of work with optics, the study of light, although he also made contributions in the fields of fluid dynamics and atmospheric science. He loved the elegance and beauty of the universe, and was delighted to conduct "kitchen experiments" to demonstrate some of the interesting aspects of nature. He was a gifted teacher, and his classes at the U of O were popular, even though he had a reputation for giving really hard tests! He won the Ersted Award for excellence in teaching in 1972. He retired in 2002 and devoted his time to travel and writing his family history and personal memoirs.

Kwangjai is survived by his wife Helen, children Aaron, Melora, Meroe, Esther, and John, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister and three brothers and their families, all of whom he loved dearly. He will be greatly missed.

Published by Eugene Register-Guard on Mar. 29, 2014.
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Memories and Condolences
for Kwangjai Park

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Dear Helen, John, and Esther, We were sorry to hear of Kwangjai's passing. We have fond memories of being neighbors in Jasper and sharing many good times with all of you. I know he is held in all of our hearts with great love and respect.
Syd and Dave Kissinger and family

Sydney Kissinger

April 13, 2014

Dear Helen, I hold you in my heart. I know you must miss Kwangjai with all your heart and soul. Love to you, pam fitzpatrick

April 12, 2014

Dear Helen, Jon and family,
I was sorry to read about Kwangjai. I remember with fondness meeting you in 2000 when you came to dinner for a meal cooked by my college roommate, Eunice Kim, and her husband Yong Duk Kim. What a surprise it was to learn that a good friend of Yong Duk's was the father of a good friend of our son, Marshall.
I tried to send your family a card but it was returned twice.
Please accept our sympathy for your family and know we are thinking of you.
Sincerely,
Judy Clement, Ray Mitchell and Marshall and McKenna Clement

April 12, 2014

How sad I was to read about Kwangjai's passing. I taught two of his children and loved him and the family. I feel blessed that our paths crossed and I can't think of him without seeing him with a big grin on his face and a warm hug following. Hugs to Helen, Melora, and John. He will be missed.
Janet Starr

April 5, 2014

Dear Melora and family, I am very sorry to have heard about the death of your father/husband. I never met him, but have heard what a wonderful man he was. He was lucky to have such a caring and loving family. His spirit remains in all you and is free from pain and the limits of this physical plane. My thoughts are with you. Truly, Kim Rodman

April 4, 2014

KJ was a good man and fine colleague!
Joel W. McClure

April 2, 2014

I had KJ as a teacher when I was studying Physics at the U of O. He was always very supportive and helpful to me and I taught high school physics for many years here in Eugene. I always enjoyed seeing him in the community. He was a very positive influence on me.

John Garrett

March 31, 2014

My Dearest Helen and Family: I have been enriched by knowing KJ and his kind spirit. I am at loss for words for your loss. KJ will be missed. Love, Joey

March 31, 2014

Dear Helen and the family,
We are saddened to hear the news of Kwangjai. We remember him always smiling and a kind person. Our thoughts are with you, Helen and the family.

Jim & Seiko Huntington

March 30, 2014

Dear Helen
I was so sorry to read about KJ – my sincere condolences to you and your family. KJ's long friendship greatly enriched Jack's (and my) life.
Jill Overley

March 29, 2014

On March 21 with Kwangjai's passing a group of us at Blue Mtn Ln celebrated his life and remembered the gentleness of his soul. We loved him and will miss him. Condolences to Helen and his family, I know you all will miss him too.

Claudia Owen

March 29, 2014

KJ was a great colleague and a great friend.

Dave and Pat McDaniels

March 29, 2014

Helen - A wave of memories swept over me this morning when I
read of KJ's death. I considered him a dear friend. He and I
shared a love of fly fishing the mountain streams. We were fishing
the North Fork the day Mt. Saint Helen blew. His mind was
magnificent. Curious about everything. Warm and loving.
What a remarkable man.

Monte Tubb

March 29, 2014

Peace be with you Melora and AAron. God Bless you both, and your families.

Kathy Frazier [email protected]

March 29, 2014

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