Piscataway, New Jersey
Kindness to a Stranger
Jean Liu met Michael Liming Gu a few days after arriving in New York from Shanghai. It was her first time in the United States, and she did not know a soul. She was introduced to him at a party by friends of friends of people she knew in China.
"It turned out we both came from China, from Shanghai," she said. "He said it was hard for him when he initially came, too."
Both were graduate students. She lived in Manhattan and went to Columbia, and he lived in New Jersey and went to Stevens Institute of Technology. They phoned each other in the evening, and he helped to unravel the chaos of New York for her. When they could find time, he drove in and took her to Chinatown, guiding her to the best and most authentic restaurants.
Four or five years later, they bought a house in Piscataway, N.J., married and moved in. He filled the basement with several linked computers. "He was always testing new computers," Mrs. Gu said. "He has to keep up with new things coming out."
The night before he died, Mr. Gu said that it was time to teach Alan, their 2-year-old, to play computer games. "But I have no clue about computers," she said. "He was the one who really liked them."
I knew Mr. Gu's name and story when the first time I came to WTC and had a government job interview on 2023, now I am working at WTC, he was such amazing immigrant, dad, husband, and son, I sent flowers last Xmas since my mom came from Shanghai, China too
Terry
September 18, 2024 | Other
Michael, I honor your memory today on this 10th anniversary of your passing. You were a kind and gentle soul. My sympathies to your family.
Matt Anderson
September 11, 2011 | NJ
Liming, I don't know who you are, but I read your memorial written by your wife. I signed a "tribute" today in honor of the victims of 9-11 and because I did not know anyone personally I opted to be assigned to someone. That someone was you. Because of that I was able to read a bit about you, see how much you are loved, honored, and remembered by your loved ones here. You sound like a beautiful person. I am so very sorry your life was cut short by this tragedy, that you were unable to...
Mandy Handy
September 11, 2011 | San Diego, CA
Liming, they found and killed Bin Laden. Rest in peace.
Xinzhou He
May 03, 2011 | Glendora, CA
Michael, I am thinking of you today, as are many at J&J. You are missed.
Alison S.
September 11, 2008 | NJ
In remembrance....
P Tabbernor
October 27, 2006 | Victoria, BC
You are remembered.
Your cousin,
Xinzhou He
September 11, 2003 | Glendora, CA
We'll NEVER forget.
God bless.
J Ng
September 11, 2003 | San Francisco, CA
Goodbye Michael Liming Gu;
may you ever grow in our hearts.
You were the grace that placed itself
where lives were torn apart.
You called out to our country,
and you whispered to those in pain.
Now you belong to heaven,
and the stars spell out your name.
And it seems to me you lived your life
like a candle in the wind:
never fading with the sunset
when the rain set in.
And your...
Perry Xu
September 27, 2002 | Chicago, IL
