Alfred Shih-p'u Wang
1931-2015
Alfred Shih-p'u Wang, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Sept. 20, 2015, in Missouri City at home with his wife, Veronica, and his daughters, Dorothy and Lisa, by his side. Wang taught in the English Department at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, N.C. from 1967 to 1994; his wife taught in the same department. They were one of the very few Chinese nationals not only to earn Ph.D.s in English Literature at an American university but also to teach as American college professors in that field in the era before the normalization of relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Wang was the author of articles on American literature and comparative literature in such journals as Literature and Medicine and Walt Whitman Review. From 1990 to 1996, he served on the N.C. Humanities Council.
Wang was born March 16, 1931 in Yantai, China, the son of Wang Chen-dong and Lin Yu-ying. His father and aunt were active in the work of the YMCA/YWCA in China. He grew up under the shadow of the Japanese occupation. He graduated from the prestigious high school of St. John's University in Shanghai. In 1955, with the personal intercession of John Foster Dulles, Wang came to the United States to attend Davidson College in N.C. He was Class Poet in 1958. He and his wife were married in NYC in 1961. In 1967 they earned their Ph.D.s in English at Tulane University and started teaching at ECU. They lived for 34 years in Greenville, N.C. His older daughter, Dorothy, teaches English literature at Williams College in M.A.; his younger daughter, Lisa, is a pediatric oncologist at Texas Children's Hospital.
Wang was an artistic spirit who loved literature and music; he had a deep sense of social justice. He is deeply missed by his family. Wang is survived by his wife, daughters Dorothy (David Paul) and Lisa (Jeffrey R. Steinbauer), his grandson Henry Wang Steinbauer, and two sisters—Stella Chu, Quan-zhen Wang—and a brother, Shi-yu Patrick Wang.
A longer obit and guestbook are at http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Alfred-Wang&lc=4607&pid=175894043&mid=6603054

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Houston Chronicle on Sep. 25, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Alfred Wang

Sponsored by anonymous.

12 Entries

Halvor Moe

March 17, 2019

A favourite mentor and friend who I had the great pleasure of studying under in the seventies. I will never forget you, nor your wife.
Your Norwegian friend
Halvor Moe

October 9, 2015

As a friend of Dr. and Dr. Wang's daughter Dorothy, I know from her something of her parents' remarkable life stories. I'm certain that their lives and achievements must have inspired all with whom they have come in contact, and not least their daughter Dorothy, who has done her parents the great honor of following in their footsteps as a professor of American Studies at Williams College. Her brilliant book Thinking Its Presence: Form, Race, and Subjectivity in Contemporary Asian American Poetry is in effect an homage to her parents' ground-breaking work in Asian American literature. I know from Dorothy how very much her father meant to her, and I send my deepest sympathy to her, her mother and all her family.
Margaret Sloan

Michael Leong

October 3, 2015

My condolences. It's very inspiring to hear of pioneers in the field who have made space for people of Asian descent in the field of English. May his memory endure.

October 1, 2015

Dear Veronica,Lisa and Dorothy, I was so sorry to see that Dr. Wang had passed away. I so enjoyed seeing all of you when you were in Greenville. I think of you often whenever I look at the beautiful bowl that you gave me when I married. Please know that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Terry Barnes Edwards

Bruce Southard

October 1, 2015

Vicky and family,

Sherry and I recently received news of Al's passing and wanted to offer our condolences. Since we have now both retired and moved to Greensboro in order to be closer to our children, we have little contact with the English Department, but did receive this link to the obituary and Guest Book from a former colleague. Since we didn't have your address, we're using this means of telling you that you've been in our thoughts and prayers.

Bruce and Sherry Southard

September 26, 2015

My sincere condolences to the family for the loss of Mr. Wang. As you come together and reflect on wonderful memories of him, may you draw much comfort in this time of sorrow.

Barbara and Robert Hayes

September 25, 2015

We were sorry to learn about the recent passing of Al, a man who was friendly and kind with a really good sense of humor. He will be missed by his neighbors across the lake and buddies at the gym. Our sincere condolences to Vicky and the entire family.

Amy Oseroff

September 25, 2015

I knew Al through Glen Ballard & the Greenville Health Club. He was such a delightful friend, always interested, interesting, and unfailingly kind. Stories he told me are still household words (my husband & I practice what we will say to one another post-cataract surgery). I am a grade school teacher, and Al's story about his trip from China to attend the university, and his meeting with Eleanor Roosevelt, has captivated students year after year. My greatest sympathy to the family, and my greatest thanks for having known such a wonderful person.

m landen

September 25, 2015

Dr. and Dr. Wang, to me, were fine people. I recall Alfred's stories of his days in mainland China. Vickie was my Chinese instructor at ECU -- able and affable. I enjoyed the conversations we had at the old athletic club in Greenville in the 90s. My sympathies to the family.

Lincoln Lu

September 24, 2015

I never had the privilege to meet Mr. Alfred Wang in person. I have only heard about him through my father in-law, whom is the youngest brother of Mr. Wang.

His stories are almost legendary but at least heroic to my father in-law, whom has always seen him as his role model for life.

Please accept my deepest condolences to the entire family.

David Paul

September 24, 2015

Al was a remarkable man with unusual qualities. He was observant, intuitive, spontaneous, and intellectually curious, with a subtle wit. A disarmingly soft-spoken man with a strong will, he had an enchanting, child-like charisma, and a presence that could fill a room. He is greatly missed, and will be fondly remembered.

Ron Hoag

September 24, 2015

I remember Al and Vicky fondly as my colleagues in the English Department at East Carolina University, where I still teach. Wonderful people with a fascinating personal history. I am thankful to have known them and send condolences to Vicky and the entire family.

Showing 1 - 12 of 12 results