Professor Bambi Hu

I knew Bambi Hu from way back, when I was attending UC Berkeley, in the late 60's. Not real close friends, but I recall him as a scholar and gentleman. On this (second) anniversary of his passing, I like to dedicate this poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye in 1932. RIP, Bambi.

Do not Stand at my Grave and Weep

Mary Elizabeth Frye 1932


Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there. I did not die.

Dear Prof. Hu,

You could not be with us. I would like to let you know that the DDAP9 (Dec. 14-17, 2016) is very successful. Many colleagues shared the stories of working with you. Many CNS members came back and visited the office. I present each of them a book with you r signature, for their memory of you.

Though we meet only once during your visit in Singapore, I remember clearly that you are so kind and nice. I am so sad to hear this news and may you rest in peace.

I was shocked to learn that Bambi has passed away, since I did not even know that he was seriously ill.

Bambi headed the physics department at Baptist University, Hong Kong, during the last period of his life before retirement. He had boosted the quality and reputation of the department. His Center for Nonlinear Science has especially been successful. One can trace much of works related to thermal conductivity, which has enjoyed a strong revivial (such as those by Li Baowen and his collaborators), to that center and the original contributions by Bambi.

I got to know Bambi initially through his brother, Bei-Lok, who was in the same class as I at Princeton. We were in the same Baodiao Movement and had participated in many meetings and demonstrations. It was a time of soaring principles, all-night discussions, and hard work in publishing hand-written pamphlets. It was a period of intense living. Throughout this period of time, Bambi was a leading "theorist" that linked our movement to China's historical and literary tides, and to the situation in China at that time.

I last saw Bambi a few years ago, when we were both in Singapore. In looking back, I regretted not having taken the opportunity to talk to him more, both about physics and about some of the issues that burned so feverishly in our hearts when we were young.

Bambi, may you rest in peace. And to the family members of Bambi, my condolescences.

Ping Sheng

November 30, 2015

Bambi was a very good friend and colleague and a great scientist. He initiated several very successful events in particular in Asia and created a centre of highest international visibility. All his succes was mainly due to his very kind personality. I will have always him in my memory.

Juergen Kurths, Humboldt University Berlin and Aberdeen University

Bambi was like a brother to me during my undergraduate years at Cornell. I will always remember his gentle ways, quick sense of humor, dignity and strong intellect. He will be deeply missed! May the loving memory of him continue to bring comfort to his family.
Josephine Ho & Family (NJ)

Bambi was just as his name suggested. He certainly had risen to his parents' expectations. He was passionate in his pursuit of truth, honesty, innocence and a simple life style. He was a man of principle and beliefs. Stubborn and inflexible at times, yet he was gentle and kind. Unbending to his principles and beliefs, yet humble and not at all self righteous. Bambi was one of a kind. We sorely miss a very good friend but his spirit and sense of humor will stay with us. Deepest condolences to Kwokyee and Bambi's daughters and brothers



San Francisco

Bambi has always exemplified the essential qualities of a true gentleman - kind, warm, open, honest, humble, confident, and always attentive when he talks to you. His passing is a great loss to us. Our deepest condolences to Betty and her children. We share in your grief.

Peter Eng & Ching Sze

Professor Hu, thanks for your teaching. Rest in peace.

In loving memory of a wonderful person and such a gentle-man. We will love him and miss him always. He will always live in our hearts and prayers.

Take comfort in knowing that you have a special guardian angel to watch over you. May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief. It was a great pleasure to have the Berkeley-friends reunion in Houston during September 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR_LYoCq6Vk&feature=youtu.be

John 14:18 "No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm-I will come to you."

The nonlinear science community lost a truly great scientist and warmhearted and always supporting friend. He will be dearly missed.

Prof. Bambi Hu was nice and gentle. I am sad to hear the news. Miss you.

You are such a great leader and kind supervisor. Thank you very much for all your help to us young fellows. We remember you for ever.

I wish to express my deep condolences to the family of Prof. Hu. I work for many years in the Centre for Nonlinear Studies and I will always remember him as a gentle, kind and warm person. He was not just a good physicist but a person with an exquisite taste in art, music and life.

The Department of Physics of Hong Kong Baptist University is deeply saddened by the passing away of our former Head of Department, Professor Bambi Hu. Professor Hu joined HKBU in 1995 as Head of the Department of Physics and retired from HKBU in 2008, returning to the University of Houston. Altogether he was Head at HKBU for 12 years, during which he transformed the
research landscape of the department; back in 1995 the department research effort was still in its infancy and was finding its way forward. Bambi arrived at the right moment and with his experience and vision in research strategy, he proceeded to lay down guidelines and a management structure to foster a more buoyant research atmosphere. He strongly encouraged each and every one to be active in research. Ten years later the research culture was already well entrenched within the department; there was a great increase in research personnel, including research students and research assistants. This resulted in a healthy flux of overseas and mainland scholars, making the department the busy and exciting place it is today. In addition, he established the Center for Non-linear Studies, the first of its kind in this part of the world. The center very quickly became the focus of research activities in non-linear complex systems in South East Asia. All these initiatives helped to foster the research dynamics of the department, making it a widely recognized name in the international academic community.

Bambi had a gentle and unassuming manner but hidden within he held strong views on how matters should be conducted. There was no sloppiness when you worked with him. He was an excellent and inspiring speaker, delivering spirited and stirring speeches that could move audiences. He could be very persuasive as well and thereby earned the department much support.

Colleagues of the department would like to send their heartfelt condolences to Professor Hu's family. May he rest in peace.

KW Cheah, Head of Dept, 2008-2014
MA Van Hove, Acting Head of Dept, 2014-

Our deep condolence to Bambi's family. We are so sad to learn of his passing. He was one of the kindest persons we've ever known. Always gentle, warm and caring, he had an impeccable taste in physics, arts and music. We cherish our decades of friendship, and will always remember him as a great person, and an aristocrat among physicists.

I knew Bambi during one of the STATPHYS meetings. We have rather friendly relationship, and I have benefited from his meetings organized in Hong Kong. Last round about two years ago he visited Singapore. He was very keen to learn NEGF, we discussed and lunched together. It is very sad to hear this news. He made great contributions boosting research in statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics.

Prof. Hu was a greatest boss ever and I was so lucky to work with him for 14 years and he taught me a lot. After he left HKBU, we still kept contact from time to time. He's just like one of my family members. We miss you, Prof. Hu.

John and Eve (HKBU)

A Tribute to Bambi Hu

Bambi, a man of abundant love and friendship,
always with a helping hand and a heart-warming smile.
Interested in philosophy at a young age,
but pursued physics while at Berkeley.
Raised a very young daughter while pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree,
not just any Ph.D.,
but a Ph.D. in theoretical physics.
He traveled far and wide.
Met his beautiful wife
Betty while working in Paris,
and picking up French along the way.
Settled in Houston.
Pondering physics at University of Houston,
while bringing up two more lovely daughters.
Traveled far and wide again.
Became Physics Department Head
at Hong Kong Baptist University,
and established the Center for Nonlinear Studies,
a joint collaboration with Peking University, Beijing Normal University, and National University of Singapore.
Served in Hong Kong for more than a decade;
returned to University of Houston.
When suffering the debilitating effects
of a rare neurodegenerative disease,
Multiple System Atrophy,
he faced it with courage and high spirit,
setting a good example for all of us.
We will always remember this man
with the gentle name of Bambi.


From Don M. Tow

The Department of Physics of Hong Kong Baptist University is deeply saddened by the passing away of our former Head of Department, Professor Bambi Hu. Professor Hu joined HKBU in 1995 as Head of the Department of Physics and retired from HKBU in 2008, returning to the University of Houston. Altogether he was Head at HKBU for 12 years, during which he transformed the research landscape of the department; back in 1995 the department research effort was still in its infancy and was finding its way forward. Bambi arrived at the right moment and with his experience and vision in research strategy, he proceeded to lay down guidelines and a management structure to foster a more buoyant research atmosphere. He strongly encouraged each and every one to be active in research. Ten years later the research culture was already well entrenched within the department; there was a great increase in research personnel, including research students and research assistants. This resulted in a healthy flux of overseas and mainland scholars, making the department the busy and exciting place it is today. In addition, he established the Center for Non-linear Studies, the first of its kind in this part of the world. The center very quickly became the focus of research activities in non-linear complex systems in South East Asia. All these initiatives helped to foster the research dynamics of the department, making it a widely recognized name in the international academic community.

Bambi had a gentle and unassuming manner but hidden within he held strong views on how matters should be conducted. There was no sloppiness when you worked with him. He was an excellent and inspiring speaker, delivering spirited and stirring speeches that could move audiences. He could be very persuasive as well and thereby earned the department much support.

Colleagues of the department would like to send their heartfelt condolences to Professor Hu's family. May he rest in peace.

KW Cheah, Head of Department, 2008-2014
MA Van Hove, Acting Head of Department, 2014-

I am so sad to hear Bambi's passing. He was such a warm-hearted friend and a wonderful colleague.

I am so sorry that Prof. Bambi Hu passed away. We have been preparing the 9th Dynamics Days Asia-Pacific to be held at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) in 2016 and wished that Prof. Hu could again join this meeting firstly launched by him at HKBU in 1999. Prof. Hu, we will miss you. All the former members of the Centre for Nonlinear Studies (CNS) will remember you as the founder and thank you for offering us the opportunities to do research with CNS.

~ Changsong Zhou, Director, CNS, HKBU

I knew when Bambi visited UH and gave his colloquium talk in the late 1970s that we needed to hire him, and we did. He was an extremely good theoretical physicist and a pleasant, friendly colleague. Amont other things he very much liked his two trips to Norway to attend the famous Geilo advanced school. Time has passed too fast. It seems only a short while ago.

Sorry to learn of Bambi's passing....Please accept our deepest sympathy. Betty, please be strong & take good care of yourself. You & your family are in our thoughts & prayers.

--Susan & Dawning Pan (CA)

I met Bambi through our company, MDK Financial Group - When in the area of his office I would stop by and pop in just to say hello - he ALWAYS had a smile on his face - ALWAYS stood and extended his hand from behind his desk and greeted you by your first name immediately! He loved his family greatly, and you couldn't help but see the love between the two when visting our office. Betty was the most caring wife, helping / guiding him in and she to shared a bright smile on her face. He always had a story to share, and so was so very sharp. He will be greatly missed.

Life is so tender, so fragile, so very precious. God is our refuge and strength Psalm 46:1

Thoughts of deep and sincere sympathy are with you at this time.

Our deepest condolence to Bambi's family. Bambi was a great teacher, a dear friend of ours. Betty, please take good care of yourself.

Agnes Kuen and Wei-Kan Chu (Houston, Texas)

I am so sorry that our friend Bambi passed away so soon. Betty, please take good care of yourself. I shall let our mutual friend Donald Chang who is in Hk know about this sad news.

John YH Chan PhD Sugar land, TX 713-366-6942

My deepest condolences to Bambi's family.
Bambi: I regret not staying in touch all those years. Life is so short and transient. Rest in peace.

A great loss of a friend for almost 60 years. My deep condolences for the family, and my sincere hope and belief that Bambi has found his eternal peace.

York (Hong Kong)

Deeply sorry for the lost of Bambi. Betty, take good care of yourself. From Southern US (Texas) Pui Ching Alumni Association.