Search by Name

Search by Name

Wen Shao Wu

Wen Shao Wu obituary

Wen Wu Obituary

Wen Shao Wu

In Memory of Wen Shao Wu

Wen Shao Wu, 87, of Ridgefield, CT, peacefully passed away on September 26, 2018 after battling liver cancer for the past 9 months In his final days, he was surrounded by his extended family and friends who all loved him very much

Wen lived a full life, overcoming a childhood of war in China before emigrating to the United States on an academic scholarship which enabled him to become a pioneering technologist and business executive in the formative years of computers, semiconductors and office automation in the 1950s through the 1980s

Wen was born on April 7, 1931 in Shanghai China to a scholarly Chinese family His father, mother and grandfather were all educated in the United States in the first third of the 20th century before each returned to China to modernize the country in industries that included sugar refining, education and banking Although Wen came from a prominent family, the traditional practice that spanned multiple generations, was to send their kids to America penniless but on self-earned scholarships in order to teach them the virtues of self-sufficiency, hard work, innovation, humility, respect and fair play  

As a child, Wen witnessed continuous war When the Japanese invaded China in 1937 his family continually fled across China from Hong Kong to Sichuan, staying ahead of the advancing Japanese army As a boy, he watched Japanese airplanes attack the civilian population When he was 8, Wen himself survived a strafing attack in 1939 by Japanese aircraft As a result, he vowed to study engineering to "build airplanes so that foreign invaders could no longer do this to China"

Wen was a serious scholar and gained admission to the prestigious Jiao Tong University in Shanghai The year was 1948, the autumn before the communist takeover of Shanghai in the spring of 1949 As a measure of his studious dedication he ignored two letters from his father to escape to Taiwan as the communist army approached Wen's father eventually hired soldiers to forcibly remove Wen from school Wen caught one of the last boats to Taiwan in 1949 Shanghai fell to the communists soon thereafter

Wen continued his undergraduate studies at the University of Taiwan There he met other scholarly refugees from mainland China, all of whom became a tight knit group of lifelong friends One of those persons was Ann Dz-An Hung, his future wife, his best friend and his lifelong love Together, they began their journey that spanned 65 years until Ann's death in 2014, and then he lived with his daughter, Nancy, for 4 years They both emigrated to America in the early 1950s, were married in 1956 and brought up three kids In addition, they brought both sets of parents from Taiwan, all of whom lived with them and all of whom eventually became proud American citizens

Wen came to America in 1951 on a scholarship to Bucknell University, where he earned his Bachelor's of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering He then went on to earn his Master's Degree and his PhD in Mechanical Engineering both from MIT He never built war planes for China, but he did spend his career developing leading edge computer and information-based technologies at IBM, Texas Instruments, RCA, Xerox, Georgetown Steel and General Electric  Wen loved America which embodied opportunity, ingenuity, fairness and a strong work ethic

Wen had a brilliant mind and was inquisitive about the world He was also very personable, thoughtful and kind He always maintained a wide range of friends that came from so many backgrounds and so many walks of life But most of all, he thought of his family Upon reflecting on his greatest moments and accomplishments, Wen stated that his proudest memories all surrounded his family, especially his wife, his brother, his parents, his 3 kids and his 8 grandchildren

Wen is survived by his daughter, his two sons and their families: Nancy Wu Brandon and husband, Gene Brandon, with their children Michael, Stephen and Caitlyn of Ridgefield, CT; Vincent Wu and wife, Andrea Gardner, with their children Carrie, Lisa and David of South Glastonbury, CT; David Wu and wife, Debbie Wu with their children Brandon and Andrew of Concord, MA In addition, he is survived by his brother, Wen Hsien Wu and his family of Berkeley, CA

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 11:00 am, at Regional Hospice and Palliative Care, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury, CT 06810 Interment of his ashes will be private among the immediate family Arrangements were made by the Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Directors, 4 Gorham Place, Trumbull, CT

In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Wen Shao Wu may be made to Regional Hospice and Palliative Care, (https://regionalhospicectnetworkforgoodcom/projects/44646-making-the-best-of-everyday)

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

Published by The Ridgefield Press on Oct. 4, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Wen Wu

Not sure what to say?





0 Entries

Be the first to post a memory or condolences.

Make a Donation
in Wen Wu's name

Memorial Events
for Wen Wu

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support Wen's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Wen Wu's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more