Freddy Fung
I am told that Freddy was born on Tuesday, September 29, 1981 in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic; about 1,650 miles away from Boston. On that Tuesday, Barack Obama was still fresh out of High School and was a sophomore majoring in Political Science at Columbia University. On that Tuesday, the Red Sox would win 7-2 against the Brewers, but it would have been 63 years since they'd won a World Series. On that Tuesday, I was almost four years old with no siblings although I would be blessed with a baby brother about nine months later. At four years old, I wouldn't have known what I would be doing tomorrow let alone twenty-seven years later.
While I am tremendously disappointed in myself that I cannot recall the exact moment when I met Freddy, I know that it was through my brother, and it was with my brother that he became close friends through his college years and beyond. Freddy remained only a casual acquaintance to me for the rest of his life so I only had an inkling from the beginning the sort of person that he might be. Sadly, however, it was only afterward and in reflection that I would know better the person that Freddy really was.
Freddy was, unequivocally in my own or anyone's mind, very intelligent. His fluency in several distinct languages astounded me no matter how many times I heard him effortlessly transpose them. Freddy's kindness, sincerity, unique sense of humor, and ability to carry a conversation about pretty much anything, made it that much easier to get along with him. I would later discover that Freddy was also a competitive Chess player, and was developing a palate as a oenophile. His open minded attitude in addition to his penchant for travel and trying new things seemed infectious. From what I have heard from people, and seen in so many pictures, Freddy lived a full life that was enriched by his friends, family, and people from all walks of life across the globe. I am unsure how deep was his interest in politics, however his passion in supporting Barack Obama's presidency was very apparent. Freddy’s definitive certainty for the movement was enviable.
Whereas most people would spend their entire lives to discover their sense of self, it seemed that Freddy had done it in a fraction of that time.
Freddy was so unfairly taken away from us on May 6, 2009… a gloomy Wednesday in Boston. On that Wednesday, Barack Obama began his 107th day as the first black President of the United States. On that Wednesday, the Red Sox with two World Series titles in recent memory suffered a loss against the Indians. On that Wednesday I was thirty-one years old and I was not only mourning the loss of someone “smart and awesome”, but also a son, brother, uncle, and great friend to many others. On that Wednesday, it rained all day.
That day, I spent a lot of time looking through pictures of Freddy with his friends and family. My last memory of Freddy was when he seemed healthy and full of smiles and laughter when he visited my parents' house for Thanksgiving just this past year. I prefer to remember him that way, however it makes it that much more difficult to accept that Freddy is no longer with us.
I would imagine that if Freddy had lived to a hundred years old, he would have held doctorates in several distinct areas of study. I would imagine that he would have continued his commitment to bettering the world. I would imagine that he would have continued his friendships with people who now miss him so much. The void that he leaves behind stirs up all manner of confusing existentialist questions and concepts. Melancholy I become when pondering what might have been. As painful as it might be, however, our days will keep coming and going. Life in this world may end for one, but life for the rest of us goes on.
There is much to celebrate and appreciate for what Freddy has done in life. On a grander scale and at the very minimum, it appeared to me that Freddy has helped skew everyone’s life perspective in the right direction. Do more, worry less. On a personal level, while I am sad that I never got to know him as well as his close friends, I am very thankful for what little time we had. I cannot express enough how deeply grateful I am to Freddy for befriending my brother so few years ago. I only hope that both of them know the extent of which they have had a positive influence on each other. I also must declare how immensely proud I am of my brother for demonstrating such friendship and unwavering dedication and perseverance that I have never seen before. I have difficulty finding a comparison, even in fiction.
On Thursday, the day after Freddy’s passing, the Red Sox defeated the Indians with a record breaking 12 runs with no outs in the 6th inning. It was a beautiful sunny day.
While I am tremendously disappointed in myself that I cannot recall the exact moment when I met Freddy, I know that it was through my brother, and it was with my brother that he became close friends through his college years and beyond. Freddy remained only a casual acquaintance to me for the rest of his life so I only had an inkling from the beginning the sort of person that he might be. Sadly, however, it was only afterward and in reflection that I would know better the person that Freddy really was.
Freddy was, unequivocally in my own or anyone's mind, very intelligent. His fluency in several distinct languages astounded me no matter how many times I heard him effortlessly transpose them. Freddy's kindness, sincerity, unique sense of humor, and ability to carry a conversation about pretty much anything, made it that much easier to get along with him. I would later discover that Freddy was also a competitive Chess player, and was developing a palate as a oenophile. His open minded attitude in addition to his penchant for travel and trying new things seemed infectious. From what I have heard from people, and seen in so many pictures, Freddy lived a full life that was enriched by his friends, family, and people from all walks of life across the globe. I am unsure how deep was his interest in politics, however his passion in supporting Barack Obama's presidency was very apparent. Freddy’s definitive certainty for the movement was enviable.
Whereas most people would spend their entire lives to discover their sense of self, it seemed that Freddy had done it in a fraction of that time.
Freddy was so unfairly taken away from us on May 6, 2009… a gloomy Wednesday in Boston. On that Wednesday, Barack Obama began his 107th day as the first black President of the United States. On that Wednesday, the Red Sox with two World Series titles in recent memory suffered a loss against the Indians. On that Wednesday I was thirty-one years old and I was not only mourning the loss of someone “smart and awesome”, but also a son, brother, uncle, and great friend to many others. On that Wednesday, it rained all day.
That day, I spent a lot of time looking through pictures of Freddy with his friends and family. My last memory of Freddy was when he seemed healthy and full of smiles and laughter when he visited my parents' house for Thanksgiving just this past year. I prefer to remember him that way, however it makes it that much more difficult to accept that Freddy is no longer with us.
I would imagine that if Freddy had lived to a hundred years old, he would have held doctorates in several distinct areas of study. I would imagine that he would have continued his commitment to bettering the world. I would imagine that he would have continued his friendships with people who now miss him so much. The void that he leaves behind stirs up all manner of confusing existentialist questions and concepts. Melancholy I become when pondering what might have been. As painful as it might be, however, our days will keep coming and going. Life in this world may end for one, but life for the rest of us goes on.
There is much to celebrate and appreciate for what Freddy has done in life. On a grander scale and at the very minimum, it appeared to me that Freddy has helped skew everyone’s life perspective in the right direction. Do more, worry less. On a personal level, while I am sad that I never got to know him as well as his close friends, I am very thankful for what little time we had. I cannot express enough how deeply grateful I am to Freddy for befriending my brother so few years ago. I only hope that both of them know the extent of which they have had a positive influence on each other. I also must declare how immensely proud I am of my brother for demonstrating such friendship and unwavering dedication and perseverance that I have never seen before. I have difficulty finding a comparison, even in fiction.
On Thursday, the day after Freddy’s passing, the Red Sox defeated the Indians with a record breaking 12 runs with no outs in the 6th inning. It was a beautiful sunny day.