In loving memory of Prof. Zijie Yan-Help Daughters
Donation protected
1/4/24 Update: At this point we will be withdrawing the monies raised so far and they will be put in a UTMA account for the two children and their mother Shuting Wang will be the custodian. These donations will be used for both their future college expenses as well as any large or unexpected outstanding expenses that may come along.
I have been in close contact with Shuting to talk about basically everything. It is a terrible and difficult situation for their children and we both appreciate every donation made!
Doug (and Shuting)
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Hello everyone, I am Doug Chrisey, the person who initiated these two donation campaigns. I was Zijie's Ph.D. advisor and his closest friend over the years. I am currently a Chaired Professor at Tulane University. The funds collected will be put into a trust fund that is administered by a separate party and used strictly for his children's well being (until the daughters reach 18 years old to administer the fund themselves). This crowd source platform does not permit any personal use.
这个捐款是严资杰教授的博士导师 Doug Chrisey 同时也是资杰多年好友设立的，目的是为了帮助资杰两个年幼的女儿。
(This fund is to help Zijie Yan's Children. If you would like to help his Parents please follow the link below)
Dear Zijie, this is our way to help us deal with the grief we are all suffering from your tragic passing. Saying goodbye to you is so hard and we are lucky to know someone so special. It is from your loving friends and is meant to help us carry on the kindness you showed us in your life through your care for your children and your parents, and your students/colleagues/friends. We all stand alongside of you in darkness, our friend, as you will forever be in our hearts. Thank you for teaching us to always find something positive in the day and to challenge ourselves, and always with a beautiful smile. You will be truly missed.
资杰的两个女儿，是资杰生活中的喜乐。他把她们带到他工作的办公室、他喜爱的大自然。资杰的离开，女儿们似乎没有意识到其含义，只以为还他在睡觉。当UNC的烛光悼念会的音乐响起、烛光点亮的时候，大女儿首先痛哭不止。当小女儿看到父亲的遗体被送进火化炉中时，她似乎彻底明白了这一切意味着什么，开始大声哭喊着要爸爸！
资杰的女儿们会生活在美国，我们今天这里所做的，仅是我们替资杰表示对他女儿们的一点支持.
Zijie's two daughters are the joy in Zijie's life. He took them to the office where he worked, to the nature he loved. The daughters didn't seem to realize the meaning of Zijie's departure, they just thought he was sleeping. When the music of UNC's candlelight memorial service played and the candlelight was lit, the eldest daughter was the first to cry. When the youngest daughter saw her father's body being pushed into the cremation furnace, she seemed to finally and fully understand what it meant, and began to cry loudly for her father.
Zijie's daughters will live in the United States. What we are doing here today is just a little support for Zijie's daughters.
Some comments from friends and colleagues below:
“Universities are supposed to be places of teaching and learning. Of research and discovery. Of sharing, comparing, collaborating and connecting. That is the life that Professor Yan lived.”
-Jim White
Craver Family Dean, UNC
“Professor Yan was a beloved teacher, kind mentor and a dear friend to so many on our campus. He left this world a better place for his brilliance, his commitment, and the lives he affected. That’s a life well lived, and a life ended far, far too soon.”
-Kevin Guskiewicz
Chancellor, UNC
“We were classmates with Zijie at RPI, and he has consistently demonstrated kindness and selflessness from the moment we arrived at the institution, extending even beyond our graduation. Zijie was not only exceptional in terms of academic and research achievements but also possessed a beautiful heart. Throughout our studies at RPI, Zijie was invariably the first person one could turn to for discussions on academic matters. He generously shared his insights with his peers and always prioritized a deep understanding of the subjects over merely striving for high grades.
His sincere passion for nanoscience and the pursuit of fundamental knowledge paved the way for an impressive achievement - he managed to publish an impressive 17 papers on nanoscience during his time at RPI and completed his PhD within just three years of graduate studies. Beyond his academic prowess, Zijie also revealed himself as a talented chef, readily sharing lunches with friends at a time when many of us were still learning to cook.
Graduating early didn't create a distance between Zijie and his peers; rather, it brought us closer together. He continued to be generously available, offering valuable career advice and sharing personal experiences whenever we sought his assistance. Remaining lifelong friends with Zijie is indeed a fortune, and his absence is deeply felt not only by his friends but also by the entire research community. We will forever miss his radiant smile and his quiet yet undeniably kind presence.”
– Yanping and Meng, RPI Alumni
"Yan is a smart student, but also a nice and easy-going friend. He is a go-to person to ask when they cannot solve problems for their classes or courses in RPI and Yan is alway available to help out. Yan finished his PhD much earlier than his peers/classmates and set up a model for them. Outside campus, Yan has spent a lot of time cooking, hiking, and watching movies with his friends and roommates to enjoy life together. He is willing to help his friends when they have challenges in their daily life. We are so sad to lose him."
-Ruqiang Bao
Organizer and beneficiary
Zijie Yan
Organizer
New Orleans, LA
Shuting Wang
Beneficiary