Norman Fu (傅建中) passed away May 6, 2021 at an assisted living facility in Bethesda,
Maryland. The time of his death 1010 also symbolizes the Double Ten Celebration (雙十
節) honoring the National Day of the Republic of China, where Norman had many ties
including family, friends, and career. He was 83 years old, and passed from
complications of long-term health issues related to heart disease and diabetes. He led a
very independent life until a seizure in January 2021, which severely limited his
mobility.
Norman was a renowned journalist who worked the majority of his career at the China
Times, based in Taipei, Taiwan. He was the Washington DC bureau chief who covered
politics and was one of the experts on China/ US and Taiwan relations. In addition to
reporting on US and Taiwan news, he frequently wrote an editorial column with subject
matters often highlighting the nuances of Taiwan’s political stance to the United
States. His work and writings could often be controversial especially given the rise of
China as a world power throughout his career.
For many years Norman wrote a regular column in the China Times "The View from
Washington" covering US/China/Taiwan policy issues, His familiarity with the issues,
incisive and in-depth analysis made it an essential read for Chinese readers, seeking to
know and follow what was happening in this most important policy issue. According to
Huang Ching Lung, former publisher of China Times, while he had a broad readership in
Taiwan which included influential policy makers, his readership also included journalists,
diplomats, and scholars, from the PRC in the US, who also followed what he wrote.
The highlight of Norman’s career was moderating a China Times hosted talk with
President George H. Bush Senior when he traveled to Taiwan after holding office. He
also reported on President Bill Clinton’s trip to China and was part of the invited press
corps. He maintained a close friendship with Ambassador James Lilley, the only US
representative to head diplomatic missions in both Taiwan and China. He also was a
long-time friend of Secretary Elaine Chao (趙小蘭), as he first highlighted her career
accomplishments when she was a young rising star in Washington, DC.
He received a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to journalism in 2012 from
the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastery (佛光山) and traveled to his prior hometown in
Kaohsiung, Taiwan to accept this prestigious honor. Norman was also a frequent guest
on Nightline, CNN, and Voice of America providing guidance on Chinese and Taiwan
relationships.
Norman was born on the second day of the second moon in 1938, or March 3. Norman
grew up in China and lost his mother when he was 13. He also had a sister who died in
childhood. He became very close to his many cousins and aunts and uncles in Tianjin
and because of them, they helped him move to Hong Kong, and then Taiwan, where he completed high school, and ultimately attended college.
At Taiwan Normal University,
Norman met Rowena Fang Fu (傅方緯 passed in 2013), and his later years’ partner
Eleanor Mah (張先莉). Norman studied English and Journalism and was gifted with
language. Often the life of the party, he was a great story teller and speaker, in addition
to his talent as a writer.
Norman immigrated to the United States in 1966 to study as a graduate exchange student
majoring in American Literature, philosophy, and history at the East-West Center at the
University of Hawaii in Honolulu, HI. While at East-West Center, Norman made many
friends who would rise to senior foreign service roles including many ambassadorships
from Taiwan. He married prior to leaving Taiwan, and his first-born son, Terry was born
in Taiwan the same year. In 1968, both Rowena and Terry also immigrated to the United
States where they settled in the Washington, DC area. His daughter Gloria was later born
in 1971.
Norman began his career at Taiwan’s Central News Agency as a correspondent in
Washington, DC. He moved to the China Times in 1977 after being courted by the
newspaper’s founder, the late, Yu Chi-Chung (余紀忠) who was Norman’s mentor and
almost second father until his passing in 2002. He remained very close to the Yu family,
and remained heavily involved with the family’s China Times Cultural Foundation until
his death. At one point, he held the title of Chief Managing Director of the foundation,
whose purpose was to recognize achievements and award outstanding scholars in the
greater Chinese academic community.
People would say that Norman was one of the few fully bilingual folks with no accent
and a master of both English and Chinese. He could translate both English to Chinese
and vice versa, a truly remarkable achievement. While he retired from day-to-day
reporting at the China Times in 2008, he continued to contribute as an emeritus journalist
and to other magazines including World Journal, a US-based broadsheet publication
written in Chinese and Business Week of Taiwan (商業周刊, 世界日报). Norman also
published several novels on Chinese and English idioms including “All About
English” (英語無所不談), “Deep Throat and Whistle Blower” (深喉嚨與吹哨的人),
and “Gallows Humor” (絞架幽默). These three novels represent collections of his
weekly articles published in Business Week. He also was instrumental in helping friends
and colleagues in translating biographies from Chinese to English. His most notable
translation was the “Henry Kissinger Transcripts” (季辛吉祕錄) published in 1999,
which was a translation of English to Chinese. These transcripts reflected conversations
between Kissinger and Mao Tse Tung on US-China relations during the era when
Kissinger held the role of National Security Advisor and subsequently Secretary of
State. His most recent translation was the memoir of Dr. P.Y. Chang called “A Fool’s
Success Story” (愚者一得) highlighting his remarkable life from his academic origins
to his successes in investing in real estate.
Outside of work, Norman enjoyed travel and reading. He loved novels both in English
and Chinese, and his residences were filled with many books often classics and newer best-selling biographies. He read news voraciously as well, and consumed contents from
the New York Times, Washington Post and Washington Times on a daily basis, in
addition to a number of Taiwan-based newspaper publications like the China Times,
Commercial Times, and China Times Express.
As a linguist, he loved to learn expressions in countries he would visit and would
frequently work on perfecting his pronunciation. Never shy, foreigners he encountered
would be duly impressed by his ability to speak in their native tongue. He also enjoyed
swimming, and he frequently swam at the National Press Club, until health issues later in
life slowed his mobility. Travel wise, he journeyed frequently to China after reopening to
Taiwan citizens, and also throughout Europe and South America. In China, he was able
to reconnect with his many cousins that he had not seen in decades. He traveled
extensively in China beyond his native Tianjin, also traveling to see the Terra Cotta
Warriors and Three Gorges, in addition to the major cities in China. One of his favorite
cities was Buenos Aires, and he later brought both Terry and Gloria to this city as adults,
as he loved visiting so much. He also loved Madrid, and was fascinated by bull fights.
When Rowena was alive, they loved to explore restaurants, with Spanish, French and
Italian cuisines being their favorites besides Chinese, which they frequently consumed.
Norman is survived by two children Terry and Gloria, residing in Houston, TX and Park
City, UT, a sister in Taiwan, and many cousins, nieces and nephews living in China,
Taiwan and Canada.
The family will be hosting a memorial service at a later date, as a private cremation
ceremony will be held shortly. An update and invitation to celebrate Norman’s life will
be forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to establish an English major scholarship in
Norman’s memory for students at Taiwan Normal University. Please contact his
daughter Gloria Fu [email protected] if interested, and she can provide further
instructions when the scholarship fund has been established.
愛國者.記者.丈夫.父親
傅建中2021年5月6日在馬里蘭州貝塞斯特一家安寧中心與世長辭。他逝世於上午十點十分,也象徵中華民國雙十國慶節,而中華民國是他家人、朋友以及事業的多重關係聚集地。他享壽83歲,辭世的原因是心臟病和糖尿病相關的長期健康問題引發的併發症所致。在2021年1月一次癲癇發作並嚴重影響他的行動之前,他一直過著非常獨立的生活。
建中是一位著名的記者,畢生大部分時間任職於總部設於台灣台北的中國時報。作為華府分社的主任,他不僅報導政治,而且還是美中和台灣關係的專家之一。除了報導美台關係新聞外,他還常常撰寫社論專欄,探討台灣對美微妙政治立場等議題。由於他職業生涯正好碰上中國作為一個世界大國的崛起,他的報導和寫作經常可能引發爭議。
多年來,建中一直在中國時報上以《華府瞭望》為題,定期發表一個有關美中台政策問題的專欄。他對議題的準確把握、獨特和深入的分析使之成為了解和追蹤這一重要政策議題華人讀者的必讀之作。前中國時報發行人黃清龍表示,建中除了在台灣擁有包括重要決策者在內的廣泛讀者外,旅美的中國記者、外交官和學者也常常是他的讀者,關注他討論的議題。
建中職業生涯的高潮可以說是當老布希總統卸任後應中國時報邀請前往台灣訪問,而建中則擔任老布希總統在中國時報演講會的主持人。他還曾作為白宮記者團的一員,隨行採訪柯林頓總統對中國的訪問。他曾與分別出使過台灣和中國的李潔明大使保持密切的友誼。他也是趙小蘭部長的長期好友。當趙小蘭還是華府一顆年輕的政治新星時,他就曾首次報導過她的成就。
他在2012年榮獲"佛光山真善美新聞獎"的終身成就獎,並曾專門返回他之前在台灣的故鄉高雄接受這一殊榮。他還常常在夜線、CNN和美國之音上擔任講評嘉賓,在特別重大危機時發表對美中台關係的看法。
建中出生於1938年3月3日(農曆二月初二)。他在中國長大,不幸在13歲時喪母。他還有一位姊姊幼年夭折。他跟他在天津的很多堂表親戚以及叔嬸關係很密切,並在他們的幫助下前往香港,後來又去了台灣,並在台灣讀完高中後又最終上了大學。在台灣師範大學,他遇見他後來的太太傅方緯(2013年逝世)以及晚年的夥伴張先莉。建中主修英語和新聞,對語言特別有悟性。他常常是聚會上的焦點,除了有寫作的天賦外,還是一位講故事的高手和演說家。
建中1966年移民到美國,在夏威夷大學的東西方中心,作為研究所交換學生攻讀美國文學、哲學和歷史專業。他在東西方中心結識了許多後來成為高級外交官的朋友,包括很多台灣的大使。他在離開台灣前已經完婚,同一年大兒子傅大任出生。1968年傅方緯和傅大任也移民來美國並定居在華府地區。他的女兒傅曉春後來出生於1971年。
建中的職業生涯始於台灣中央社的駐華府記者。1977年由於受到已故中國時報創辦人余紀忠的賞識和挖角,建中轉而加盟中國時報。余紀忠在2002年逝世之前,一直是建中的良師益友,甚至像是第二父親。但他與余家的關係一直很密切,而且在辭世前深度參與余家的"時報文教基金會"的運作。他一度擔任該基金會的首席執行長,其目的是承認並表彰大中國地區傑出的學者。
人們常說建中是很少的能夠用中英文自由表達而又不帶口音的人之一,他是一位真正的中英雙語大師。他可以在中英文之間自由互譯,這是一項非常了不起的成就。當他2008年從日常報導工作中退休之後,他仍繼續以資深記者的身份向美國的中文報紙"世界日報"和台灣的"商業週刊"供稿。他還以中英成語為題出版了幾本書,包括"英語無所不談"、"深喉嚨與吹哨的人"以及"绞架幽默"。這三本書都是他在"商業週刊"上每週文章的匯集。他還熱心幫助朋友和同事將他們的自傳從中文翻譯成英文。他最有名的翻譯就是1999年出版的由英文翻譯成中文的"季辛吉秘錄",那是在季辛吉擔任國家安全顧問以及後來的國務卿期間與毛澤東就中美關係進行的對話。他最近的譯著則是張彬煜博士的回憶錄"愚者一得",介紹他從一介書生到房地產大亨的戲劇性生活演變。
在工作之餘,建中熱中旅遊和閱讀。他愛讀中英文小說,而他的住處總是堆滿了書籍,有古典文學,也有現代暢銷的傳記。他追蹤新聞廢寢忘食,每天除閱讀諸如中國時報、工商時報和中時晚報等台灣報紙外,還不忘閱覽紐約時報、華盛頓郵報和華盛頓時報的版面。
作為一位語言學家,他喜愛學習他即將訪問國家的語言表達,而且經常很注意完善他的發音。他從不害羞,而他所碰到的外國人也常常因為他能說他們的本國語言而印象深刻。他也喜歡游泳,曾經常在國家新聞俱樂部游泳,直到晚年因健康原因影響到他活動能力為止。在旅遊方面,他在中國開放台灣民眾旅行後經常前往中國,也前往歐洲和南美洲各地旅遊。在中國,他重新聯絡上幾十年未見面的堂表親戚。除了他的出生地天津外,他的足跡踏遍了中國各地。除了中國各大城市外,他還參訪過兵馬俑和三峽。他最喜歡的城市之一是布宜諾斯艾利斯,他曾在大任和曉春長大後帶他們去這個他熱愛的城市參訪。他也喜歡馬德里,還會為鬥牛著迷。方緯健在時,他們喜歡品嘗美食,除了經常光顧的中餐外,他們也非常喜歡西班牙、法國和義大利佳餚。
建中遺有一雙兒女,分別居住於德州休士頓和猶他州帕克市的大任和曉春;一位居住在台灣的妹妹,以及多位居住在中國、台灣和加拿大的堂表親戚。
建中的家人稍晚會主辦一場追思會,而近期將舉辦一場私人的火化儀式。家人很快也會就紀念建中一生的追思會發出信息更新和邀請。
家人希望婉謝獻花,並為了紀念建中,而給台灣師範大學的學生設立一個英語專業的獎學金。如果您有興趣,請聯繫建中的女兒傅曉春(Gloria Fu) [email protected];她會在獎學金設立後向您提供進一步的資訊。
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