Donald Lam
Auntie Dookie was the youngest sister of my godmother, Mrs. Katherine Lee. With their family's support I was able to have a college education in Canada. I first met auntie Dookie when I came to Berkeley in 1965. They were living in a different part of Oakland then, and Tina was just a few years old. Sheldon was not yet born. Both uncle Harry and auntie Dookie treated me as part of the family and not as a first time stranger. They treated me with a visit to Yosemite shortly after I arrived and always invited me to family occasions thereafter. Every time I went to visit them, Dookie always insisted to treat me to a delicious dinner at her favorite restaurants knowing that I don't often have Chinese food. Auntie Dookie was a devoted wife and a very loving mother. With uncle Harry, she brought up two great children, Tina and Sheldon. It was a tragic loss to the family that Tina passed away just a few months ago. She had authored many articles and produced many TV episodes about the Asian Americans history in this country. Sheldon is active in a highly visible law enforcing government agency.Anyone who had known auntie Dookie knows she was a very compassionate and caring person. One can see the kindness in her eyes and feel the outreach in her presence. Even she was not feeling well herself in her later years, she took great care of her sister, Katherine, and her brother Tom. She had valiantly fought her own illness for many years. The recent passing of her daughter, Tina, presented too great a trauma to her, and ultimately drained her strength to continue her fight. She has now joined Tina to continue their journey in a world we do not yet know. I miss her dearly and I am lost for words on how to express my heart-felt condolences to Sheldon and uncle Harry. Hope time will heal all grievances and the thoughts of happiness that auntie Dookie had bestowed on us will always live in our hearts.Donald Lam