Sam Chu Lin, Asian American Broadcast Pioneer, Dies

He was an Asian American face on broadcast news decades before it was en vogue, a tireless journalist dedicated to getting Asian American stories broadcast, and a multi-dimensional newsman without peer.

On Sunday, March 5, 2006, the unmistakable voice went silent, as Asian American broadcast pioneer Sam Chu Lin died suddenly in Burbank, Calif. He was 67.

"Its quite a shock for everyone," said his widow Judy.

From coast to coast, news of Chu Lin's unexpected death sent shockwaves.

Both U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and Congressman Mike Honda (D-San Jose) called Chu Lin a journalism pioneer.

"Throughout his career, Sam stood strong against discrimination and helped break down negative stereotypes, all the while conducting himself with a great amount of integrity, credibility, and enthusiasm," said Mineta, a former San Jose congressman and mayor, in a statement.

"Sam was proud of his Chinese American heritage. He wasn't shy about using his roots to make the entire Asian American community, and indeed the world, a better place," Mineta added. "And today thanks in part to Sam, doors and minds that were once shut to Asian Americans are now open and accepting."

Mineta went on to call Chu Lin a "committed journalist and consummate professional."

"And he was a kind, loyal, and generous person," Mineta added. "He is someone whom I was lucky to call a peer, but even more blessed to call a friend."

Chu Lin wrote...

APALC Honors Memory of Legal Pioneer Judge Delbert E. Wong

LOS ANGELES, CA The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California (APALC) mourns the loss of Judge Delbert E. Wong, who passed away on March 10 at the age of 85, and extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Judge Wong.

"Judge Wong was an inspiration and a pioneer in the Asian American and legal communities, and a champion of justice and equality," said Stewart Kwoh, APALC president and executive director. "He was a mentor to me personally and a hero to the board and staff of APALC. His legacy is that of an outstanding lawyer and judge; a devoted husband, father and grandfather; and a community leader who led the way for others. In his passing, we have lost a giant in our community."

For several generations of Asian American law students and lawyers, Judge Wong represented a pioneer and trailblazer. Judge Wong was the first Chinese or Asian American in many legal settings, including graduating from Stanford Law School and serving as deputy Legislative Counsel for the state legislature and deputy Attorney General for California. In 1959, he became the first Chinese American judge in the continental United States. He stayed on the bench for more than two decades, retiring in 1982 but remaining active in the legal community through private arbitration.

In addition to breaking down racial barriers in the legal field, Judge Wong played an instrumental role in remedying inequity in cases he handled. In...

Jade Snow Wong, ceramist and noted author of "Fifth Chinese Daughter" has died at 84. She died Thursday of cancer at
her home in San Francisco's Russian Hill.

Jade Snow Wong ceramist and noted author of "Fifth Chinese Daughter" has died at 84.

The Alumnae Family at Mills is saddened to announce that Jade Snow Wong, also known as Connie Wong Ong, '42, passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2006, of cancer at her home in San Francisco's Russian Hill.

An accomplished author, her acclaimed book, "Fifth Chinese Daughter," published in 1950, chronicled her early life growing up in San Francisco in a traditional Chinese family. It also documents her perseverance in her pursuit of a college education without financial support from her parents. Jade Snow attended junior college and then transferred to Mills at the urging of none other that Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt herself! It was during this time at Mills that Jade Snow reluctantly took an art class entitled Tools and Materials and fell in love with ceramic arts. Jade Snow graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Mills in 1942 and was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from Mills in 1976.

In 1945, at the age of 24, Jade Snow was given the task of getting the new alumnae headquarters built on campus. Resolute in facing the numerous challenges presented, the young Jade Snow secured donations, hired an architect, and purchased furniture for the completed building. Today Reinhardt Alumnae House still serves as the timeless and...

AAJA mourns the passing of William Woo, the first Asian American editor of a major metropolitan newspaper in the US. He was also one of the first Asian Americans to head an editorial page.

This article was posted on the AAJA.org website on April 12, 2006

The Asian American Journalists Association mourns the loss of William Woo, 69, who died Wednesday.

He was the first Asian American to be named editor of a major metropolitan newspaper in the United States, said AAJA national president Esther Wu, columnist/reporter for The Dallas Morning News.

In 1986, he was named editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a Pulitzer family owned-and-operated newspaper that was founded in 1903 by Joseph Pulitzer.

Bill was the first non-Pulitzer to take the reins as editor. He was a true wordsmith who cared more about good journalism than the business of journalism. He inspired many to enter this profession -- including me, Wu said.

Woo worked at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 34 years beginning in 1962, rising from reporter to foreign correspondent, Washington columnist, editorial writer, editorial page editor, and serving as the newspapers editor for his last decade there.

He was one of the first Asian Americans to head an editorial page. AAJA vice president of print Jeanne Mariani-Belding had the opportunity to work closely with him while she was at the San Jose Mercury News and later as a Knight Fellow.

Words cannot describe this loss. Bill has been a mentor, an inspiration and above all,...

Have you heard this before? “Love or Business, you have to choose.” The message is direct - you have to decide what you value more, something/one you love or your work/business. Actually, there is a more factual statement – Love is Good Business.

February is the month of love. A great deal of thought and energy will be spent on expressions of love, usually for a romantic partner. The truth in the old axiom, Love makes the World Go Round, applies to all aspects of life, not only to romantic love. When you are doing what you love, you are going to be more successful in it, and you will also be happier and at peace. It’s only natural.

“I don’t think I have ever worked in my life, because work to me means that you are really doing something you don’t like.”

John Kluge, multibillionaire founder of Metromedia

            How do you harness the immense power of love in your business? You’ve guessed it – love what you do. Wait, you say, I work for money, I don’t love my work. Or, I used to like my job but over the years it’s gotten boring; now I am doing it because I can’t think of what else I can do to earn a living. Uh oh, we need to talk. It is highly unlikely that you are going to be able to excel in your business if you are just going through the motions. Equally if not more important, your quality of life is reduced because you are spending many of your waking hours at something which gives you...