I am deeply saddened to report that Professor Qiguang Zhao died of a heart attack on Friday, March 13th, while in Florida. He was 67 years old. The Burton and Lily Levin Professor of Chinese, Qiguang came to Carleton in 1987 and single-handedly launched the Chinese language program. He initiated the Chinese Studies in China off-campus program in Tianjin and now Shanghai, leading the program more than 10 times. Qiguang was a favorite professor of many students, teaching a popular spring course on the “Taoist Way of Health and Longevity,” which included leading Tai Chi on the Bald Spot. He also taught courses in advanced Chinese, such as Chinese Poetry and Classical Chinese. He often taught using “huajing,” drawing lively cartoons that illustrated his points. Qiguang loved watching students grow in understanding of themselves and the world through experiencing another culture. But his knowledge and intelligence, kindness and generosity, and willingness to think with them about the big questions of life, were as much a factor in students’ growth and learning.
Qiguang was born and raised in Beijing, doing his undergraduate work in Tianjin and Beijing. He received his MA and PhD at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He was the author of several books and many articles in both Chinese and English, but was especially proud of his Do Nothing and Do Everything book, which applied the principles of Taoism to modern life. He commented almost weekly on issues related to the U.S. and China on an influential Hong Kong TV channel, Phoenix TV. In January, Carleton held a special screening of his major new three-part TV documentary, “Marco Polo: A Very Modern Journey,” on the travels of Marco Polo from Venice to Xanadu.
Qiguang was married to Litao Zhang and had one son, Zhiming. According to the Chinese calendar, Qiguang died on his birthday, March 14th, Pi Day, symbolism which he enjoyed. A more complete obituary will be forthcoming.
A memorial service for Qiguang will be held on Sunday, March 29th, at 2pm in the Carleton Chapel, with a reception in Great Hall following the service.
Memorials may be directed to the Professor Qiguang Zhao Fund for Off-Campus Studies in China at Carleton College, (c/o Gift Accounting, 1 North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057).
Please keep all of Professor Qiguang Zhao’s family, friends, colleagues, and students in your thoughts and prayers.
In sorrow,
Bev Nagel
Comments
This is sad, shocking news. Qiguang was a wonderful colleague, a scholar and a 君子. My deepest sympathy to Litao and Zhiming.
He was a classic liberal arts man. We bonded over our love of the night sky and the universe. He was a frequent visitor to Goodsell Observatory open houses. I shall miss him.
This news comes as quite a shock. I feel deep sadness about the loss of Qiguang. He was a remarkable man. And he was so kind to me, from the time of my arrival at Carleton -- the person whom I always sought out at faculty gatherings because of his energy. His work and teaching inspired me deeply--especially his teaching of Tai Chi on the Bald Spot, and his tying this practice into his course on "The Taoist Way of Health and Longevity." His energy and creativity of mind was beautiful and contagious. My heart goes out to Litao and Zhiming.
Rest in peace Zhao Laoshi. -Pablo
Qiguang's generosity of spirit and simplicity of character were transparent. He was childlike, but learned at the same time.
Having co-taught the Tao Te Ching with him twice, I willingly became his student. His love of the text contained a quality of
delight; quite infectious, yet “never parading itself”. Litao and Zhiming, we have some sense of what your loss must be.
Fantastic person.
With warm but sad thoughts, memories of Qiguang are, today, as vibrant he was. Soon after he came to Carleton we got together and discussed a course that we could teach together. His knowledge of Chinese literature, omens and symbols meshed with my course on the art of China, so, off we went! But….. we did not have a title. I studied his work on dragons, went over to his home, barged in and told him we did have a title, "The Dragon, the Mountain and the Hare in the Moon." He was ecstatic. In the following years, teaching with Qiguang was a delight - his openness and almost childlike enthusiasm coupled with his knowledge gave me one of my favorite teaching experiences. We remember attending his wedding with Litao and pleased in the way she created her professional life in Minnesota. Our hearts go out to her now. The last time we saw and visited with Qiguang was in June of 2010 when we returned to Northfield for the graduation of our granddaughter. He was his usual joyful, outgoing self….the memory we shall hold.
一路走好。 It has been my great pleasure to talk with Prpfessor Zhao about Chinese literature and his movie Marco Polo. The last time I saw Professor Zhao was when he accompanied his wife to the Goodsell Open House. He recommended us to go there as well, saying "When you see the astronomical happenings in the heavens, you stop worrying about the trivial struggles and sentiments on earth." I wish him peacefully ascend to the heaven of eternal blessing.
Zhao laoshi, even though I wasn't a direct student of yours, we were under the same Asian Languages department and so I feel grief over your passing. I'm honoured to have interacted with you and partaken of your wisdom. Please rest in peace.
"If everyone has found peace within, there will be peace everywhere." 一路走好赵老师 我会想着你
Zhao taught the very first Carleton course I took, Chinese 101. He was extremely demanding in our pronunciation, but was so delighted when we got it right. That exuberance is why we worked so hard for him and why we loved how high of a standard he held us to.
So sad. I don't think I ever talked with Professor Zhao, but I admired his quiet manner. I'll never forget seeing him leading his tai chi classes in front of Goodsell, or barreling down Prairie on his bicycle. He will be missed.
春花秋月何时了 往事知多少 故国梦重游 觉来双泪垂
趙老師，畢業前有幸上了您的太極課，寓教於樂，印象深刻。願您一路走好。學生，孫鶴。
赵老师，没能有机会上过您的课，但是一直耳闻您的博学多才。作为您付出甚多的学院的一员，祝您一路走好。
We are unspeakably saddened to hear this news, and our hearts go out to Litao and Zhimin. While it is true that -- I hope he would appreciate the wordplay -- the Zhao that can be spoken is not the eternal Zhao, it can be said that in the world of ten thousand things Qiguang was an extraordinary teacher, poet, scholar, artist, and filmmaker, a loving husband and father, the soul of the Carleton Asian Studies and Chinese programs; a man who -- in English, mind you -- could tell stories or build metaphors so beautiful and true as to make a native speaker weep; who always had about him an air of unhurried presence, a manner both appreciative and generous, an inner calm combined with openness to life that drew to him so many students, colleagues, and friends in the course of a life truly lived. He was an authentic human, always utterly himself, always a breath of fresh spring air, and our muddled world is the poorer for his passing. What can we say, but that the Dao is indeed mysterious?
月兒彎彎照九州，幾家歡樂幾家愁。 幾家夫婦同羅帳，幾家飄零在外頭。 趙老師，願您在夢裡已回到故鄉。 學生 梁家林
I am stunned and deeply saddened by the news of Qiguang's death. I was his student in the very first course he taught at Carleton, so I know first-hand what a gifted, kind, and creative teacher he was. As another of his former students has written, he made us want to work hard because we cared so much about him that we never wanted to disappoint him. My life has been enriched in deep and important ways by having been Qiguang's student and his friend. Although I wish I were a better example of a Chinese-language learner and have had trouble retaining what I learned in first-year Chinese, I was able last year to travel around Beijing on my own, make jokes with cab drivers, and enjoy daily interactions with people I met -- all due to Qiguang. During Roy's and my first Beijing Seminar in 1990, we traveled to Tianjin with our Carleton students and had the pleasure of meeting Qiguang's wonderful parents. With the help of much better Chinese speakers, I tried to express to them my profound admiration for their son. I remember telling them that he was like a clear stream -- a person without pretense or artifice. There was a kind of purity of soul to Qiguang. May his spirit pass into the life of his soon-to-be born grandchild! With great sympathy to Litao and Zhiming.
I am deeply saddened by the news of Qiguang's passing. My heart goes out to his whole family, his friends, and everyone who knew him. I myself barely knew Qiguang, but often shared a lane with him in the Carleton pool during the cold winters. I remember his extremely calm, strong, soothing, and kind presence and I was always so impressed by the way he swam and swam at an even, strong, and steady pace, barely stopping for a break. He wold be in the pool before I got in and stayed in after I got out. I first started really liking swimming during those Carleton winters and for me those swimming memories are very much connected to Qiguang even though we only spoke a couple of times. I know how loved he was at Carleton. He will be--and already is--greatly missed.
赵老师，很喜欢您的太极课，每次与您交谈都受益匪浅。希望您在天国一切安好！You will be missed. We love you! --学生 杨喆
赵老师，能在Carleton与您相识真的是我的荣幸。您的为人、才华、谦虚真的使我万分敬佩。每次您和夫人都来为我们民乐团的演出来捧场并鼓励我们，使我们非常感动。赵老师，您一路走好！您永远会在我们的心中。请李涛夫人和儿子节哀，多保重！
趙老師, 今天看到這條信息很震驚，非常遺憾聽到這個消息，您的講學風采以及幽默的談吐，讓我在Carleton工作及學習都格外有收穫，猶記得您在課堂上用走路來解釋道家思想："退一步原來是向前。"真是讓我頗有感觸。 Rest in peace, dear Zhao Laoshi. My condolence is deeply with Zhao Laoshi's family.
启光同学英年早逝，扼腕痛惜，安息。
国内十.二班同学已知噩耗，愿你一路走好。
天大南大附中老同学
石毓岷
Arizona, USA
Very very sad news. We still cannot believe that Qiguang has left us. He was a gentleman, dedicated teacher, and good friend. Qiguang helped to launch Carleton’s China program in the 1980s. With boundless energy and total devotion, he nurtured it to become one of the best in liberal arts colleges. He brought generations of Carleton students to China, teaching them the Chinese way of life and, more importantly, providing them with a different worldview: the importance of inclusion and tolerance. He was a teacher of cultural understanding and mutual appreciation in an increasingly dangerous and chaotic world. Our deepest sympathy to Litao and Zhiming.
You were selfless in so many ways, and inspired many young philosophers. Thank you, Zhao Laoshi.
Though I did not know Qiguang well, he always shared a warm 'Hello' when passing on campus; he will be missed. Sending prayers and condolences to the heavy hearts of his family. Rest in peace.
From across the country, an old friend posted this news of her friend on Facebook and I began reading and have read all of these tributes. I did not know this man or have any other connection to him, yet I am here filled with admiration and love for him and a tear runs down my face. If some words describing his life could move me so much, how deeply must he have affected all of the people he encountered, directly and through his works. I can only imagine. May his legacy and memory be an inspiration to all of you and all of us to live our lives meaningfully and to elevate others, this earth and the universe. Wishing his family and community strength and comfort. Steven Gorelick, Maplewood NJ
启光同学是我班杰出班友，我校杰出校友，英年早逝，实在可惜。惟愿他一路走好。
请启光家属节哀保重。
i have always considered it an honor to be a student in that first Chinese class in 1987. It was the first of six that I would take with Zhao Laoshi. I am at a loss for words today. It is difficult to express the loss. He was my favorite professor. He was the only one who appreciated my particular laissez-faire attitude. I think he felt it was suitably Taoist. Even after our courses were over, he would break into the biggest smile when we would run into each other. He had a poet's soul.
Qiguang Zhao was a wonderful teacher with so much compassion. His smile made every tai chi class joyful.
I learned from Prof. Zhao the only Chinese words I know: 道可道非常道 名可名非常名
We have had a number of occasions where we would gather, and Quiguang would speak. These included retirement parties for friends and conclusions of trip with colleagues. Whenever he did this, I was stuck by how creatively he got to the point. He used humor, a poetic approach, and great sensitivity, but he always managed to sum things up in a way that I found graceful and lovely. Now we will gather for his memorial, and that particular voice will be missing.
从小学一年级直到十年二班。犹记得似乎小学一、二年级时，你在铅笔盒里放一块光滑的小砾石，说是可以磨铅笔刀。这样的记忆残片，说它有多清晰，绝谈不上，多少有些虚无飘渺似的。但这样的残片，是幼年同学间少有的珍贵记忆。前不久十年级聚会时，我与身边的同学说起此事。现在，启光走了，竟带上一丝伤感。
启光学长襟怀坦荡，热情豪放，学识渊博，才情横溢，英年早逝，惺惺相惜，一路走好，天国安息！并祝家属节哀保重！天南大附中学弟滕抗
启光同学你是十年二班的骄傲，思路敏捷，才华横溢。英年早逝，令人痛心，望一路走好。
启光英年早逝，不胜悲痛！！！你曾告诉我：马克思去世纪念日是你的生日。不曾想在那天你又走了。“死者已矣，生者何堪”。我已制作小小幻灯片，汇集与启光的往日合影，以寄托我的哀思，并分发给诸位老同学。启光一路走好！ 老同学崔巍
I worked with Professor Zhao in the Associated China Program, with a kind of maternal affection and delight, perhaps interpreting American customs to him from time to time. He shared the great love of his country with so many students, and with all of us. The ACP program in Tianjin was an important part of his life.
This year seemed to be a culmination, for those who knew him but were not aware of the many books he had written, both in Chinese and English. (Even Martha Stewart quoted his wisdom.)
We will never forget those two special evenings when we saw his video programs that had previously been seen by thousands on Al Jazeera and the BBC about his “search for Marco Polo”. We were touched to see the photos of a young Qiguang, reading about Marco Polo in his childhood days, to witness the proud moment of his son Zhiming’s introduction of his father, to remember how fortunate we all have been to have him in our lives at Carleton
启光兄走得太突然太早了！自1955年在幼儿园相识，从小学，初中，高中毕业，就在同一班，从未分开过，两家相距不过50米，甚至上下楼，同上学，同一家庭小组，更一同挨老师批，又一同最后一批入队，但又同时被老师夸赞作文写得好！而如今---在也无法“一同”了。痛哉！悲哉！启光兄走好。原天南大附中十年二班发小。
启光好友， 清晨惊悉你的突然离去，万分悲痛！ 每次回来，都是两肩相错，没有多说几句，终身遗憾！ 愿你一路走好，九泉之下，精神永存！ 愿启光家属节哀保重！ 振民，振墀，振宇
赵启光老同学，一路走好！
原天南大附中十年二班同学
启光你突然离去，我们非常悲伤，咱们都是从小一起在南开大学东村长大的，你才华横溢，真是太可惜了。咱们最后见的一面就是南大幼儿园60周年庆典上，大家都很高兴你能从美国赶过来。那天老朋友们见面真是太难得了，幼儿园的60周年年庆，恐怕在哪儿这种聚会都是难得的、唯一的。愿你在天堂里也永远那样阳光！愿你的家人节哀顺便。 光冀、光红、冀保
Had the pleasure of meeting Quiguang at a Carleton social. I enjoyed visiting with him then, and seeing him around campus after that. He will be missed by many. Deepest condolences to all.
Zhao Laoshi gave me the tools to look at the world in different ways. There are a few books that I read and re-read: The Dao De Jing, Stray Birds, and The Prophet. Through Zhao Laoshi's well-organized assignments, these books taught me that some truths reach across religion and culture to connect at the deepest human level. Zhao Laoshi will be deeply missed.
启光是我十分敬重的一位学兄，最后一次相遇是在南大幼儿园建园60周年纪念活动中。启光走好。
I am shocked and deeply saddened by Zhao Laoshi's sudden passing. But I am so grateful that we had reconnected. I was an early student of his -- and I do mean early (1st period, Monday - Friday for all of my 1st year at Carleton 1988-1989) :) Thank you, 赵老师, for not only imparting knowledge but for making us better human beings. My deepest condolences to Litao and Zhiming. I re-read the Preface to his book Do Nothing & Do Everything: An Illustrated New Taoism, as he confronted life and death after the passing of his mother: "We do not get to choose when we are going to die or how to die. Yet we can decide when we are going to live. The time is *now*. Seize today and trust not in tomorrow. Eternity does not begin after death, it extends to all of the time in our lives. .... Do not hesitate when crossing [between action and nonfiction]. Do not be bothered by the opinions of others. Hear the call of nature, and act for yourself. You do not want to come to the last moment of your life and find that you have simply lived life's length. You should also have lived the life's width. So when you leave the world, you will not say, 'I didn't do this' or 'I did that wrong.' You are going to say, 'I regret nothing. I came. I did nothing. I did it all. As a happy guest, I leave you now.' "
One of my favorite stories of his was when he first came to the US and would come across people who would tell him to 'take care' - he knew that they must follow Confucius. Then he would come across people he knew must be Daoist, who would encourage him to 'take it easy.' That story comes to my mind almost daily as folks wish me one or the other, but I wish I had shared with him how often he crosses my mind.
As others have said, I am so shocked and saddened to hear this news. Zhao Laoshi was a gentle, wonderful man and a great teacher. I attended the first Associated China Program in the fall of '92 and took Chinese classes with Zhao Laoshi after the ACP program. That program and my experience with Zhao Laoshi had a very profound impact on my life, one that is impossible to describe in words. I have many wonderful memories associated with him, his teaching of Chinese and his love for literature and life. One in particular: during our travel at the end of the ACP program, we took a boat along the Grand Canal, and in the very early morning (of the most beautiful day), with roosters beginning to crow, and dogs beginning to bark, Zhao Laoshi pointed out to me a hard-working couple that was plying their small boat along the canal for a living, and commented, in his own language, which always came out like poetry, how the husband and wife on the boat were a team in perfect balance, each doing their own work in harmony, to make their life on the canal. It is so hard seeing off old friends. Zaijian, Zhao Laoshi.
赵老师，两天过去了，还是不相信你已经离开我们了。有幸与你一起共事，我还期待着向你多学一点人生的智慧。心中非常悲伤。愿你一路走好。方月东
I am deeply saddened to learn of Zhao Laoshi's passing. Zhao Laoshi inspired me to study Chinese when he spoke at my freshman convocation on the book "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress." The convocation was held at the chapel during an evening thunderstorm; in the noise of the rain, Zhao Laoshi spoke about how the Red Guard came to his home during the Cultural Revolution as he ripped pages from his father's diary and dropped them into a winding stream. The story was so stirring, I signed up for Chinese classes immediately so that I could learn more from him. It was my honor to travel with him to Tianjin and study at Nankai University in the fall of 2008 and to continue taking his courses after that. Zhao Laoshi was a remarkable, cherished man.
Zhao Laoshi, I think of you as a kind of spiritual father in the Chinese language. You gave me my name 欧阳笠 when I started Chinese in your first class at Carleton, a name both of us have always loved. Along with Roy Grow and Bardwell Smith you changed the course of my life. Through your teaching I fell in love with the Chinese language and culture. Years later as I began teaching Chinese myself, you continued to be a resource for me. I am so grateful for your gentle, thoughtful presence in my life, and terribly sad to hear of your sudden passing. My condolences to all who have lost you.
I too was deeply saddened to hear that we have lost Quiguang. Too soon! Much too soon. It was always such a pleasure to me to see him on campus: standing in line before marching at opening Convo or Commencement, riding his bicycle, munching hors d’oeuvres at a reception, sitting beside him in a faculty seminar. He always seemed surprised by joy and he dwelt in possibility. And his smile! It lit up his whole face and made his eyes wrinkle with delight. We often discussed poetry, particularly American poetry, which he knew well. The life of the mind shone brightly in Quiguang: across languages, across continents, across cultures. I count myself lucky to have had him as a colleague and proud to have him as a friend.
As a Chinese major, I was fortunate to have studied, traveled and consulted with Zhao laoshi, whose mentorship during my comps on the poetry of Mao Zedong remains an unequivocal highlight of my time at Carleton. Zhao laoshi was an adventurer, in the classroom and in the wider world, and his incredible, infectious enthusiasm was a source of encouragement for so many of his students. In what can be an intimidating, daunting field of study for those just starting out, Zhao's classes and trips were always buoyed by a playful spirit that brought out our best. He had a knack for helping each of us form personal connections to the texts or philosophies at hand, forming impressions that have spread, through the spirit his equally adventurous students, far beyond Northfield. 故人西辞黄鹤楼， 烟花三月下扬州。 孤帆远影碧空尽， 唯见长江天际流。 - 番大为
Zhao laoshi, Martin and I still think of you to this day and talk about returning some day to Northfield, to visit you. We remember you with fond memories. Martin still has the taichi sword he used in your taichi class. I still remember the poem you wrote for the flowers we saw together on campus. It saddens both of us to know of your passing. It's much too soon. Lei & Martin
As others have written, Zhao Laoshi was a wonderful Carleton professor. I greatly benefited from taking his Tao Te Ching seminar on so many levels, both academically and personally. This class led me to learning Chinese, studying in Asia and meeting my closest friends along the way. For the seminar, I spent a lot of time taking pictures in the Arb and of the Cannon during the Winter for my final project. Every step of the way, Zhao Laoshi was so supportive of this work. Studying the Tao with Qiguang and Bardwell defined my time on campus. My condolences to Zhao Laoshi's family.
On March 15, 2015, Qiguang's granddaughter, Zoe Guang Zhao, was born. We like to think Qiguang saw her first and then sent her on to us. She would have been a new light in his life as her name implies, and we choose to believe he will guide her with the love and wisdom he shared with all of us. '
Sad and shocked... You will always be one of my favorite teachers. Thank you Professor Zhao.
惊悉，2015年3月13日上周五，赵启光兄下午5时许在迈阿密海滩游泳，嬉戏大西洋，忽然被浪头击中，倏然殒命。悲夫壮哉，豪气冲天，羽化成 仙。 那天正是他农历67岁生日，同日他孙女降生。 上周四12日我跟他通电话，他兴冲冲告我，夫妻二人正待出发，去迈阿密待乘加勒比邮轮，启航中美洲保健修身之旅。我说，兄回来好好与我分享心得。次日，正是中流击水时，他与至爱亲朋们瞬间阴阳两界，好不愕然！ 各位，你们或记得去年11月29日南京香格里拉酒店来参加我儿女婚礼。启光神清气爽，水汽蒸腾，从酒店泳池中走出，略更衣，径直步入酒宴。 生命如此无常，生生死死，不知冥冥中是否有上天。
Please give our sympathy to Litao and Zhiming. We loved Zhao Laoshi. He was one of those Carleton teachers whose voice I still hear in my thoughts in the day to day of my life twenty years later. I liked Zhao Laoshi as a storyteller and an analyzer of old stories. What does the story really mean? What is the author really trying to say?
赵老师，虽然没有机会能亲自跟您上课。但是春天您带着大家在草地上打太极是难忘的风景。一路走好。
I can't say enough wonderful things about Zhao Laoshi. Such a wonderful teacher. I owe it to him that I graduated with more Chinese credits than History credits - and I was a History major. I was fortunate enough to join the initial (1992) Associated China Program trip to Nankai Daxue in the fall of my senior year. Qiguang's incredible connections opened up worlds for us - from daily morning tai chi with Ms. Wang Sulan (I still have my sword) to visiting the national training center for gymnastics in Beijing to watch the nation's best, who had just returned from the Barcelona Olympics. I will miss his quirky stories about whether fish in the stream in fact know they are fish; practicing tai chi on the lawn in front of Scoville; and his ultra-calm demeanor at all times. Peace, Zhao Laoshi. You have more than earned your rest.
Fenyang Senior Middle School was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of a man who labored to re-establish the connection between our school and Carleton College. Zhao Qiguang was a selfless and tireless promoter of good relations between China and the USA. His long-running study abroad program, interviews on Chinese TV, personal visits to our school, assisting of Carleton TAs from Fenyang, and countless other efforts are powerful testaments of his devotion to fostering understanding and friendship between China and the U.S. Despite being a tenured professor and an author, Qiguang still found time to return to China regularly and could not have dedicated more of himself to his goal of fellowship between our two countries, schools, and students. His kind demeanor and patient help as a teacher, ambassador, and friend will be sorely missed but never forgotten.
真是惊闻噩耗！心痛不已！已过往事还历历在目，岂料今日君却已离去！悲哉，哀哉！ 如今春风已在南开四处招摇，然而她却再寻不到那曾经的一抹熟谙! 启光一路走好,家人要节哀顺便！ 十年二班老同学
惊闻赵启光去世的噩耗，非常悲痛。 几日前还在家中观看你在凤凰台的慷慨言词，那声音，那形象，那气质，都在眼前......老同学，你一路走好！ 敬请你的家人节哀！ 原天南大附中十二班 王步云，段铁玲
缅怀启光，往事历历在目。 记得高中一年级，我二人课间休息较量腕力，持续5分钟以上，谁也没有占上风。还是傅玉祥从中调解，说是平手。 我二人还一起比试作诗，一较高低。 我下乡之前，你特意请我和周荣生一起游览水上公园。 我第一次从农村返津，你专门去我家，与我叙旧，并请我看电影。 这一幕幕往事，这一桩桩旧情，这些天反复萦绕脑海，令我怀念，没齿难忘。 再次祝愿启光一路走好！！启光夫人及亲属节哀。
惊闻我园杰出园友启光先生辞世噩耗，万分悲痛，惋惜不已！敬请家人节哀，启光先生一路走好！
南开大学幼儿园全体师生
惊闻启光学长不幸早逝，深感震惊，悲痛万分。我们最后相见是在南大幼儿园60周年纪念活动中，你的精彩发言和音容笑貌犹在眼前。学长请一路走好！也请家属节哀保重。
It is so very sad to have lost Qiquang. I sat in on several of his classes during his tenure review, and was constantly amazed at his confident and humorous use of blackboard cartoons to illustrate vocabulary and engage his students. His stories about life in China were memorable.
I loved the fact that he did t'ai chi with his students during breaks in his longer classes. He was a warm, intelligent, and much-loved teacher and colleague. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and his many friends.
I got to know Qiguang through my friendship with his wife Litao about 10 years ago. At the time, being deceived by his modest manner, I did not realize that he was a very famous professor and scholar. Only years later, I got to know how accomplished he was. Qiguang, I will miss you, miss your humble, serene and gentle attitude. May your soul rest in peace in heaven! Litao, I will always be your friend whom you could lean on!
Qiguang was my partner in teaching Chinese language to 26 years worth of Carleton students. He was the good cop in our good cop-bad cop routine, and I am still in awe of the way he could inspire everyone with his love of life, of learning, and of Chinese culture. I still catch myself every day thinking about what Qiguang will say or think about one thing or another, and then suddenly the loss hits me again. My heart goes out to Jimmy and Litao in the inner circle, and to all of us in the outer circle. We will never see his like again.
谢谢你，赵老师，伴我度过了大学最迷茫的一个spring term 又是一年春天 人间芳华 只想起几句 绿野堂开占物华，路人指道令公家。 令公桃李满天下，何用堂前更种花。
Qiguang will be missed. I always enjoyed spending the night and talking with everyone, some of my best memories from middle and high school. My best wishes for you all.
启光，你好， 今天我有幸代表你童年，少年时期，在南开校园里东村，西村，北村，西南村的老朋友，还有维汉来为你送行。我们仍然记得、看到你的侃侃谈笑。在九泉之下，你可以欣慰地时时看到昔日你的勤奋努力，智慧，热情为中美人民友谊，文化交流作出的美好业绩代代相传，永垂不朽！启光，愿你精神永存！ 一路走好。
When I first came back to Carleton in 2000 to recruit international students, including students from China, Qiguang was kind enough to serve as a mentor and guide me to some very strong schools. I still remember the first time I visited Tianjin. Before I left, he told me to be sure to visit Nankai High School, the school of the first premier of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Zhou Enlai. He told me it was a very famous high school with superb students. He also told me to be careful, since there was also a high school with a similar name at Nankai University, to be sure and insist on visiting Nankai High School. This was 2001. Sure enough, about halfway through my visit to a school in Tianjin, it became clear to me that I was at the High School Attached to Nankai University. It was a good visit, but I was embarrassed when I returned to Northfield to report back to him. He just smiled and said, "That's okay. It was your first try. That school is also very good. In fact, that's my old high school". Fourteen years later, I cannot count the number of times that I received good advice, honest feedback and words of encouragement from Professor Zhao. It has always meant a lot to me and I will not forget his guidance at a time when I badly needed any help I could get. It took us almost ten more years to enroll our first student from Nankai High School, but when she arrived on campus I immediately let him know.
I was very sorry to have missed the memorial service yesterday for Qiguang, since I arrived back in the airport from a conference too late. I already miss Qiguang on campus and especially on our 2nd floor in the LDC. My last memory is of him filling a water bottle at our fountain and giving me one of his always warm greetings and big smile. I am especially thankful that during a technolunch a few years ago Qiguang gave us a demonstration of how he taught language with cartoons - watching his hand fly around the board in perfect timing with the story he was talking about was amazing. I already miss him greatly as a senior colleague I so admired.
赵老师， 我今天买了您的书都不知道你已经走了。我很难受知道你不跟我们一起骑自行车，看星星，一圈一圈地走路，但我也希望您彻底融入大自然。我感谢您让我对中国和道家思想感兴趣。我今天晚上会看星星，希望可以一起看。 一路走好， 蓝斐历
Zhao Laoshi, on campus your stature was towering, your presence was calming, your teaching exhilarating. You brought to Carleton the full weight of China's history, you leave a legacy that will inspire generations of Carleton students to come.
Be at peace.
学生
余修远
He and his brother were very important in my travels to China - so wonderful!!
无意中发现启光先生去世。惊噩之中。我记得。1986年启光先生的母亲王淑娴教授病了。住我们271医院。小马医生说你当我妈的医生吧。王教授那时已是60多岁了。但是漂亮。壮实。真是长的像演员。身体像运动员。王教授的大儿子是赵启正。当时浦东管委会主任。2儿子是教授。3儿子启光在美国。他们轮流陪床。那个病房就是书房。这几个人竟然在病房学习开了。又读又写。王教授发着烧。输着液。在这病房里。有时赵景员教授当时南开大学教务长来访。陪伴也是看书。有时赵启正先生没事到办公室。他的谈话真可以说是高论。像演讲。启光一家都是物理学家。只有启光先生是文学家。小马告诉我。因为文化大革命。不能学物理。不能做实验。但文学只要有书就行了。所以文革结束后启光先生很快考上了中科院文学所的硕士。有一篇启光的文章说那时文革。王教授看着墙上的小船画像对启光先生说你就坐这只小船到美国留学。没错启光先生成美国教授了。97年我到美国住旧金山湾区。有时还看到启光先生的文章。这一家人给我记忆深刻。真不敢相信是真的。看了视频。启正先生抱棺大哭的境头才信。一路走好。那个世界正大光明。
磐石蒲草皆压舱，玉露金风渡未央，洞箫三弄穿幽谷，游人有根始望乡