Announcement

刘健大哥，一路走好

今天参加了刘健大哥的安息会，看见刘健大哥静静地躺在那里，那么安详，就像是睡着了一样，真是感慨万千，悲从中来。真的不敢相信这么好的一个人已经离开了我们。

从得知他生病到噩耗传来，不过短短两三个星期的时间。短的来让我们这些朋友来不及有机会去最后见上他一面，短的来让我们不可以有时间来消化震惊与悲痛。几天来我一直在回想过去曾经在一起的日子，刘健大哥的音容笑貌历历在目，就像昨天一样鲜明，怎么就会英年早逝了呢？

刘健大哥跟我是以前一个公司的同事。虽然是同事，但是却没有真正地共过事，没有在工作上合作过。所以我们的接触时间和机会是很有限的。就是这有限的接触，就已经能够感受到刘健大哥是个多么好的人。记得第一次认识，是听说他在组织一个cruise
trip。我就冒昧地去打听情况，虽然是第一次见面，刘健就像一个老朋友一样，花了很多时间热心地提供了很多信息。一来二往认识之后，有一次一帮人在公司餐厅吃饭，开玩笑说刘健你网球打得那么好，教教大家打网球吧。一句玩笑话，刘健却是很认真地对待，果然就开始利用中午休息的时间义务教大家打球。当时跟他学网球的人，可不是一个两个，而是七八个有时甚至更多。刘健教球是尽心尽力，给大家讲要领，教决窍，指缺点，夸进步，分文不取。我们大家要请他吃顿饭答谢，他都还百般推辞。他能做到这一点，一来是他对网球的爱好和执着，二来更是来自于他对朋友的热情和关心。

在今天的追思会上，他的很多朋友和亲人都提到了刘健为人的乐观豁达，以及对家人和朋友的关爱。这是每一个和刘健接触过的人都会有的感触。而且他为人非常坦诚，他如果对你有意见或是看法，都会当面指出来。虽然他比我年长十几岁，但是和他交往起来真是一个很轻松愉快的过程，不会感受到年龄上的隔阂。记得有一次和他聊起在美国求学时候的艰辛，他很惊讶地说，“你原来是学理工科的？我还以为你是学文科的。学理工科的女生没有像你这样冬天也穿裙子的。”那时候正是冬天，我喜欢穿呢裙子和靴子。真的不知道他的结论是怎么得出的，但刘健大哥讲话就是这样地幽默和直率，让人忍俊不禁。

当我把刘健大哥过世的噩耗告诉其他一些朋友的时候，有朋友感叹为什么他病了这么久，也不跟大家说一声，好歹大家朋友一场，怎么着也要去看看的。我也是在他过世后才知道刘健大哥已经跟病魔斗争了两年半的时间了。这么长的时间，我们真的对这件事毫不知情。我一直在想，刘健大哥不告诉我们，并不是他已经忘了我们这些朋友，而是他不愿意他的朋友们为他担忧难过。他愿意我们记住的都是那些曾经的美好时光，那些天蓝云清，阳光灿烂的日子。他在用他的方式告诉着他的每一个朋友，要坚强乐观地活下去。

今天追思会上听说刘健大哥走的安宁平静，这样一个好人在哪里都会受到眷顾的。刘健大哥，一路走好！

[Liu Jian's friend]

I just knew from your email to WACTA that he passed away. He was really a friendly tennis mentor, and I enjoyed the conversation with him during the WACTA summer tennis camp. He seemed to be very athletic and active, how can the cancer take him from us? Best regards to his wife and two children!

James Song, EA, MS

Please pass the "THANK YOU" messages to all the people you have contacted. I am really appreciated and Jian will be rest in the peace. They give our family a big support. I will let Jenny know that there are more people caring her than before.
Thank you all.
Limin

不知不觉刘建已走了一个星期了。与刘建一起打球，工作，聊天好像还是昨天的
事，而如今却天人永隔了。想想真是人生无常！

刘建这一生或许没有轰轰烈烈，却绝对算得上扎扎实实。他生时，为身边的每一个
人带来快乐。他逝去，又给大家留下无限的怀念和感悟。或许真如圣经所言，人生
不过是永恒生命的一个插曲，一个过场：其价值不在长短，而在于其对世人的影
响。刘建真诚，豁达，敦厚，坚强。在这个物欲横流的势利社会里能坚持这份朴素
何其不易！刘建的人生历程当是圆满的，因此我相信他走时定是微笑着的。

俗话说“人生苦短”，不如意事十之八九，在鲜亮美满的背后充满艰难与挣扎。然
而人生之旅却不该是辛酸悲苦的。刘建以他短暂的一生为我们做出了榜样：人生当
是快乐的，而快乐其实就在我们的身体力行。善待他人吧，我们都是负重的行者，
在力所能及时帮别人一把便功德无量了。豁达一些吧，得失的计较只能使自己备受
无谓的煎熬而心力交瘁。珍重自己吧，让我们能有机会多做一些有益的事，多说一
些由衷的话，否则便是辜负了上帝让我们来世上走一遭的一片美意。

想到这里，我竟有一种如释重负的感觉。人生之路原来竟是如此简单。举头望去，
我仿佛看到天国中的刘建正对我点头，会心地笑呢。

程岩

To Liu Jian:

I'll let you go, my brother, if you tell me where you go.
I'll let you go, my brother, if you promise it is a better place to go.
I'll let you go, my brother, if you can breath freely over there.
I'll let you go, my brother, if you don't feel any pain.
I'll let you go, my brother, if the sunshine there is warmer.
I'll let you go, my brother, if you promise we can see you again.

-Qiu

今天又是星期五， 一周前的今天，有机会到医院最后一次看望了刘建。周末一场突如其来的冰雪之后， 星期一刘建就永远地离开了我们。几天来，我的心一直感觉很颤抖，痛疼和压抑。思绪也时常迷惘。实再是无法接受这种悲痛的事实。进行了艰苦调整之后，现在似乎可以不再迫使自己去一味地回避那不可改变的事实，所以可以开口说几句。

刘建走得太早了。

看到朋友们的震惊，悲痛和遗憾，我也在想，是不是应该在刘建住院的最后时刻通知一下昔日并肩作战的队友们到医院看上刘建最后一面？其实，没能这样做的原因还是因为顾及到刘建。他至始至终都没把他生病的事告诉他人。我也是在很晚的时候才间接地得知他的真实病情。每次同他说话，他都避开生病的事，那又怎么去捅破呢？刘建为什么不愿朋友们知道他的病情因而也不能去享受朋友们这个时候的真挚友情呢？上周五看望过刘建后痛心的感受使我悟出了答案，而答案又是不言而喻的。刘建既不愿意朋友们为他担忧、着急、痛苦，也不愿意谈及那不愉快的事。要谈就谈那给我们大家带来无限欢乐时光的网球。他一直是坚强的，乐观的。他希望给大家留在记忆里的是他那TM的微笑。

是的，网球是刘建最热衷的体育爱好，也给刘建带来许多的欢乐和享受。这里的很多朋友都是由于网球而同刘建相识、相知。网球的魅力使我们大家欢聚到一起。十几年来在网球场上的汗水、泪水、当然还有雨水、雪水，刘建留给我们太多太多可回忆的美好时光。最难忘的还是2006年。在打District时，在九十多度高温下，他趴在铁丝网上呼哧呼哧大喘的情形，相信每个人都会记忆犹新。而他却一直坚持打完National。刘建的网球技术是高超的，是队中绝对主力单打之一。但如果任何人在当时能知道他的身体出了问题，又有谁能忍心让他担任那么艰苦的单打比赛呢？

刘建是由于感冒引起肺炎，于11/30住进了医院的ICU。上周五到医院看望他时，他已无法独立呼吸，100%靠呼吸机来维持。他时睡时醒，醒时头脑清楚。我们到时，他恰巧省着。小虎说了句，“打网球的好朋友来看你了！”， 他先是一征，随之流出了他那惯有的微笑。因为喉咙插管不能说话，他便拱手表示感谢。这样的见面是非常痛苦的。握着他仍苍劲有力的手，我们在床边喊起了：“刘建，加油！刘建，加油！刘建，加油！。。。。”他似乎感觉又回到了赛场，先是用左手，然后又换成右手，做了做打网球的动作。他自己笑了，在场的人也都笑了。我只能对他说：“这场‘比赛’不能输，一定要拼下来”。不管最后结果是赢是输，我真得希望刘建走的时候，仍在回味记忆里那美好的一幕一幕……

刘建真得走了。十几年前，就教我打球、陪我练球、同我们并肩作战的刘建走了。一有空就叫我到McLean去切磋球艺的刘建走了。那永远都面带微笑、充满智慧和幽默的刘建走了。从来都充满爱心、耐心，待我像亲兄弟的刘建大哥走了。刘建，一路走好！我会很想你的。

打球，精益求精，球德球技均在吾辈上
为人，心谦气和，音容笑貌永存众人心

光生

I think we should put all these nicely written pieces into a wiki/blog, and host it on WACTA page or a wiki page, as well as all the pictures.

What I learnt from Jian is, he was a doer, not a talker. If he thinks something is right to do, he goes for it one hundred percent without reservation. He is also humble down to the earth. I have the highest respect towards him. That’s the reason even I knew he had got the illness. I, including many other friends, helped him keeping the secret, or pretended not knowing about it. Because I knew he would like to keep it away from his friends so they would still going to do what they loved without having to stop for him, and we did exactly what he wanted. He wanted most of us to remember his smile, not his illness. And we will.

I knew him for 3 to 4 years, shorter than many of you. Last time I played with him was at the Langley Swimming Club, the summer of last year, when Robert hosted a party for the tennis friends. We were talking tennis and I mentioned I wasn’t good at dealing with lobs. He told me how he would deal with it and, picked up a racket and started feeding lobs to me. Knowing he had been sick and hadn’t played for a while, I was deeply touched. We played for a good 30 minutes or so. After the lobs he demoed how to hit passing shots and volleyed with me. He fed the balls so well and at times chased down hard balls out wide. For quite awhile I was fooled and believed he would recover and come back in no time.

We talked a lot more than hitting tennis balls. Often at parties or his home. I can sense his deepest love towards tennis. I told him I was a stringer for 15 years and loved to keep my tennis gears in the top shape. He would looked at the tennis rackets I tendered and smile with encouragement, and share with me some tips on the grips and strokes. From the conversations I learnt that he spent a good deal amount of time and money on tennis. I thought I was a tennis nut, but he was way up there unreachable. It is from these conversations, I learnt how much he cared about tennis and his tennis friends and the community. And I learnt the urgency and devotions to serve for the community and support the sport one loves.

The last time I saw him was at the McLean center tennis courts about a month ago. He was walking with his wife Susan, and I was playing tennis with Elaina. He stopped for a few minutes, smiled and watched we play. We waved and said hi. He smiled. We saw them very often at the tennis courts, because they live nearby, and we play there often. He stayed a little shorter than usual this time, without saying anything. I didn’t know it would be the last time I see him. He would never talk about his illness, and we would never ask about it.

I also would like to mention his family. He must have got tremendous support from the family for what he did to the sport he loved and to the tennis community. We can see from the funeral, how strong they are and how much they love him. I think we can learn a lot from these, to cultivate and form a strong family bond.

Simon Lin told me at Jian’s funeral, that he believed Jian has lived one of the best life one could wish for. Gordon also told me in his word, the same with a little religious flavor. I agree. And seeing many of the post from the travelers proves this again and again, that he will live in our hearts.

Being a very practical person, I know again he set a bar that’s way up there. I know many of us would try all we can to reach the same goal, but realistically most of us will fall short of that.

The take home message for the rest of us is, go ahead and do what you love, give your best, and be humble. Do it now.

Jeff

昨天看到刘健安详的样子，似乎觉得他只是暂时性地睡着了。本来以为已经走的很远的他的样子，又渐渐地清晰起来，总觉得他就在我们周围，并且随时会出现在我们打球的时候。

第一次认识刘健， 是02年春天，我和李晋第一次到中文学校参加第一次网球比赛。打了三场比赛，就像上了三堂网球课。其中刘健和小虎给我们上的一课尤为深刻。我们既无还手之力，亦无招架之功。也是那一次认识了很多现在的朋友们。我现在
还清晰地记得刘健小虎和张涛周斌打决赛的情景。

和刘健单独交谈最长的一段时间是参加2006洲际比赛的时候。我和刘健一起开车去，三个多小时的路程我们谈了很多。在那里，我和刘健住在同一房间，两天多的时间里我们谈了更多。胜利了，我和刘健一起开车回来。凯旋的路上我们谈的最多。三个多小时的路程似乎显得短了一些。现在觉得我们还有很多没来得及谈。

第一次知道刘健生病是2007年春天。刘健刚刚从国内回来，拿着西瓜到Fairfax Racquet Club为我们球队助威。我依然记得他热情地招呼大家吃西瓜的样子。当时看他脸上有一些小点，问他怎么回事，他说，医生说肺里有一点积水，开了一点药，药有点副作用。从他谈笑风生的样子，我们万万没有想到，那时他已经得了绝症。

最后一次和刘健打网球是去年秋天在4-Seasons。当时我们有几个人在9，10号courts打比赛(Pick up games)。 我和刘健到7号court 练习，我问刘健要不要去和他们打比赛，刘健说，不用了，我们就在这里练习一会儿吧。这样我和刘健一起打了30分钟的网球，没想到这是最后一次。现在想起来，刘健的坚强真是坚强。带着病魔依然不露声色地和大家一起进行他最热爱的运动。

最后一次见到刘健是去年感恩节，当时他气色很好谈笑风声。问他怎么样了，他说基本上都好了。我们一起打台球，刘健和小虎一伙，我和孙洵一伙。刘健和小虎又给我们上了一课。记得当时刘健自豪地对小虎说:“没想到我儿子台球也打得这么好”.当时知道小虎已经在家附近工作，觉得以后有更多的机会和刘健小虎打网球了。我还说，病好了，春天和我们一起打USTA。没想到这是最后一次和刘健见面

最后一次和刘健通话是几个月前。一天中午给王利打电话，刚好他和胡光远在刘健那里。问王利刘健怎么样，他说挺好的。我说你们去干什么呢，他说他们去聊一聊网球。当时觉得有一点奇怪，但没多想。王利把电话交给刘健，我们聊了一会儿，刘健还是乐呵呵地告诉我，他的病已经都好了。记得我问，你怎么没上班，他说这几天休息。嗨，始终不知到刘健已经病得很深了。直到后来王利告诉我刘健得了肺癌，不过用一种印度生产的药控制住了。

星期一下午，当光生用IM告诉我刘健去世的消息时，我似乎觉得周围的一切凝固了几秒钟。我好像重复地对别人说不要和我说话。当光生说星期五去看刘健的时刘健依然举起右手做打球动作的时候，我再一次感觉到了刘健的坚强。

认识刘健的时间不长，但对刘健的认识很深刻
热情，果敢，爽朗，为人耿直
自信，乐观，宽容，与世无争
坚强的一生

[Derek]

My friends, you all said it all. I have two photos in my office, one is Bill's, the other one is travelers team .... We are bound into a big tennis family. Today we are going to celebrate our big brother life, the love for tennis, and eternel friendship.

Just a thought, Liu Jian was a true tennis lover, and a core member of Travlers team. Tennis was one important part of his life, he will be happy in heaven to hear eulogies given by his fellow tennis friends and team members.

John

致刘健大哥 良操美德千秋在
亮节高风万古存 网球队敬輓

Dear Liu Jian:
Have known you for many years through WACTA and never get to know you better or play tennis with you. I remember that you were one of pioneer core members from the Hope group in WACTA. You always greet me and others with your big signature smile when we meet. I wish I have more chance to get to know you and play some tennis with you. I am sad to see you go and we will definitely miss you!
-- Chris Lu

To Liu Jian

我回想
春天的细雨, 曾一滴滴, 滑落我的肩膀
我回想
满山的百和花, 迎着阳光, 开放

北美辽阔的旷野, 是我快乐栖息的地方
遥远的墨西哥雨林, 是我一生的追求和梦想.

别了,我亲爱的同伴,
我已经无法煽动我折断的翅膀, 不能和你们一样在天地间自由地飞翔

我要安息在这里了, 我的朋友
请不要悲伤, 这里有青草为我做伴, 有野花做我的衣裳

迁徙之旅艰辛而遥远,请带上我的祝福, 和我的想往
当你回来的时候, 我斑斓的翅膀, 已经化为泥土, 散发着百和花的芳香.

Wang Li

虽然不认识刘建，但从大家的言语中可以看出他是一个很不错的人。很可惜没有认识他，很可惜和伤感我们失去了一位好朋友。但是没有关系，我确信等我去天堂的时候，我会认识他。信耶稣的人有确据（不是但愿），我们在地上只是暂别，早一点，晚一点，我们要在天堂重逢。神爱世人，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。神就是爱。

蔡敏元

记忆里总是你的微笑。

最后一次和你见面时 ，你还是和我们谈论网事，也微笑着说说其它事，从你的眼睛里我看到了你对死亡没有惧怕。因为你知道主基督是你的救主。信靠他的必有永生。 你现在放下了世界上的所有重担， 在天堂微笑哪！

Hu

I'm really sad.

I can't believe that our old brother just left us. I still remember vividly his playing tennis at Fairfax, Annandale and Newport News. I remember he came to cheer us in the following year when he got sick. I didn't know he was battling cancer at that time.

He is a legend and a role modal. He made me confident that I can play tennis into my 60s, His fight and smile help us went to the Nationals in 06. He also served on the board of WACTA, and help me to get started with WACTA.

He'll be remember forever as 刘健大哥。

-ken

Knowing Liu Jian, he didn’t want to trouble anyone. In fact, most of us pretend not knowing he had cancer. Every time I met him, we were always talking about tennis and nothing about his health. I believe he would want us to believe now he can play tennis in heaven, not to be sad. But I just could not help myself.

Jeff

Hi, my good tennis friends, I'm writinng this with great sorrow.

Liu Jian is my two-time coworker, great friends and tennis buddy, he taught me a lot of tennis.
He is such a positive and charming person with great personality and inspiring spirit.
Though he has gone away from us, he will truely be like a dear friend among us and will be remmebered for my life long.
I wish him good on the other side of world, and wish everything good for his family.
Please include me in for donations and attending funeral, and any help i could offer.

Wish the best for you, Jian, our friend forever.

Richard

突然，振惊，心痛，可惜
刘坚是我佩服者之一，他是我见过对网球最执着的人，想当初我们一起在中文学校为打球而铲雪，可想而之他对网球的热爱程度。我们VA的大陆网球圈应该好好地感谢这位老兄，是他组织了希望中文学校第一届网球比赛。说不定现在很多4.0，3.5的球员那时连什么是网球还不知。是他让我们兴起了一股学网球高潮，他是我知道花时间，精力，金钱最多在网球上的人，我们这些人中大约只有他一直在外面俱乐部里跟教练学球者，他曾经得过俱乐部内部比赛的亚军（我忘了是什么水平，但我肯定的是4.5以上）。
刘兄是个永不服输的人，在球场上就不用说了，在工作上也是如此，我记得有一次因经济不好的原因他要再找工作，有很多人就改行了（包括我自己，想想真不如我们的刘兄），他硬是去买了一套软件，从头学起新的东西，真是功夫工负有心人，最后让他得到了理想的东西。在生活上更是如此，现在据有些人说他是二年前就得知自己已生病，但我在去年底看到他时根本就看不出他在生病，还是那种乐呵呵的样子。在他生病期间还照样鼓励太太参加网球比赛，为了球队的荣誉还亲自到场，给女队加油打气，这是一般人很难做得到的。
因为自己的孤陋寡闻，导致了失去了最后见刘兄一面机会，记得二星期前在大中华碰到刘太还傻傻地说好久没见刘坚了，代我问好，叫他有空来电聊天。

刘兄一路走好。我会想念你的。

张涛