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love, amo

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Mae Lees 90th Birthday LuauSunday, September 19th, 2010

12 oclock noon977 Longridge Road, Oakland CA

hawaiian attire | no gifts please

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Celebrating Mae Lee

Maes () grandparents immigrated to Honolulu, Hawaii from Guangdong, China. Maes

maternal grandfather Lau Kai was among the first Christians to arrive from China and he was

instrumental in founding the First Chinese Christian Church in Hawaii. Maes grandmother,

known as Lau Kai Po, was a midwife and she delivered many of Honolulus Chinese babies in

the early 1900s.

At nineteen, Maes mother, Sau Chan Lau, married Lum Kin, a successful entrepreneur who

established numerous grocery stores around Hawaii. Her mother worked as a cashier andsupplemented the family income with her needlepoint and sewing skills. Mae remembers her

parents for their young ideas and appreciates the way they encouraged their children to follow

their own paths.

In 1920, Mae was born in Honolulu, the seventh child and fourth daughter of ten siblings:

Chong, Mary, Elizabeth, John, Mabel, George, Mae, Walter, Raymond and Ruby. She grew up in

a busy household with lots of hands pitching in to help with the businesses and childcare. Mae

was responsible for doing the books for her parents stores, stocking the shelves and sweeping.

In second grade Mae began at the private all-girls school, Sacred Heart Academy, where she and

the gang of four dominated school politics. Mae was Class President all four years of high

school and valedictorian; she directed the junior class play, served as business manager of the

annual dance, and announcer at the May Fair. However, today Mae regrets not giving other

students a chance.

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1946, Sau Chan Lau Lum (mother), Lum Kin (father);1920, Mae; 1929, Mae, George, Ruby, Ray

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Mae and her siblings all playedinstruments. Mae studied the violinfrom the age of nine, and played inthe school orchestra. Her sister,Mary, paid for her lessons whenmoney was tight during theDepression. Today Mae confessesthat it was a terrible waste of moneybecause she never practiced!

1941, Mae with her violin

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1938, Sacred Heart Academy high school graduation picture

1940, Clifford, Mae, Jerry

In 1938, Mae entered the University of HawaiiTeachers College to study English. As a student,she worked part-time for the National RecoveryAct earning twenty-five cents an hour and servedas the Secretary of Associated Students of UH.

Mae also boasted a busy social calendar withmany suitors, including a young Japanesephysics instructor who bought her tomato juiceat the cafeteria, and another who always ranacross the campus to give her ice-cream.

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In 1939, Mae met her future husband while on a datewith another man. At the time, he was working for the

City and County as a Rodman earning $4 a day havingjust returned from Officers Training School. The nightthey met he said, Dont forget me! My name is EdwinLee! and he proceeded to call her every day at noon.

Ed was tall, handsome and spoke excellent English, hemet all the criteria she was looking for in a husband! OnDecember 28th, 1942 they had a military wedding inHonolulu surrounded by friends and family.

1943

1942

1941

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1944

1951 1944

1945

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1953, Carmel St (top left); 1954, Vancouver (top right)1960, San Rafel (bottom left); 1955, Carmel St (bottom right)

Mae and Ed had three childrentogether; in 1943, John was born,followed by Alan (1948) and Lisa(1950). Maes mother lived nearby andoften helped care for the kids.

Mae remembers that John and Alanwere difficult babies. John had all kindsof allergies and Alan just didnt eat.As kids, Lisa was artistic from the startand won a prize for illustrating a librarybook, John ran for school office, andAlan was very social, always bringinghis friends home.

In addition to being a full-time mother,

Mae managed all the householdfinances and served as Eds personalsecretary. She remembers arduouslytyping Eds letters to the kids in triplet!

Ed credits his professional success toMaes beauty, outgoing personality andhosting skills, saying, Id be nothingwith out her!

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As an educator Mae connected with manyimmigrant communities through her work.

After graduating college, she taught speechcorrection at the University of Hawaii earning$130 a month. In 1945 Mae taught English toJapanese seniors at Palama Settlement (top);and in 1972 she taught Citizenship classes toChinese immigrants in San Francisco(bottom).

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1953, Mae in Venice; 1954, Mae, Lisa in San Francisco; 1946, Mae at Yale University

Mae and Ed continued to advance their education and in1946 they attended Yale University together. Mae receiveda certificate in Chinese Studies from the School of FarEastern Languages while Ed studied at the TrafficEngineering School.

In 1953, Ed was commissioned by the Guam CityPlanning Department and the family relocated for sixmonths. There they had many adventures, including

Johns encounter with a beehive and Alans friendshipwith the governors daughter. Mae recalled the time shehosted a lively dinner party, only later discovering that itwas one of the first integrated social events with the localsand officials.

That same year Mae and Ed traveled around the world forsix months, mainly touring in East Asia and Europe.

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1968, Andrea the mermaid fountain

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In 1955, the family moved to the Mainland,settling in Berkeley Hills near Indian Rock. Twoyears later, they bought 25 Carmel Street in SanFrancisco, a three bedroom, 1.5 bath house for$11,750.

There Mae met Ruth Asawa while teaching huladancing to the local wives. What started as Maeuntangling wire for Ruth to use in hersculptures, became a life-long friendship andcreative partnership. Mae and Ruth workedtogether on several art pieces displayed in SanFrancisco including the mermaid fountain inGhirardelli Square.

As an artist in her own right, Mae shares herlove of origami with nearly everyone whocrosses her path. 1985

1980 1996

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In 1979 Mae and Ed moved into 1128

Castro Street in San Francisco where theyhave lived for more than three decades.Over the years, they have soughtopportunities to learn and betterthemselves, physically, intellectually, andspiritually. Together they have enjoyednumerous continuing education classes aswell as shared the practice of Tai Chi and QiGong.

As Mae said, 90 years is a long time! Inher life, Mae has been an anchor for herfamily and each new generation. Those ofus who are blessed to know her, love hersharp wit, creativity and generosity. She hastaught us how to find joy and peace in ourlives and strengthen our connections toeach other.

1982 1976 1995

1978

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1983, 1128 Castro St, SanFrancisco Garden. Mae with

Dragon Flower

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1980

1990 1964

19761953

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1971 1976

1969

1967

1967, John, Art, Ed,Mae, Lisa, Alan

1961

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1976, Alan, Mae

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1988 1982

2009

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1976, Mae, Ed, Katherine (left);1985, Mae, Joanne (middle);2009, Mae, Ed, Miles, Owen (right)1988, Lenna, Mae, Toby (bottomright);1981, Amourence, Ed, Jonah, Mae

(bottom left)

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2000, Alison, Ed, Mae, Katherine, Jiawen, Fang (left)2009, Mae, Simon (right)1982, Alan, Jonah, Litty, John, Robin, Skif, Lisa, Mae, Ed,

Amourence, Joanne, Katherine, David, Alison (bottom)

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Guest Book

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