​緬懷二哥劉天擎（又名喬治）

當我得知摯愛的二哥劉天擎辭世時，我深感悲痛，我的腦海一片空白，許久之後才隱約看到年邁哥哥的身影。以下是我整理好情緒後想說的話。天擎二哥是一位充滿愛心與慈悲的人。他對父母、家人、妻子、兒子和孫輩的愛令人敬佩。他也是一位熱情且慷慨的兄長，總是想盡辦法幫助和支持他的弟妹們。他博學多聞且情感細膩，也是位出色的詩人，從他出版的詩集可見一斑。讀他的《雨中行》令我深受感動，因為那些詩句是出自一位誠摯的企業家、父親和朋友。雖然我住在數百英里外的紐約，但我一直將他視為心靈上最親近的手足。早在他還是克里夫蘭州立大學法學院學生時，他有一次返台探望父母，還帶來冬季外套送給兄弟姊妹作為禮物。這些外套是他念法學院半工半讀存錢買的。他取得法學碩士並在法律事務所工作後，立刻專程返台參加我的訂婚典禮，展現對妹妹毫無保留的支持與疼愛。作為一位成功經營多家禮品店的企業家，二哥不忘協助弟妹們先後移民美國。他支持手足們在美國開設禮品店或餐廳，使我們能自立更生。我們都在他的協助下成為美國公民。我們衷心感謝他的體貼與慷慨。我們會永遠懷念你，我們最親愛的二哥！

劉天雲

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致我兄長天擎的追思：

每當我愈是回想兄長天擎為家人——包括我自己——所做的一切，心中的悲痛便愈加難以承受。因為在所有手足之中，他最盡孝道，是一位遠超他人的孝順兒子。我們之中，沒有一人未曾受過他的經濟資助或親情扶持；即使在他經營小本生意、生活尚且拮据之時，亦是如此。同時，他不遺餘力地為所有兄弟姐妹申請綠卡，促成大家移民美國。當其中一些人初到克里夫蘭落腳時，他又慷慨提供食宿，讓他們在他家中免費居住數月甚至兩年之久，使他們得以之後租屋安頓，並逐步建立穩定的生活。我不知他們是否曾回報過他的恩情，但他從未有所期待。他如此無私慷慨，品格高尚，實非言語所能盡述。願我夫君所翻譯並改編自他悼念兄長的古典四言詩，多少能表達我對他手足深情的感激之意：
 
其一

壯志遠行，獨力成就，
念及手足，仁心常留。
《雨中行》裏，詩意流轉，
情深不盡，日月同壽。
 
其二

義重手足，共享悲歡，
見其早逝，淚濕衣襟。
驟然辭世，難堪承受，
夜半追思，寸斷心魂。
 
劉天雲  敬輓

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In 1949, his family, originally from Hebei, China, relocated to Taiwan. George graduated from Soochow University in Taiwan with a degree in law. He then started two years of military service.

In 1968 in Kaohsiung, George married the love of his life, Kerry Lieu. The eldest son of George and Kerry, Ted Lieu, was born on March 29, 1969 in Taipei.

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In 1970, George immigrated to America. He pursued a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Cleveland State University College of Law. George worked as a dishwasher, a cleaner for the school library, a waiter, and a day laborer, demonstrating remarkable determination. He stayed at an apartment so small it did not have a bathtub or shower, so he used towels to wipe himself or used the showers at school. He made those sacrifices in order to bring his wife and son to America.

In 1972, George graduated with a Master of Laws degree. That same year, Kerry and Ted immigrated to America. John Lieu, the younger son of George and Kerry, was born on October 20, 1973 in Cleveland.

George’s job at a title company did not pay enough to support the family, so he and Kerry went to flea markets from Friday nights to Sundays to make ends meet. They eventually opened a gift store in a shopping plaza and later expanded into a shopping mall. They worked tirelessly seven days a week for decades, and eventually expanded to seven stores in multiple states.

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George dreamt of being a lawyer and a writer, but the demands of family deferred his dreams. He and Kerry sacrificed so that their sons could achieve their dreams. Ted is a Member of Congress and John is a physician.

In his later years, George triumphantly realized his dream of being a writer. He authored three books. His first book of poetry, Dreams Entwined With Destiny, was published in 2004. His second book of poetry, Walking in the Rain, was published in 2024. His third book, A Collection of Short Stories by George Lieu, was published in 2026.

George was baptized on April 9, 2017, at the Evangelical Formosan Church of Irvine. Though raised in the Buddhist tradition, he chose to be baptized out of his deep love for his wife and his wish to be with her in heaven together.

George was a man who loved people. With an incredible sense of humor and a vibrant spirit, he was truly the life of every party. He is survived by his beloved wife Kerry, his two sons Ted and John, his daughter-in-law Betty, and his grandsons Brennan and Austin.

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A Funeral Service will be held at Rose Hills Memorial Park - SkyRose Chapel, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601, US, on April 25, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. Burial will take place at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, in Oak Haven Terr Priv Est, Gate Number 1, Lot 101.

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​OBITUARY

https://www.rosehills.com/obituaries/whittier-ca/george-lieu-%E5%8A%89%E5%A4%A9%E6%93%8E-12800197