Shufang Li

1928-2017

Mrs. Shufang Li, passed away at age 89 on March 12, 2017 in her residence at Malvern, PA.

Born in Hebei, China, Shufang was the daughter of the late Ruifu and Baishi Li.  Retired at 1990 as Associate Professor of Physics, Shufang was one of the only two female Physics graduates of Beijing Normal University in 1950. She was the wife of her classmate and late husband Boying Guo, with whom she shared 27 years of marriage before he passed away in 1978.  Prof. Shufang Li was one of the founding members of the Physics Department, Henan Normal University, China, and served as its Department Head for well over two decades. She was a dedicated educator who taught many students during her career of 40 years.

Shufang fought many adversaries while in China. During WWII she knitted sweaters to support her siblings and to attend school. During the famine in the 1960s she raised chickens to help feed four growing children.  During political turmoil of the 1970s, the “Cultural Revolution,” she suffered persecution and endured inhumane conditions. After losing her beloved husband in 1978, she still supported all four children through higher education.  Through it all, Shufang maintained her optimistic views and believed in the best of the human values. Her happy, warm, and welcoming personality brought sunshine to everyone she met. Mrs. Li has been residing in the United States since 1990 and fell in love with Pennsylvania.  She was a resident of State College from 1990 to 2007, lived in Chesterbrook, and then Malvern, PA. She loved gardening, flowers, and enjoyed walking. She was an accomplished cook and knitter. She loved watching volleyball, soccer, and was a lifelong fan of Chinese Peking Opera. She was the bedrock for her children and best friend to her grandchildren.  She was very excited about her upcoming great granddaughter.

As a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother-to-be, a gifted educator, and a friend to any who knows her, Mrs. Shufang Li is uniquely beautiful inside and out. She will be sorely missed by many. She is survived by their four children, Qun and his wife, Suping; Ruli and her husband, Xuejun; Ruyan and her husband, Amar; Anita and her husband, Ruiwu.  Shufang is also survived by her grandchildren, Jing; Feng; Monica and her husband, Victor; Wei; Tony; and Michael. She is also survived by her sister, Shuxian; her sister-in-law, Ruifen, and her brother Zongyou.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Chengyou.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at the Logan Funeral Home at 698 E Lincoln Hwy, Exton, PA 19341, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Visitation 10-10:30 A.M. at the funeral home also.  Shufang’s family will receive guests at the family residence after the service. Online condolences may be made by visiting http://www.loganfuneralhomes.com/listings. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to The Jannetta Neuroscience Foundation Inc. (5023 Frew St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213).

讣告 痛悼李淑芳女士 （ 1928 年 - 2017 年） 中国河南师范大学原物理系副主任李淑芳副教授于 2017 年 3 月 12 在美国宾夕法尼亚州 Malvern 镇她的女 儿家中因心脏病辞世，享年 89 岁。 李淑芳, 女，回族，祖籍中国河北新城，生于 1928 年 3 月 26 日，是父亲李瑞符和母亲李白氏的长女。她是北 京师范大学的物理学科 1950 年的两位女性毕业生之 一；自此之后她与她的同学及丈夫郭伯英 (河南师范大 学原物理系讲师，1978 年逝世) 在长达 27 年的时间内 患难与共，同为河南师范大学物理系的创建与发展作 出了贡献。她亦曾担任物理系的副主任多年，在师大 执教逾 40 年，桃李满天下。 李淑芳一生经历坎坷。她幼年丧母，基本靠自学及聪慧考入北师大女附中。后又因成绩优 秀被保送北京师范大学。在四十年代她靠家教及手工针织毛衣来支持她的弟妹及维持学业。 在 20 世纪 天灾人祸的 60 年代她省吃俭用赡养双方老人并抚育四个成长中的子女。 在政 治动荡的文革期间她遭受迫害和屈辱，矢志不渝。1978 年在夫君病逝后，她只身挑起支 持四个孩子高等教育的重担，并协助孩子们成家立业及孙子女的抚养教育。 她自 1990 年 从河师大物理系退休后定居于美国宾夕法尼亚州，先后居住在 State College, Chesterbrook， 和 Malvern，融入社区，结交中美朋友。在子女们的呵护下她得享天伦之乐。 她热爱园艺 和鲜花，喜爱健身和散步。她擅长针织，是各式北方菜肴烹饪的高手。她喜欢看排球、足 球，而且是中国京剧及各类戏曲的爱好者。她是她的四个子女及家庭的柱石，也是她的孙 子女们最好的朋友。重外孙女即将到来的好消息更是为她带来了莫大的欣慰。 历经劫难的李淑芳不仅一直尽职敬业，而且乐观前瞻，通达善良，尽力为所有她遇到的人 排忧解难带去快乐、温暖与阳光。她对人对事的执着热忱不仅显现在对长辈，子女和亲友， 而且是对同事和学生，甚至是对邻居或路人的关爱。她的爱心，超越时间年代，联结大洋 两岸。她既是物理教授又通晓高教管理且集贤妻良母及严师益友于一身，是老一代知识女 性献身事业克勤克俭无私奉献的典范。她的去世将会给爱她的亲友们留下许多深切的怀念。 李淑芳的丈夫、胞弟承佑、双亲和两位叔弟都先她而去。她身后留下儿子郭群及妻子素萍， 大女儿汝丽及女婿学军，二女儿汝艳及女婿阿玛尔，小女儿汝倩及女婿瑞伍，孙子郭伟， 孙女郭靖，外孙子颜锋，陶硕，陶聪，外孙女莫妮卡和她的丈夫维克特。李淑芳的胞妹淑 贤，嫂子瑞芬，和二弟宗佑任然健在。她的数位妯娌和姑姐妹也健在。 李淑芳生平追思会将于 2017 年 3 月 19 日星期日，10：00AM 到 11：30AM 在洛根殡仪馆（Logan Funeral Home)举行， 地址 698 Lincoln Hwy，Exton，PA 19341. 邀请亲朋们会后 12:00 到 1:30PM 到家庭住处茶叙。在 线致悼者请访问 http://www.loganfuneralhomes.com/listings。纪念李淑芳的捐款可以以支票或现款形式给 The Jannetta Neuroscience Foundation Inc. (5023 Frew St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA).