He really did look like a tourist, with a camera around his neck and a bottle of sunscreen cream sticking out of his bag. The fat man sat on the terrace (平台), sipping lemonade and pretending to look at a tourism brochure. His sunglasses masked his eyes, but I knew he wasn’t looking at the brochure: he hadn’t turned a page for the last ten minutes. As I brought him his dishes, he coughed up a “thank you” and looked at me briefly. I tried not to stare at the tiny scar across his left eyebrow.

I walked back inside with my empty tray, shaking my head. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him. Then it hit me — the car accident. The mysterious stranger who helped me out of my crashed car, just before it exploded. I rushed back to his table. He was gone.

I moved his saucer and found his tip, along with a card: I am deeply grateful to you. The night of your car accident, I was on my way to rob a jewelry store. Saving your life brought things back in a right way. I now live an honest life, thanks to you. Mr. D.

I shivered (震颤). The night of my car accident, I was heading for an interview in an illegal dance club. Seeing human kindness through his heroic gesture turned my life around and bought faith back into my life. I unfolded the tip he left. Among the singles was a grand (一千块) with a pen mark underlining “Thank you.” I said a silent prayer for him and got back to work, smiling.

What are some of your favourite memories of the University?

In preparation for each 50th reunion, members of the milestone class are asked to recall campus memories for an annual Memory Book.

Here's a small selection of some memories from the Class of 1969.

“...I cannot forget the endless hours studying, researching, and learning in the middle of the musty books in the stacks. We did everything by hand! But the joys of ideas coming to life and understanding thorny concepts are priceless.

Additionally, I cannot forget the joyful hours of Co-Kast rehearsals for student-written-and- directed plays, and the thrill of audiences’ responses to our efforts. Nor will I ever forget taking voice lessons at the Eastman School of Music. This course gave me confidence to try new musical approaches and to think on my feet.”

“... many sweet and lasting memories—five feet of deep snow, getting stranded on the Thruway, music at Hylie Morris's Alley, and, of course, I met my wife of 48 years, Ellen Blazer Boehm from the Class of 1972, when she was a freshman and I was a senior. As a five-year chemical engineering major, I had one elective to spare, and Ellen said, “How about oceanography?” So, I enrolled in oceanography with Dr. Taro Takahashi（the famous climate scientist）, which awakened my environmental justices, and changed my professional direction.”

“...I truly loved my four undergraduate years at the University of Rochester. In fact, I loved it so much that I stayed an extra year to get a master's degree! I was very fortunate to have been totally immersed in student life on campus. My memories include campaigning and winning a seat on the student government during my freshman year. Other memories include the Susan B. Anthony banquet, and sleeping in the comfy chairs in the library. I was also privileged to be selected as a student representative on the design team for the new Wilson Commons. I. M. Pei, the famous architect who designed the Louvre Pyramid, was the architect for Wilson Commons. We even visited his offices in New York to see the “master” at work.”

For the first time since my open-heart operation, I have the energy to take my harp（竖琴）to the hospital rooms and play for anyone who likes it.

I checked in with two nurses and they gave me a list of rooms. The first man I played for was a patient who found it difficult to sleep. He smiled and with his eyes closed, he reached out to my harp. He was not interested in my voice, but he appreciated the harp. In the next room was a woman patient. I played some soft music for her and then she slept soundly.

Then I found a lovely elderly woman who was awake. There were flowers everywhere and photos of her and her husband at her bedside. She held my hand and talked for some time and was pleased to receive harp music. Playing for her was a special pleasure. She asked me how long I had been playing the harp, how much the harp weighed, how I learned it and why I wanted to learn it and so on.

We talked about books for a bit as well. I played until her grandson came in and he came back from overseas to see her. This woman was deeply loved—you could see that. She was beautiful and kind. I learn so much from these beautiful people who are brave to face their illnesses. It is always such a great honor to play for them.