Wenping Ma
Life is unpredictable. Just 10 days ago, we had a group lunch with Burt at Pepe’s Mi Mexico in Georgetown. Burt’s eyes were still as bright as before, he was still humorous and brought us lots of smiles and happiness, just as before. But just a week later, Burt, you left us. In a deeply memorizing mood I say last words to you.
I have been working with Burt's group for the last 12 years, I witnessed what a great mentor, a greater leader, an outstanding scientist he was.
Burt, you are so dedicated and diligent. Burt never stopped working until his last minutes. 6 days a week, from 8am and 6 pm every day. An amazing thing is that during the past 12 years Burt's group published more than 250 scientific papers, I know he reviewed each paper before submission. Even he suffered from illness in the last month, Burt with amazing willpower, reviewed papers for us, I was touched with tears;
Burt, you are such a great scientist pursing scientific truth. Burt was always open to accept new findings and new thoughts of us. You set a good example for us to looking for right things.
Thanks for Burt’s great love and cares of us. Most exciting thing for us was he promised and invited groups of people for lunch for many times, after publishing papers or when some employees left for a new job, Burt always paid bill for all of us. I remembered the most flavorful restaurant you liked to go to was at the Marriott along Newtown Pike and the Chinese royal buffet in Georgetown.
I would like to especially thank Burt for giving me every opportunity to develop in the specialty, including supervising me, publishing papers and supporting me to attend many national and international meetings.
In the Bible, Timothy 2 chapter 7 Paul said, I have made a good fight, I have come to the end of my journey, I have kept the faith. This right reflects what Burt completed in his career. Burt you are in another perfect world now, but your working philosophy, spirit of dedication and sacrifice to the FTS and catalysis, optimistic attitude to the life and love to us will continuously inspire us to move forward.
Wenping Ma on 9/30/18
Monday October 1, 2018 at 11:36 pm