I prepared the following "closing remarks" for Tina Yeh's service in New York on December 16, 2000. While I did not stick to what is written, I think it reflects pretty closely what I said.

Good afternoon. My name is Ray Sheen and I appreciate the opportunity to offer a few closing words. Our speakers today have given a number of moving and wonderful tributes and I think we all appreciate your kind words and treasured memories. I'd like to share some thoughts of how Tina enriched my life, some observations regarding Tina, and my view of what Tina leaves with us. But before I begin, I'd like to note that Jenny along with Julie, Mayumi and Nancy did all the organizational work to put together today's service and dinner. On behalf of all of us, I'd like to thank them for their efforts.

My wife, Angela, and I first met Tina during our freshman year at college when she was one of our floating counselors and she has been a special part of our lives ever since. As a floating counselor, Tina helped make freshman year a little less overwhelming, often with just small acts of kindness. It was not unusual to have dinner with Tina only to find out later from another person that yours was the 3rd dinner she had sat through that evening. And Tina stayed for each dinner not out of a sense of obligation or sympathy that you'd otherwise have to eat by yourself, but because she genuinely enjoyed your company. While getting her advice on my business school applications, I was reminded that Tina was generous with her time and her insight, but more importantly, I realized there were few people who understood me the way she did. Tina was Angela's maid of honor and shared our joy as if it were her own. She was part of our family, having become close to all 3 of our sisters, our daughter and both sets of parents.

I was fortunate to have seen Tina twice during the past year when she visited New York for Mayumi and Jenny's weddings. As always, it was great to catch up with Tina and she was as happy as I've ever known her to be. She had managed to find the right balance between her career and her personal life. Her family, her friends and her activities were the foundation of her existence. She always kept me up to date on what everyone was doing. Even though I haven't talked to many of you in years, I generally knew where you lived and what you were up to because Tina kept me connected. She spoke fondly of you all. You were her friends and her family. You were important to her. You provided the key to her happiness. Tina was able to see the good in all of us and therefore enjoyed our company as we enjoyed hers. Tina helped build a number of communities of which she was an essential part. Each of these communities is comprised of fundamentally fun and decent people. These communities will continue to thrive and Tina will remain an important part of them, as her spirit lives on in all of us.

It is perhaps fitting that one of my final images of Tina will be of her dancing at Jenny 's wedding with my 4-year old daughter, Elisa. It is fitting for 2 reasons: Tina had a special bond with children and Tina loved to dance. I understand there were a large number of Tina's ballroom dancing friends at her Bay Area memorial service. From my own experience, it seems the dance floor always cleared when Tina and Ben took to the floor. While Ben looked pretty good out there, my eyes, and I imagine many others, were focused on Tina. She always had great fun and her joy was contagious. At Jenny's wedding, Elisa and the other young kids stepped into Ben's shoes. Elisa had the time of her life dancing to the YMCA song with her Auntie Tina. After the wedding, we somewhat reluctantly brought home the "Best of the Village People" CD. With YMCA thumping in the background, Elisa recently reminded Angela that she had danced with Auntie Tina at the wedding and added "I like dancing with Tina. I miss Tina". I think she speaks for all of us.

As parents, we all devote tremendous time and energy to the most important people in our lives: our children. Mrs. Yeh, I understand you may watch a videotape of this service. You and Mr. Yeh offer to us inspiration, having shown us what a tremendous gift nurturing parents can give to the world. You know this already, but I'll say it for all our benefit: Tina thrived under your and your husband's love and she, in turn, loved you both dearly. I wish Tina was still with us to meet our second child, Alec. I know they would have been absolutely delighted with each other. Angela and I go forward hoping that we can continue to impart some of Tina's spirit, her style and her grace to our 2 children. We hope that all of you, who have been touched by Tina and retain a part of her within you, will help us do so with all our children in order that the next generation will be blessed as we have been.

While these are thoughts and memories that are intensely personal for me, I am struck by how many people have been similarly moved by Tina. Tina reached each of us in a special way. For some it was a hug, for others a shared moment, a genuine smile, a sympathetic shoulder, a delightful laugh or a few simple words of encouragement. However, reading the website references to chocolate fudge, I will admit to feeling that I've missed out on at least one special treat.

Angela and I talked recently about how it didn't seem real that Tina is not with us anymore. We often did not see her for long periods of time given that we lived on different coasts. But when we did get together again, we always felt just as close as when we used to get together regularly. So Tina, when we see you again, I expect we will pick up where we were, continue our special friendship and I will finally get a chance to taste your chocolate fudge. We will find a dance floor. We will dance. We might even invite the Village People. Until then, please continue to watch over us and God bless you and your family.

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