Remembering Hanying Xu

Hanying Xu, Director of the Environmental Analytical Research Laboratory in the College of Engineering & Mines from 2004 until early this year, passed away July 16, 2014 at his Grand Forks home after a courageous three-year battle with brain cancer. He was surrounded by his beloved wife, Julia Zhao, Associate Professor of Chemistry, and his son, daughter-in-law, brother and sisters, brother-in-law, and friends from the Grand Forks Chinese Bible Study Group.  He was 51.

Hanying was born Oct. 21, 1962, to Diansun Xu and Daiying Tao in a rural farming community in Shangdong, China.

Hanying became interested in classical Chinese literature at a young age and was devoted to his studies. He was a prototypical bookworm in every sense of the word and took every opportunity he had to devour any book that he could get his hands on, which was not easy during the 1970s in rural China. By middle school, Hanying had managed to finish all four great classical novels, some of which were purchased with the food rations that he had saved up over time. As a result of his dedication and self-education, he was a top-ranked student throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school, and became the first person in his village to ever be admitted to a university.

Hanying attended the prestigious Jilin University in China in 1980 after placing first in nation in the college entrance exam. He would later meet his wife, Xiaojun (Julia) Zhao as a classmate who also majored in Analytical Chemistry. During their very conservative (but typical for their time) courtship, Hanying wrote to Xiaojun countless poems and sonnets with subtle but elegant hints of romance. They were united in marriage in 1986.

In the summer of 2004, Hanying left his job as a Senior Chemist and Associate Director at the Chemical Analysis Lab in Jilin Import and Export Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of China to join his wife and son in Grand Forks, N.D. to start anew. He quickly adapted and grew fond of the American culture and surroundings and became the Director of the Environmental Analytical Research Laboratory at the College of Engineering and Mines at the University of North Dakota.

Hanying was very grateful for the help and welcome he received while adapting to the new culture and had always wanted to give back to the community. From 2008 to 2011, he participated in North Dakota’s NATURE program, teamed up with his wife Julia, and traveled to the five different tribal colleges in western North Dakota once a month to teach Native American high school students chemistry and to engage them in science and technology. He hoped to instill in them a desire to pursue careers in academia. As a result of their efforts, some students became very interested in sciences and some even participated in academic research at UND.

Among the many “American” cultures and traditions that he came to love, his favorite was actually quite modest: pizza. Whether it’s in Chinese buffets or authentic deep dish pizza in historical neighborhoods in Chicago, he loved them all. One of his favorite pastimes was getting a slice of deluxe pizza at Sam’s Club and sharing a sundae with his wife on Sunday afternoons.

Having discovered the vast and majestic natural scenery and resources of the Midwest, Hanying also became an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing, hiking, gardening, and traveling. He especially enjoyed visiting national parks; even during the breaks of his chemotherapies, he visited Zion, Glacier Bay, Yosemite, Arches, Capitol Reef, Saguaro, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Canyonlands. He was also an accomplished fisherman and mentored several who would later become passionate fishermen themselves.

Hanying was a person of great faith. As a purveyor of great books and classics, he studied the Bible very closely after he came to the U.S., and converted to Christianity. He quickly became an integral member and leader of the Grand Forks Chinese Bible Study Group and found the community to be an extension of his family. Just as he would with any family member, Hanying dedicated much of his time and energy to serve the group: leading Bible study sessions, organizing retreats and activities, and helping everyone, including many young graduate students, in their spiritual growth. He has had an enormous impact in the local Chinese community through his selfless and tireless service.

Hanying’s faith proved vital during his battle with cancer. He never let his physical condition get in the way of his life and faith. After his countless surgeries and treatments, he continued to serve the community, testifying how his faith kept him strong. He also attended his son’s wedding and traveled to national parks just as he had always wanted.

Hanying is survived by his wife, Xiaojun (Julia) Zhao; son, Ke Xu; daughter-in-law Jingjing (Jenny) Chen; parents, Diansun Xu and Daiying Tao; sisters and brothers: Hansan Xu and his wife, Guihua Zhang, Xiufang Xu and her husband, Yuangong Wang, Ying Xu and her husband, Andong Liu, and Hanjie Xu and his wife Dianyun Li; aunts and uncles Ming Tao and his wife, Fen Tao and her husband, and Guang Tao; sisters and brothers in-law, Ruijun Zhao and his wife, Yan Yang, Zhijun Zhao and his wife, Shunyun Liang, and Ruilian Zhao and her family; his nieces and nephews, Zhaofeng Xu and family, Zhongfeng Xu and family, Can Wang and family, Cui Wang and family, Fei Liu and family, Fang Wang and family, Jun Wang and family, and Zheqian Liu.  Hanying is also survived by his cousins Jinbin Feng and family, Jining Peng and family, Jihua Peng and family, Haitian Ren and family, Huashi Tao and family, Huajin Tao and family.  He will be remembered for his kindness and generosity to all of his friends and families.

Memorials can be directed to either the University of North Dakota Foundation, 3501 University Ave. Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND  58202 (with “Hanying Xu International Spirit Scholarship Endowment” in the memo line) or the Mayo Clinic at Rochester for brain cancer research.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at the Faith Evangelical Free Church at Grand Forks. Visitation will be held 45 minutes prior to the start of the service at the church. A remembrance ceremony called Hanying’s Last Testimony will be held at the Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel on UND campus at 6 p.m.