A day of remembrance was held for the late English professor Michael Yeong at Los Medanos College. Family, colleagues, friends and students attended the wake while mourning the loss of LMC’s beloved teacher in the Student Union May 1.
Yeong died April 2, but lived purposefully, spending his last years doing what he loved: teaching.
English professor Tess Caldwell and Vice President Dr. A’kilah Moore were the main organizers of Yeong’s memorial and opened the event by welcoming everyone in attendance.
In the first hour, a special remembrance was held where three colleagues and a student who knew Yeong personally, spoke on the memories and lessons he left with them.
Dr. Helen Benjamin recalled when she hired Yeong at LMC, in which his interview was outstanding as he displayed his passion and philosophy for teaching. Ironically, she was more thrilled for Yeong to join LMC as he had another job offer simultaneously.
Music Professor Frank Dorrittie shared his friendship with Yeong and how he believed they were destined to meet based on their similar upbringing. Both were from New York, attended Catholic schools, and served in the Vietnam War.
“They’ll tell you he’s gone, but he’ll never be gone from [LMC],” said Dorrittie.
More people with a special place for Yeong in their hearts got to speak on their reflections with him.
English professor Yongmin Zhu dedicated his rendition of the song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley to Yeong. Another colleague who had recited the poem “One Winter Afternoon” by E.E. Cummings also dedicated him.
Dr. Juanita Alexander has known Yeong for 26 years and said he had always made her feel like an essential part— as a human being and employee here at LMC.
”[Yeong] was custom-designed. Created for purpose and intention,” said Alexander.
Colleague Leetha Robertson shared how through her 16 years of knowing Yeong, she discovered his secret talent of gift-giving. There were times when she received flowers in her office stealthily delivered by him.
Robertson also spoke about a time Yeong called the attendance line to call in sick, but given the symptoms he was describing, Robertson told him to call 9-1-1 instead. Before hanging up they both prayed on the call which was a special experience for Robertson. When Yeong returned to campus, he thanked her with a silver cross necklace, and referred to her as his “guardian angel.”
Yeong’s son shared a fond memory of when his father surprised his family with an MGB convertible one summer, and although impractical, they had a lot of fun with it. While their schedules were conflicted due to them living in different states, he understood that his father was a man who lived to teach.
Usually when people reach a certain age, they begin looking into retirement but for Yeong, he had no intention of slowing down in his career. This was evident to everyone who knew him and students who had firsthand experience of his teaching lessons.
