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Terence Tao 陶知章
4 de agosto de 1944 - 2 de abril de 2020
4 de agosto de 1944 - 2 de abril de 2020
Dr. Terence C. Tao (陶知章), age 75, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2020 at Belmont Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Belmont, Massachusetts.
Terry was born on August 4, 1944 in Shanghai, China, to parents George and Sondra Tao. He attended secondary school at St. Francis Xavier’s College, Hong Kong, where he graduated in 1960. At just 16 years old, he came to the United States to study. He earned his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in 1964, and a PhD in chemical physics from Columbia in 1969. After completing post-doctoral training at both Yale and University of Cambridge, Terry returned to New York, teaching at NYU for 3 years before moving to Boston. He spent 37 years as a research scientist at Boston Biomedical Research Institute.
While at BBRI, Terry met his wife Ana Maria and later became father to Patricia. In 1995, Terry suffered a debilitating accident, leaving him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. Despite the immense challenges, he was able to overcome adversity in rehabilitating his condition beyond initial expectations, even walking with support for a number of years. He was always grateful that even though the accident affected his mobility, it had not affected his brain. He was able to continue his work at BBRI, and was able to live a rich, full life for many years following his accident.
Terry was an avid sports fan. It was very difficult when his favorite local teams, the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, or Red Sox, would play games at the same time (which happens sometimes in the fall) and he could not watch all of them. March Madness was always a delightful challenge, trying to watch as many games as humanly possible in a short timeframe.
Terry also loved both playing and listening to music, particularly Irish and country music. He enjoyed playing the guitar and the penny whistle, which he would carry with him when going on hikes. He also loved playing the harmonica, an instrument he could continue playing after his accident and even once he moved to Belmont Manor Nursing Home. Terry would play his harmonica outside at the nursing home when the weather was nice, unintentionally putting on a lovely show for the residents around him.
Terry is survived by his daughter, Patricia Tao of Cambridge, MA; wife, Ana Maria Garcia of Gloucester, MA; and brother, Jeffrey Tao, sister-in-law, Margaret Tao, and niece, Rachel Tao of New York, NY. He leaves behind many loving relatives and friends who knew him as a kind, intelligent, and overall good-natured man.
A special thank you goes to the wonderful staff at Belmont Manor for the exemplary care and compassion they showed Terry throughout his time there.
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A memorial service will be held at a later date, when travel and gatherings are possible again. Memorial plans will be posted here on the “Events” page once finalized. In the meantime, we encourage you to share condolences, memories, and photographs on this site to celebrate Terry’s life. Comments can be included below, and photographs can be shared below or on the “Mementos” page.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to causes supporting the ongoing battle against COVID-19, and especially to the frontline healthcare workers. A few are suggested below, or feel free to support a cause closer to your community.
Another ongoing way to honor Terry’s life would be to donate to the Museum of Science in Boston to share his love of science with the young and young at heart: https://engage.mos.org/sciencematters/
COVID19-related Funds:
- #GetUsPPE Fund: https://getusppe.org/donate/
- MA COVID19 Relief Fund: https://www.macovid19relieffund.org/
- Off Their Plate: https://offtheirplate.org/
- MA Nurses Fund: https://www.massnurses.org/health-and-safety/current-topics/donate-to-protect-ma-nurses
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Homenajes
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Lee Haelters
My dear friend Terry, I am so, so saddened to learn of your passing. And, I am shocked to learn of your accident, and even more that I never knew! Please forgive me for not seeking you out, and renewing old friendship after I disappeared from our old stamping grounds. It seems you were injured somewhere around the time that I was getting married to Yuka; you met her once, do you remember? You and Ana Maria and Patti had us to dinner, after you and I ran into each other in Cambridge. We now live in Japan. You were always generous, and more outgoing than I, for certain. We started our friendship when you recruited me for our volleyball team at the Cambridge YMCA. I had tried (and washed out) for a spot with the upper team, and you pointed out to me that Cam2 had something the upper team hadn't, an excellent professional coach! I joined for the next tournament. I have told many people since then that the only reason we were not doormats was your disciplined leadership as the setter. If a contest was going against us, at a time when we might have lost composure it was you who reminded us that we had a strategy that we should not abandon, and often with good results. Your trained and scientific mind. But no nerdy stick in the mud, you. I remember that we trouped out for a late meal in Chinatown, the lot of us. You took command of ordering and had a few words with the server. Out came some fabulous platter, so delicious and satisfying, and it was not even on the menu! You raconteur. And speaking of, once when I had to come late and joined you and some others for dessert, I brought along a bottle of wine. In my choice I was advised by the merchant, and I could see that it was good advice, because you recognized my offering and gave it a hearty approval. Terry, tonight, and and every night on your birthday, I will toast you with a glass or two of the finest Sauterne I can find, or afford. Goodbye, old friend. You were loved by so many, and I miss you. Ana Maria, Patti, Antonio, my deepest and heartfelt condolence. I hope that these years have lessened your grief, for now I begin my own.
Marianne & Jürgen
We first met Terry in the 1980s. Since then we met numerous times during our life in Cambridge and we also stayed with him, Ana Maria and Patti several times at their home in Belmont when we came to the United States. We do treasure our memories of each others company and friendship! The countless lunches and dinners, the vivid discussions – especially about American politics –, the guitar and harmonica sessions - singing along, the little excursions to the Massachusetts beaches, parcs, museums and restaurants, our vacations in New Hampshire, painting Easter eggs at the Black Bear Lodge in Waterville Valley, taking a boat trip on the river Rhine in Germany, going fishing together, watching superbowls-games at night and cheering the Patriots, eating out in Chinatown in Boston with all the chinese treasures selected by the expert in his native tongue, getting a grand tour at BBRI in 2005 with joy and enthusiasm, feeling the spirit of science being passed on, and seeing our kids grow up and find their way in life. Thanks for sharing your friendship with us, Terry! We will always remember you. Marianne and Jürgen
Phil Graceffa
Peggy was able to dig up this photo from the late 80's. Terry, Ana Maria and Patti were at a party at our house with other BBRIers from Hungary and Russia. We had music playing in the background and, whereas no one else was dancing, Terry got up and danced; it was the highlight of the party for me.
Marianne & Jürgen
Sylvia Betcher
I am so glad to have known Terry. Not only was he a really high achieving scientist, he was well-rounded and empathetic, wise in his knowledge of how to be a friend. I met him in 1976 while doing a postdoctoral fellowship at BBRI. We became close friends in 1978 when he supported me though a time of personal grief and searching. I remember meals together when he introduced me to his rice cooker and helped me perfect the art of using chopsticks to eat from a bowl. At that time he loved soccer and being active outdoors. We drifted apart after I left BBRI for medical school, but reconnected in later years through infrequent emails and letters. My husband and I visited Terry and Ani occasionally at their home on Winter Street. We shared meals and updates on our children. We were happy to return the favor when Terry and Ani were able to visit our upstate New York home in August 2010. I was always amazed at how Terry forged onward in spite of his disability, which always made me sad when I saw him. His perseverance was still evident at my last visit with him in spring 2015 when he was living at Belmont Manor, although his energy was quite muted. One of my memories is a bit funny. Terry was sometimes a bit absent minded. He came to visit me at my parents' NY home once. My mother really liked him. When he left to drive his VW Rabbit back to Boston she was careful to give him explicit directions to get him back to the main highway. She repeated them several times to make sure he had them correct. We all watched him drive out of the driveway AND TURN RIGHT INSTEAD OF LEFT!! This turn would take him in the opposite direction. My mother was frantic. We all piled into our car to give pursuit but were not able to catch up to him. I never knew how he eventually worked his way through all the winding small roads to get himself back to Boston, but he did! Looking back, I wish I had stopped more times to visit with him in the last several years. I wish I had phoned him more often. I was lucky to have him as a friend. He was one of the kindest people I have known. Bon voyage, Terry. I know your soul will rest in a good place.
Jeffrey Tao
In 1972, when Terry and I shared an apartment in NYC, he used to played a Goya acoustic guitar, which I somehow inherited by default. I never learned how to play it, but now my daughter Rachel is learning to play it with the help of her boyfriend Sebastian. She will always treasure the guitar as an enduring memento of her late uncle.
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