Dear friends and family of Grace Wong Kurtz,
My name is Linda Won.
Grace was my dearest friend.
We have been friends for a VERY LONG TIME.
Since 1973.
We were young women then, recently graduated from college.
I was working at UCDavis-Sacramento Medical Center.
I was a lab tech, also known as Medical Technologist or Clinical Lab Scientist.
Grace had just graduated from Bingham Young University with a masters degree in microbiology.
She had come to UCDavis-Sacramento Medical Center for a 1 year internship in Medical Technology.
WE LIKE EACH OTHER INSTANTLY.
I was born in China but raised in Sacramento.
I lived with my mother and 3 younger sisters.
Often, I would invite Grace home for dinner.
My mother is an excellent cook. She would prepare wonderful Chinese meals.
Grace was very happy to come home with me for dinner.
On our days off, we went everywhere together.
We went to Lake Tahoe to play in the snow.
We went to Virginia City to see how cowboys lived in early days of the Wild West.
We went to Yosemite to see El Capitan, Half Dome, and the beautiful waterfalls.
We went to Marine World to experience the roller coaster, and see whales and dolphins perform.
We went to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate, Coit Tower, and of course, enjoy dinning in China Town and shopping at Union Square.
YOU GET THE PICTURE, GRACE AND I HAD LOTS OF FUN TOGETHER.
I was her Maid of Honor when she and Thomas Morgan got married.
She was at my wedding when I married my husband King Won.
In the early 1980’s, we were both living in San Jose.
We were working at local hospital labs.
We were raising our young families.
Grace had 3 children: Marcus, Melisa, and Marianne.
I had one child, Brian.
We had a lot to share with each other:
Discussing and sharing how to raise children, run a household, keep our husbands happy, and hold a demanding job.
When Grace’s mother, Mrs. Christine Wong, became ill, Grace and the whole family moved to Singapore to be with her.
We continued to keep in touch through letters over the next 6 years.
In 1989, Thomas Morgan was diagnosed with cancer, a brain tumor.
Grace brought him to San Francisco for treatment.
Tom fought courageously, but the cancer was too virulent.
In the next few years, Grace worked throughout Asia, as Becton-Dickinson’s
Asia-Pacific Technical Representative.
She was Dr. Grace Wong, microbiology specialist, giving training to the company’s customers.
Becton-Dickinsen made scientific instruments for the lab.
DURING ONE OF GRACE’S VISITS TO THE COMPANY’S HEADQUARTERS IN BALTIMORE, SHE MET JERRY KURTZ.
Grace is one of those special people you can never forget.
Once you met her and talk with her, she draws you into her magic circle.
She was SMART, TALENTED, VIVACIOUS, FRIENDLY, CARING, AND LOVING.
And yes, she can also be obstinate and opinionated.
We had some spirited arguments and discussions on many subjects, some important, some trivial.
We got along so well for 38 years because we had a give and take relationship.
She knew when to ask for help and accept my assistance;
I, in turn, did the same.
Our relationship was closer than that of biological sisters.
We were best friends.
Grace will always live in my heart.
I will never forget her.
Linda
Dear friends and family of Grace Wong Kurtz,
My name is Linda Won.
Grace was my dearest friend.
We have been friends for a VERY LONG TIME.
Since 1973.
We were young women then, recently graduated from college.
I was working at UCDavis-Sacramento Medical Center.
I was a lab tech, also known as Medical Technologist or Clinical Lab Scientist.
Grace had just graduated from Bingham Young University with a masters degree in microbiology.
She had come to UCDavis-Sacramento Medical Center for a 1 year internship in Medical Technology.
WE LIKE EACH OTHER INSTANTLY.
I was born in China but raised in Sacramento.
I lived with my mother and 3 younger sisters.
Often, I would invite Grace home for dinner.
My mother is an excellent cook. She would prepare wonderful Chinese meals.
Grace was very happy to come home with me for dinner.
On our days off, we went everywhere together.
We went to Lake Tahoe to play in the snow.
We went to Virginia City to see how cowboys lived in early days of the Wild West.
We went to Yosemite to see El Capitan, Half Dome, and the beautiful waterfalls.
We went to Marine World to experience the roller coaster, and see whales and dolphins perform.
We went to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate, Coit Tower, and of course, enjoy dinning in China Town and shopping at Union Square.
YOU GET THE PICTURE, GRACE AND I HAD LOTS OF FUN TOGETHER.
I was her Maid of Honor when she and Thomas Morgan got married.
She was at my wedding when I married my husband King Won.
In the early 1980’s, we were both living in San Jose.
We were working at local hospital labs.
We were raising our young families.
Grace had 3 children: Marcus, Melisa, and Marianne.
I had one child, Brian.
We had a lot to share with each other:
Discussing and sharing how to raise children, run a household, keep our husbands happy, and hold a demanding job.
When Grace’s mother, Mrs. Christine Wong, became ill, Grace and the whole family moved to Singapore to be with her.
We continued to keep in touch through letters over the next 6 years.
In 1989, Thomas Morgan was diagnosed with cancer, a brain tumor.
Grace brought him to San Francisco for treatment.
Tom fought courageously, but the cancer was too virulent.
In the next few years, Grace worked throughout Asia, as Becton-Dickinson’s
Asia-Pacific Technical Representative.
She was Dr. Grace Wong, microbiology specialist, giving training to the company’s customers.
Becton-Dickinsen made scientific instruments for the lab.
DURING ONE OF GRACE’S VISITS TO THE COMPANY’S HEADQUARTERS IN BALTIMORE, SHE MET JERRY KURTZ.
Grace is one of those special people you can never forget.
Once you met her and talk with her, she draws you into her magic circle.
She was SMART, TALENTED, VIVACIOUS, FRIENDLY, CARING, AND LOVING.
And yes, she can also be obstinate and opinionated.
We had some spirited arguments and discussions on many subjects, some important, some trivial.
We got along so well for 38 years because we had a give and take relationship.
She knew when to ask for help and accept my assistance;
I, in turn, did the same.
Our relationship was closer than that of biological sisters.
We were best friends.
Grace will always live in my heart.
I will never forget her.