Wilfred Lam – 50th Reunion Essay

Wilfred Lam

4900 Occoquan Overlook

Woodbridge, Virginia 22192

wlam2105@yahoo.com

571-408-0273

Spouse(s): Esther Lam (1972)

Child(ren): Cynthia Chen (1974), Andrew Lam (1976), Philip Lam (1979)

Grandchild(ren): Alexander Lam (2003), Audrey Lam (2005), Sophia Lam (2005), Christian Lam (2006), Caleb Chen (2007), Abigail Chen (2008), Sebastian Lam (2009), Daniel Lam (2011), Joanna Lam (2011)

Education: Yale BS 1969; University of Pennsylvania MD 1973

Career: Assistant Professor Medicine 1982, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Clinical Professor of Medicine 2013, Southern Illinois School of Medicine; Interventional Cardiologist, Praire Cardiovascular Consultants, Chairman, Department of Cardiology, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL

Avocations: photography, orchids, woodworking

College: Silliman

“How bright will seem, thru mem’rys’ haze, those happy golden bygone days!”

To me, visiting the Yale campus during reunions was more enjoyable than when I attended. In the undergraduate years, I recall often looking down, worrying about studies, as well as the New Haven slush puddles. At reunions, I looked up more. Besides admiring the springtime beauty of the campus, the good memories did seem brighter.

My children were surprised that I had not even visited the Yale campus before enrolling, although I lived only an hour and a half away. They marveled that the Yale application then had no essays and was only one sheet. It was one of the reasons I applied to Yale.

Although I majored in physics, the more memorable classes were history and Chinese language classes. Unfortunately, I still have nightmares about French class. After the tumultuous summer of 1968, I had changed my plans from physics graduate school to medical school. I realized that I wanted a career relating more to community than doing research in a science laboratory.

Being a coxswain on the crew was an unexpected benefit of attending Yale. My only physical attribute was that I was the third lightest student in the freshman class. Four years later, I had a Head of the Charles medal, a trip to Henley and a Harvard shirt (but unfortunately not from the varsity race). I still row recreationally and hope to teach my grandchildren to row when they get big enough. In retrospect, I am glad that we were forced to learn the words to “Bright College Years” at Gales Ferry freshman year. Regrettably, when my sons attended Yale, they did not memorize the song.

“Time and change shall naught avail, to break the friendships formed at Yale.”

Having lived in Hong Kong and New York City, I had never met a Midwesterner until I arrived at Yale. Phil Gans and Bob Bucholz filled that gap. I have attached a photo of us with Derry Allen taken recently in Colorado before Bob’s passing. I look forward at reunions to catch up with old classmates. Despite the passage of time and separation by distance, the friendships formed a half a century ago are just as strong.

“Oh, why doth time so quickly fly?”

Last spring, I saw the Yale crew win the Eastern Sprints at Lake Quinsigamond. Fifty years ago in 1968, our crew had come in third. I was afraid to tell anyone because I knew that I would seem ancient in their eyes. At our age, a half a century does not seem as long as it did when we were 18 years old.

God is smart. He makes us go through life only once. We wouldn’t want to go through school all over again, raise our children twice, or look forward to another 40 years of work.

At my 70th birthday party, my 6-year-old granddaughter was shocked that I was so old. Surely, it’s better than the alternative.