TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttsstfi-reunion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/TFI-History-Final-HR3.pdf · TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttss Acknowledgements 2 PRELUDE 4 About TFI Reunions

TTTaaabbbllleee ooofff CCCooonnnttteeennntttsss Acknowledgements 2

PRELUDE 4

About TFI Reunions 5

I. LAS VEGAS, Nevada. USA 7 1987 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE 9

II. RENO, Nevada. United States 10 1990 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE 13

III. VELDHOVEN, The Netherlands. 14 1993 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE 19

IV. WASHINGTON, DC, USA 20 1996 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE 22

V. RENO, Nevada, USA 23 1999 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE 24

VI. LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA 25 2002 TFI Reunion Committee 27

VII. HEIDELBERG, Germany 28 2004 TFI REUNION Committee 33

VIII. OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada 34 2006 TFI REUNION Committee 39

IX. HONOLULU, Hawaii, USA 40 2008 TFI Reunion Committee 45

X. BALI, Indonesia. 46 2010 TFI Reunion Committee 50

XI. Lijiang, China 51 2011 TFI Reunion Committee 57

XII. LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA 58 2012 TFI Reunion Committee 58

Addendum: TORONTO REUNION 59 TORONTO Reunion Committee 63

INDEX OF NAMES 64

FOOTNOTES: 68

Table of Contents Inside Front Page

Black Dragon Pool (黑龙潭), Lijiang, Junnan – Background picture by Frank Murimboh

TFI Reunion History 1

By Kim Han

© Copyrighted, Ottawa, September 2012 Pictures are ©Copyrighted by their respective owners

To know someone here or there with whom you can feel there is understanding in spite of distances or

thoughts expressed, that can make life a garden.

(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

***

2 TFI Reunion History

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Twenty five years have passed since the first TFI reunion in Las Vegas in

1987. Since then, hundreds of TFI alumni, former students and friends from all over the world have gotten together, every couple of years, to spend a couple of days together. It’s a time to catch up with each other and reminisce about the good old days, when they were students in the fair city of Bandung.

Although this is what reunions are about, TFI reunions are about more than just getting together and remembering the good old days. TFI Reunions are about the history of our generation - a generation that scattered throughout foreign lands, because of the political unrest that drove many away and compelled others to seek fame and fortune on foreign shores.

It was not easy leaving home, friends and family behind, regardless of where we eventually settled down, found new jobs, made new friends, and secured a safe, stable and better future for our children. Our hearts still long for days gone by, to a time when we could be ourselves and be with people who were part of our shared past.

Although the large number of TFI-ers living in different parts of California had their own communal reunions, Thé Tjing Hoo’s vision of including TFI-ers living in other countries made these reunions, as he himself said, “more meaningful”, and so the first TFI reunion was born.

My thanks go out to the late Tan Giok Liong for planting the seed for a story about TFI Reunions in my head, and to Que Soei Keng for suggesting that I should do it (email of August 4, 2011).

I would like to thank my husband, Han Swan Bing, for putting up with a wife who spends hundreds of hours in front of the computer, gazing at a computer screen instead of into his eyes, and stroking a keyboard instead of his balding head. Thank you to my daughter Siu-Ling who edited the first draft of this book for me and pointed out things that could be misinterpreted. Thanks also to Tjing Hoo, for his input, enthusiasm, support, and encouragement; to The Tjing Bie, Paul Nio, Tjan Soe Iet, Simon Ong, John Quan, and Jeanne Teng for providing me with much of the information that filled the pages of this book. Thanks to Henry Tjioe for his patience, and for copying pages from the Reno reunion books. Thanks also to Iem and Ron Lauw who later sent me extra copies of both Reno Reunion booklets.

A special thanks to Kwee Kiem Han and Tan Soei Tjing of the Netherlands for telling me the history of the Technische Hoge School, the student organizations of the time, and the connection between VEBOS and TFI, as well as for the pictures that grace some of the pages of this book.


Thanks also to Oh Kong Ing, Paul and Diane Masengi for telling me about the Toronto Reunion that should have been a TFI Reunion but wasn’t, because of the difficulty in finding enough TFI-ers to join the team. Nevertheless, the Toronto team should not be ignored. The Toronto Team should be commended for their ability to cope with the tremendous challenge they faced, when terrorists crashed into the twin towers in Manhattan, two days before the reunion, preventing half of prospective participants to travel to Toronto to join the reunion.

Thank you to Nanny Tan and Khoen Gho of Hong Kong for their report about the Reunion in Heidelberg which jogged my mind about things I had forgotten; to Richard Danyo and Tony Tjan for reading the section about Hawaii and checking it for mistakes; to Tjan Kian Seng for sending me the Bali Reunion book and DVDs, and for checking the section about Bali. Thanks also to Henry Tjioe for sending me his report about the TFI Reunion in Bali.

Many thanks to Tjiep Wahjudi, who spent more than an hour on the phone with me from Jakarta, telling me about the preparations for the TFI Reunion in Lijiang; and about the trouble she had bringing the reunion books to Lijiang which suspicious custom officials in China thought to be “propaganda”.

I must not forget to thank Aida Ko for sharing Ko Tik Wie’s pictures with us; Tan Hoan Leng for taking over management of the TFI website, and for uploading this story onto the website. Thank you also to Tony Tjan for his trust in me, for taking over the TFI website, and paying the hosting fee ever since.

I must apologize if the description of the first couple of reunions is not as extensive as those of the new millennium. It is because our combined recollection of specific details of those reunions has faded into the mists of time. Starting with the Heidelberg Reunion, modern technology captured events on DVDs as lively reminders of these reunions we can always look back on.

This book would not have been possible without the patience, assistance, dedication, talent and technical expertise of a very special person, my friend Frank Murimboh, who sacrificed countless hours putting this book together. I hope you will treasure this book as a memento of TFI Reunions that brought us together, in the warm embrace of friendship that spanned the world over the past quarter of a century.

Although I was under the impression that Richard Danyo was going to pay for the printing of the book, he later withdrew and decided not to pay. When that became known, Richard Sada, Liem Djiet Kwan and Tan Ek Sian came forward and ended up paying for the printing of the book. To these three gentlemen I express my sincere gratitude for their generosity and support.

Kim Han Ottawa, September 2012


PRELUDE A large group of Asian seniors were singing Latin student songs

at the top of their voices in the ballroom of an unnamed hotel, in an unnamed city that could be anywhere in the United States, Canada, Europe or South East Asia. Some looked serious, as they mumbled Latin lyrics. Others had a smile on their faces, as their minds carried them back 50, 60 years and more to a moment in time, when they shared the same alma mater. Indeed, Gaudeamus igitur which roughly translated means “let us rejoice while we are young” is the oldest student song dating back to the early 18th century based on a Latin manuscript of 1287. The song embodies free and easy student life, a passion for life, love and the academy, and the joy of being young.

Why Gaudeamus Igitur? Gaudeamus igitur is the time-honoured student song of many

European post secondary institutions. It is traditionally sung during academic feasts and at TFI Reunions to celebrate the memory of youth, student life, friendship, and the joy of being able to get together to relive those memories. Many of the seniors attending TFI reunions graduated from the Science and Technology faculties of the Technische Hogeschool in the city of Bandung, Indonesia, when Indonesia was still known as the Dutch East Indies. The Dutch had established a European style student union which had its own collection of traditional student songs, of which Gaudeamus igitur was the traditional song sung at special celebrations.


About TFI Reunions A TFI Reunion is a gathering of former students and alumni of the TH

(Technische Hogeschool te Bandung) i, FT-UI (Fakultas Teknik - Universitas Indonesia), FIPIA (Fakultas Ilmu Pasti dan Ilmu Alam) and ITB (Institut Teknologie Bandung) to celebrate and relive the participants’ days when they shared the same alma mater. As you can see from the jumble of acronyms, it is a hodgepodge of Dutch and Indonesian, just like the languages that are spoken during these Reunions, in addition to a variety of Indonesian dialects, English, and a smattering of German. That is what makes TFI reunions as unique as its well-travelled participants with their multi-cultural and multi-lingual backgrounds, work experience, and post-graduate educations.

As mentioned in the Rhein-Neckar Zeitung of Saturday/Sunday May 22/23, 2004 ii, the common denominator for these reunions is not so much the shared origin of the participants, but “their common fate”. When Suharto rose to power in 1965, he immediately decreed laws that severely discriminated against the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia. Many students and graduates belonging to this minority felt compelled to leave the country in search of a safe and secure future for themselves and their families. As graduates of science and technology studies, they managed to build overseas careers in many parts of the world and did not return to their homeland, except for the occasional family visit.

Today, most of these seniors are citizens of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. “We are becoming extinct,” Willy Tjen of Los Angeles stated matter-of-factly, as the ship carrying more than 200 of these seniors travelled upstream on the River Neckar during a TFI reunion that was held in Germany. He was referring to his generation who experienced the end of the Dutch colonial era, survived the turbulent fifties and sixties and moved overseas, only to lose contact with friends and the generation of students and alumni who came after them.

After President Suharto came to power, Indonesian Chinese were encouraged to adopt Indonesian-sounding names to promote assimilation into Indonesian society. While some kept their Chinese names, the majority adopted names that better matched the local language. This made it difficult to track down friends who were no longer known by their old names.

In order to reconnect with old friends and alumni in Indonesia and elsewhere, a group of TFI alumni who had immigrated to the United States decided to organize a reunion for ex-students and alumni of the TH, FT-UI, FIPIA and ITB who were scattered in different parts of the world.


Breaking Ground Ontario, California, USA, 1986

In the beginning, an alumnus of FT-UI living in Southern California named Johnny Tan Sing Oen came up with the idea to organize a dinner get-together with friends in the United States who were ex-students and alumni of the science and engineering faculties of the Technische Hogeschool, FT-UI, FIPIA and ITB in Bandung, Indonesia. He discussed his idea with a couple of friends in California who shared his enthusiasm and were eager to poll friends and colleagues who might be interested in such a get-together.

Johnny, assisted by Djoko Soejoto, arranged a meeting at the Red Lion Hotel in Ontario, California, to discuss this get-together. The meeting was attended by about half a dozen alumni, including Steve Kristedja who was elected to chair the meeting. The result was a dinner get-together at the Red Lion Hotel that was attended by around 50 participants. This led to Steve’s idea that an official gathering that would include a larger number of former THS, FT-UI, FIPIA and ITB alumni from other parts of the world would be more meaningful. Friends and team mates agreed, and the dinner reunion at the Red Lion Hotel became the groundbreaker for TFI reunions.

Phone calls were made to recruit volunteers, and an enthusiastic preparatory committee of former THS, FT-UI, FIPIA-UI and ITB students and alumni was formed. The committee searched for a nice place, away from the hustle and bustle of the Los Angeles area, where hotel accommodation is plentiful and affordable, where the weather is almost always fair and predictable, and where recreational facilities abound. iv They settled on Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, a city known for its extravagant shows, glitz and glamour. It was a good decision, as Las Vegas is easily accessible by road for those living in the area, and by air for participants coming from abroad. Arrangements for a grand international reunion were begun, and the first TFI reunion was initiated.


I. LAS VEGAS, Nevada. USA May 22 – 25, 1987

The reunion in Las Vegas was the first international reunion of former students and alumni of the THS, FT-UI, FIPIA and ITB. v It was chaired by Steve Kristedja (Thé Tjing Hoo) and Paul Tjandrasuwita (Tjan Soe Iet). Paul, who held the position of Vice-Chairman for the Las Vegas reunion, publicized the Reunion among friends and ex-colleagues in Indonesia. He even managed to raise some funds to help finance the Reunion.

In an email of September 29, 2009 Steve addressed to me, he emphasized that a reunion on such a grand scale could not be attributed to one or two persons only. The success of such an endeavour had to be credited to all Committee members who were essential in the organization and coordination of such a huge undertaking.

The first TFI Committee had 16 members, most of whom were TFI-ers, i.e. ex-students and alumni of THS, FT-UI, FIPIA and ITB. Committee members included: Djoko Soejoto (First Secretary); John B. Quan (Second Secretary), Johnny Tan Sing Oen (Treasurer), Simon Ong Thian Siem (Program and Planning), Dewi Tan (Accommodation and Planning), Frank Yap Tjong Hauw and Paul Nio Tjoe Djiet (Publication & Documentation). Lincoln Tan Lian Hian and Henry Tjioe Lian Siang were responsible for Recreation, Tan Lan Nio for First Aid, Marie Tjandrasuwita for Hospitality, and Mia Ong for Decoration. Jeanne Kristedja organized tennis tournaments, and Dick Liem Sien Tjwan golf.

In addition to the 16 Committee members, Steve was supported by six Area Coordinators who were responsible for support in various parts of the United States and abroad. Area Coordinators included Njo Sian Hwie (Western United States), Ong Tjing Ho (Eastern United States), Budi Santoso (Western Canada), Ko Tik Wie (Eastern Canada), Tan Siauw Yang (The Netherlands) and Teddy Karyadi (Indonesia).

TFI alumni Lin Adhipurna (Ong Bwee Nio), Richard A. Danyo (Nio Bie Seng), Benjamin Suriadjaya (Tjia Kian Joe), Paul Tjandrasuwita, Simon T. Ong Thian Siem, Rudy Tjipto Utomo, and Ciputra provided financial support.

In his welcome message Steve wrote that we have gathered here primarily to meet old friends, many of whom we have not met or seen for years or decades. I myself could not wait to see those old, familiar faces. That is what this Reunion is all about! I therefore urge you to make very good use of our short time with each other, to reminisce, to relive old memories, and to rekindle almost forgotten friendships. --- For the moment, let us all forget our worries, whatever they may be, and have a jolly good time together --. vi


The TFI Las Vegas program included sightseeing trips, tennis and golf tournaments, a dinner show and a tour of the amazing, awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. In the evening, participants gathered in the hospitality room for a social evening of fun and games, song and dance, as they went down memory lane watching a slide show of pictures of their student years.

Based on the 1987 THS/FIPIA/ITB booklet, there were a total of 149 participants from Canada (12), Indonesia (12), the Netherlands (12), the United Kingdom (2) and the United States of America (111). The Committee is to be commended for including the Chinese names of friends who had adopted Indonesian-sounding names to make sure participants would be able to find and reconnect with old friends they only knew by their old names.

The overwhelming enthusiasm of the participants of the first TFI reunion set the stage for another reunion and prompted a vote to hold the next reunion within three years. Finding a person who was willing and able to become Chairman, however, was quite a challenge.

Steve, who lives in Southern California, had to travel to Northern California where he arranged a meeting to persuade friends in Northern California to pick up the baton. vii He finally convinced his brother, Thé Tjing Bie, to accept the position of Chairman for the following reunion.

Tjing Bie and his wife Lanny, as well as a number of prospective team members visited Reno, Nevada, as a possible location for the next reunion. Reno is another Casino city, and hotels are relatively inexpensive. viii Its proximity to beautiful Lake Tahoe and its surrounding scenery made it an easy choice, and a decision was made to hold the next TFI reunion in Reno.

Steve Kristedja addressing the first TFI Reunion in Las Vegas (1987)


1987 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE VENUE: Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Chairman: Stefanus Kristedja, Bakerfield, CA Vice Chairman: Paul A. Tjandrasuwita (Soe Iet Tjan), Buena Park, CA First Secretary: Djoko Soejoto, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Second Secretary: John B. Quan (Tjoen Liong Thé), Yorba Linda, CA Treasurer: Johnny Tan Sing Oen, Barstow, CA Program & Planning: Simon T. Ong (Thian Siem), Fullerton, CA Accommodation & Transportation:

Dewi Tan (Yap Gwat Lee), Sierra Madre, CA

Publication & documentation: Frank T. Yap (Tjong Hauw), Fullerton, CA Paul T. Nio (Tjoe Djiet), Fullerton, CA Recreation: Lincoln Tan (Lian Hian), Sierra Madre, CA Henry L. Tjioe (Lian Siang), Monterey Park, CA First Aid: Lan Nio Tan, Barstow, CA Hospitality: Marie Tjandrasuwita, Buena Park, CA Decoration: Mia Ong (Myung Sook), Fullerton, CA Tennis Tournament: Jeanne Kristedja, Bakerdfield, CA Gold Tournament: Dick S. Liem (Sien Tjwan), Fullerton, CA

AREA COORDINATORS: U.S.A. West: Sian Hwie Njo, San Mateo, CA U.S.A. East: Tjing Ho Ong, Middletown, NJ Canada West: Budi Santoso Canada East: Tik Wie Ko, Toronto, ON Indonesia: T.B. Karyadi (Tan Ban Kong), Jakarta The Netherlands: Siauw Yang Tan, Zoetermeer

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (in alphabetical order): 149 Canada: 12 Indonesia: 12 The Netherlands: 12 United Kingdom: 2 USA: 111

SUPPORTERS / CONTRIBUTORS: * Mrs. L. Adhipurna (Ong, Bwee Nio), Jakarta, Indonesia * Richard A. Danyo, Vancouver, Canada * B. Suriadjaya, Jakarta, Indonesia * Paul Tjandrasuwita, Buena Park, CA * Simon T. Ong, Fullerton, CA * Rudy Tjipto Utomo* * Ciputra, Jakarta, Indonesia


II. RENO, Nevada. United States May 25 – 28, 1990

The TFI Reunion in Reno, which was held at the Bally Hotel, had 16 Committee members, including Steve Kristedja and Lim Tek Hian who acted as Advisors. Chairman Thé Tjing Bie was supported by Vice Chairman Ko Tik Lok and twelve team members, who were responsible for administration, finance, accommodation, publication, documentation, hospitality and entertainment.

Eight Area Coordinators covered North Western USA and Western Canada, Central USA, Eastern USA, Eastern Canada, Southern California, West and East Java, and Europe. While the 1987 Las Vegas Committee organized tennis and golf tournaments, the Reno Committee also organized bowling, swimming and walk-a-thons to meet the needs of participants with an active life-style.

In his welcome message Tjing Bie addressed participants to this three-day fun-filled reunion to renew old friendships and to make new ones, to reminisce about the good old days and dream about the future. He emphasized that, although our lifestyles are varied, --- we’ve all managed to do well for ourselves --- we still are one big family, bound together by similar backgrounds and, especially, by our alma mater. ix

The program included an all-day Virginia City/Lake Tahoe tour. Historic Virginia City, Nevada, is the site of a world-famous gold and silver mining boom that transformed people from poor to prosperous overnight. It is considered one of America’s 12 most distinctive destinations. x Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America that straddles California and Nevada.

In addition to the Virginia City tour, reunion participants were treated to a Dinner Cruise/Dance on the Tahoe Queen, an authentic Mississippi paddle-wheeler and Lake Tahoe icon. A dinner show featuring Tony Orlando and Dawn, a pop music group that was popular in the 1970s, as well as a Ponderosa Ranch tour, were also on the program.

Based on information in the reunion booklet, 144 participants from Aruba (1), Australia (1), Canada (10), Indonesia (9), the Netherlands (4) and the United States of America (119) attended the reunion in Reno. This did not include the three couples who joined the reunion after the booklet was printed and, possibly, a number of other late-comers.

Alumni who generously donated funds to the reunion in Reno included Yvonne Djajapranata, Goei Ing Liat, Khoe Jan Tjiang, Ko Tik Lok, Ko Tik Wie, Dick Liem Sien Tjwan, Stanley Lyman, Loretta A. Maswita Mamesah, Paul Nio


Tjoe Djiet, John B. Quan, B.A. Suriadjaya, Johnny Tan Sing Oen, Thé Tjing Bie and Paul Tjandrasuwita.

Based on the positive response of a questionnaire that was distributed by Tik Lok during the reunion, Tjing Bie made a commitment to keep TFI reunions alive. He said that almost 100% of the Reno participants wanted to have another reunion, regardless of where it would be held. He was deeply moved when he observed tears in many participants’ eyes when they sang Auld Lang Syne and Auf Wiedersehen during the farewell party before saying goodbye.

Another reason why Tjing Bie was committed to the continuation of TFI Reunions was Everdine Wowor Jansen’s enthusiasm when she and husband Jason, both from the Netherlands, agreed to organize the next reunion in the Netherlands.

Since 1990, when the term TFI Reunion was coined, subsequent reunions were called TFI Reunion, with the exception of the following reunion which was held in Veldhoven, a Dutch village outside Eindhoven.

1990 TFI Reunion Band performing in Reno, NV


Boarding the “Tahoe Queen” for the dinner & dance

Applause for Tony Orlando & Dawn


1990 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE VENUE: Bally Hotel, Reno, Nevada

Chairman: Tjing Bie Thé, Milpitas, CA Vice Chairman: Tik Lok Ko, Sunnyvale, CA Advisors: Tek Hian Lim, El Cerrito, CA Steve Kristedja (Tjing Hoo The), Bakersfield, CA Secretary I: Hank Kurniadi (Khouw Eng Kie), Hayward, CA Secretary II: Melani Kurniadi (Oei Ing Lan), Hayward, CA Treasurer I: Gwan Eng Lie, Daly City, CA Treasurer II: Po Lian Lie, Daly City, CA Accommodation: Ronald Lauw, Martinez, CA Iem Lauw, Martinez, CA Publication: Ilse Thé, Walnut Creek, CA Documentation: Tony Thé (Kok Wie), Walnut Creek, CA Recreation: Dien Ko, Sunnyvale, CA Hospitality: Laurette Lim, El Cerrito, CA Sylvia Quan, Yorba Linda, CA Entertainment: Lanny Thé, Milpitas, CA

AREA COORDINATORS: North Western U.S.A. /W. Canada Yoe Tjiang Liem, Lake Oswego, OR Central U.S.A. Gwat Tiong Tan, Lexington, KY Eastern U.S.A. Tjong Lee Go, Wilmington, DE Eastern Canada Tik Wie Ko, Toronto, ON, Canada Southern California John Quan (Tjoen Liong The), Yorba Linda, CA Jakarta area, Indonesia Bing Kumaradja (Tik Bing Ko), Jakarta Surabaya area, Indonesia Yvonne Djajapranata* Europe Siauw Yang Tan, Zoetermeer, Netherlands General Services Assistant: Tik Lok Ko, Sunnyvale, CA

ACTIVITY LEADERS: Golf Daniel Tjoa, Los Altos, CA Tennis / Bowling Lanny Thé, Milpitas, CA Swimming Steve Kristedja (Tjing Hoo The), Victorville, CA Volley Ball Gwan Eng Lie, Daly City, CA Walk-a-thon Dien Ko, Sunnyvale, CA PARTICIPANTS: 146 SUPPORTERS / CONTRIBUTORS: Aruba: 1 * Yvonne Djajapranata, Indonesia Australia: 1 * Ing Liat Goei* Canada: 10 * Jan T. Khoe (Jan Tjiang), Santa Monica, CA Indonesia: 9 * Tik Lok Ko, Sunnyvale, CA Netherlands: 4 * Tik Wie Ko USA: 121 * Dick S. Liem * Stanley Lyman * L.A. Maswita Mamesah (Lotje Oey) * Paul T. Nio (Tjoe Djiet) * John B. Quan * B.A. Suriadjaya (Kian Yoe Tjia) * Johnny S. Tan (Sing Oen) * Tjing Bie Thé * Paul Tjandrasuwita (Soe Iet Tan)


III. VELDHOVEN, the Netherlands. April 30 - May 3, 1993

VEBOS stands for Vereniging van Bandungse Oud-Studenten (Association of Former Bandung-Students). It is a Dutch association which includes former students and alumni of THS, FT-UI, FIPIA and ITB living in the Netherlands.

In the early days of the Technische Hogeschool which was founded by the Dutch in the city of Bandung, July 1920, many students were members of the BSC (Bandoengs Studenten Corps), a student association in Bandung for Dutch students, students of Dutch descent and mostly Chinese students who were granted “equal rights” because of the status of their families and their Dutch upbringing. After the Second World War, universities in the former Dutch East Indies were inundated with students of Chinese descent with a Dutch upbringing. Many of these students were also members of Ta Hsueh Hsueh Sheng Hui (THHSH), a student association for Chinese peranakans, i.e. students of Chinese descent born in Indonesia.

The BSC of Bandung which later became Corpus Studiosorum Bandungense, evolved into VEBOS in the Netherlands. In the mean time, former THHSH members who moved to the United States started organizing get-togethers which later evolved into the first TFI reunion in Las Vegas in 1987. This explains the connection between VEBOS and TFI, as members of these associations all attended the same alma mater in Bandung.

The 1993 VEBOS Reunion in the Netherlands was held at Hotel Koningshof, the largest and most centrally located conference hotel in the Benelux region. It is surrounded by lush greenery and has access to hiking and biking, as well as all sorts of indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including a golf course, just minutes from the hotel.

Tan Soei Tjing and Kwee Kiem Han were Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the 1993 Reunion Committee in Veldhoven, in collaboration with the late Jason Jansen who passed away in 1995. Jason was a former student and alumnus of the Technische Hogeschool in Bandung and Chairman of VEBOS. Soei Tjing and Kiem Han who were members of THHSH when they were students, joined VEBOS after they emigrated to the Netherlands.

The 1993 reunion in the Netherlands was a combined VEBOS and TFI reunion of former TH, FT-UI, FIPIA and ITB students and alumni from all over the world. The official name of the reunion, however, was VEBOS REUNIE and not TFI Reunion.

In his welcome message in the 1993 VEBOS reunion book, Soei Tjing posed the question why people attended reunions. Was it to have fun together, to cast


daily troubles and worries aside, or for a change of routine? It was all that and more, but the basic principle of this, or any other reunion, according to Soei Tjing, was to be together and to relive and revitalize whatever we used to do and experience together. He mentioned strengthening and renewing old bonds of friendship and expressed the hope that our mutual background, which was nurtured during our years at our alma mater (mother of science but also of friendship), would evolve into a bond that would gloriously surpass time as years went by, especially, as we grow older.

Soei Tjing also mentioned that no ocean was too wide and no sky too high for participants from different parts of the world to congregate in a tiny town in the Netherlands to meet old friends and colleagues. Whether they were motivated by personal connections, interest, curiosity or a combination of all that, the main link was their alma mater and the time of their lives they shared together. xi

These thoughts were echoed in Jason’s welcome letter in which he wrote that the basic principle of VEBOS was to preserve and strengthen existing bonds and, wherever possible, to create new connections. He emphasized that maintaining this natural bond between classmates and contemporaries, as well as creating good relationships among those who shared the same alma mater, was most important. He also pointed out that this mutual background created a feeling of belonging and friendly relations that was not bound by time. xii

On the program was an excursion to Keukenhof, the Netherland’s most popular tourist destination famous for its glorious display of spring flowers. Participants were treated to dinner at Sarinah’s, an Indonesian restaurant in The Hague.

This three-day reunion was attended by participants from eleven different countries: Austria (1), Brazil (2), Canada (5), China (2), Germany (5), Indonesia (11), the Netherlands (96), New Zealand (1), Sweden (1), the United Kingdom (1) and the United States of America (28) for a total of 153. Of these, 73 participants attended the last day of the reunion for tea and the gala dinner only.

The VEBOS reunion concluded with a nine-day post reunion Euro tour to Vienna and Budapest, two European cultural centres, that was especially organized for participants from abroad to enhance the reunion experience.

In an interview with Tjing Bie, he mentioned that he would have liked to attend the reunion in Veldhoven, but family matters precluded him from attending. One year passed before he realized that no decision had been made about the next reunion location. He immediately called friends in Vancouver, but nobody was interested in hosting a reunion in that city by the sea. Then an idea struck him to have the reunion in Singapore. It was his hope that the proximity of Singapore to Indonesia would draw TFI friends living in Indonesia.


Tjing Bie then contacted Singapore residents and fellow alumni Tan Sioe An and Evy. Although Sioe An declined the position of Chairman, he agreed to help. Sioe An suggested that Tjing Bie call Gouw Sioe San, another fellow alumnus. Sioe San accepted the nomination, and preparations for a reunion in Singapore were begun.

A couple of months later, however, the company Sioe San was working for transferred him to another location, and he had to withdraw from the Committee. Tjing Bie was devastated but determined to have another TFI reunion somewhere, anywhere anyone was willing to chair the next reunion.

His determination paid off and a couple of months later, he received a call from Washington D.C. A younger TFI-er by the name of David Liem offered to organize the next TFI reunion in the Capital of the United States of America!

Although Tjing Bie and David did not know one another, they quickly became acquainted. Tjing Bie helped David as much as he could and mailed David a list with names, addresses and other information of TFI-ers living in the Washington D.C. area, so David could form the next preparatory committee.

TFI VEBOS Reunion in Keukenhof 1993 Picture courtesy of Kwee Kiem Han, the Netherlands


TFI VEBOS Reunion in Veldhoven 1993 Picture courtesy of Kwee Kiem Han, the Netherlands

TFI VEBOS Post Reunion Europa Tour in 1993 Picture courtesy of Kwee Kiem Han, the Netherlands


BSC (Bandoengsch Studenten Corps – the forerunner of Ta Hseuh) at the Inauguration Dinner in 1947. Picture courtesy of Kwee Kiem Han, the Netherlands

1993 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE Veldhofen, The Netherlands

Venue: Koningshof, Veldhoven.

Chairman: Tan Soei Tjing, Arnhem Vice Chairman: Kwee Kiem Han, Den Haag Secretary: Tan Siauw Yang, Zoetermeer Treasurer: A. van Kraaijenoord, Amsterdam Members: Tan Swie Siang, Venlo I.L.S.N. Tan-Kwee, Arnhem D.G.P. Kwee- Liem, Den Haag

VEBOS COMMITTEE: Chairman: J. Jansen, Voorschoten Secretary: E.B.H. Jansen-Wowor, Voorschoten Treasurer: H. de Vries-Tuerah, Berkenwoude Members: E.V. van Kampenhout-Hendriksz, Leiden Han Bing Tjoe, Delft J.C. de Looff, Sliedrecht A. van Kraaijenoord, Amsterdam

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 152 Aruba 1 Brazil 1 Canada 5 China 2 Germany 5 Indonesia 11 Netherlands 96 (of these 73 attended the gala dinner only) New Zealand 1 Sweden 1 United Kingdom 1 USA 28


IV. WASHINGTON, DC, USA September 6 – 9, 1996

Washington DC was the location for the fourth TFI reunion, three years after the reunion in Veldhoven. It was held at the Double Tree Hotel in Rockville, Maryland, approximately 35 minutes by car from the nation’s capital.

Chaired by David Liem Sing Sioe, this was the first time the Chairman used the term “Chairperson”, a welcome sign indicating gender equality. David was supported by two Vice-Chairpersons, Souw Eng Kie and Arie W. Hartman, three team members, as well as six volunteers and nine area coordinators covering Northern and Southern California, Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, Indonesia, Canada, and the Netherlands.

As David so aptly wrote in his welcome message, the objective of the fourth TFI reunion was not only to see Washington, the capital of the United States of America, but, first and foremost, to see old friends, to reminisce about our good old days together, rekindle old and forgotten friendships and, of course, to meet new friends and, most importantly, to enjoy each other’s company and have fun together like in the good old days in Bandung!

The program included a sightseeing tour of Washington D.C. featuring its most famous buildings: the Capitol Building, Supreme Court and White House. The Jefferson and Iwo Jima Memorials, Vietnam War and Lincoln Memorials were also on the itinerary as reminders of the nation’s sacrifice in its quest for freedom and democracy. A visit to Washington is not complete without a visit to the National Mall, the heart of the Nation’s Capital and the entire United States of America. This is where the nation celebrates, honours, and demonstrates its commitment to democracy. xiii A visit to the Smithsonian Museum and National Holocaust Museum were also on the itinerary.

On the second day of the reunion participants enjoyed a picnic lunch at the Mall, a national park in the heart of Washington D.C. This was followed by a sightseeing tour of the Kennedy Center, also known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It is a living memorial to the late President John F. Kennedy. Other places of interest on the itinerary were Georgetown, a historic commercial and entertainment centre in Washington D.C., and Massachusetts Avenue - a Washington landmark and home to Embassy Row. The tour included a stop at the Washington National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the United States. xiv

Dinner that evening was at the Rockville Restaurant. The evening concluded with a get-together in the Hospitality Room of the hotel, where people socialized, sang and danced to their hearts’ content. There were no planned activities for the third day of the Reunion. The Gala Reception, music and dance that were planned for the evening took place in the Double Tree Ballroom.


On the last day of the Reunion, participants gathered for a Farewell Brunch in the Ballroom of the Double Tree Hotel. This was followed by an optional PRT (post-reunion tour) that took participants to Atlantic City, Niagara Falls and Toronto, Canada. During their visit to Toronto, participants were treated to a sightseeing tour of Toronto and dinner by Toronto TFI-ers, before the group proceeded to New York City, where they visited the Statue of Liberty, the Twin Towers in Manhattan, the New York Stock Exchange, United Nations Building, Empire State building, Rockefeller Center, and Radio City Music Hall. The next day, participants visited other New York landmarks such as Haarlem, the Bronx, Lincoln Center and China Town.

Based on the Reunion booklet, there were 132 participants from five different countries: Canada (7), Germany (2), Indonesia (13), The Netherlands (10) and the United States of America (100). It was interesting to observe that a number of participants were accompanied by sons and daughters, who were able to see how their parents could still whoop it up, as they celebrated the good old days.

The Washington Reunion was made possible with financial support from Ciputra, Loretta Maswita Mamesah (Lotje Oey), Richard Sada (Oh Ek Liong), Paul and Marie Tjandrasuwita.

Vice Chairman Souw Eng Kie addressing the 1996 Washington TFI Reunion


Sing along at the Washington TFI Reunion 1996

Group photo in front of the Washington, DC Capitol


1996 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE Washington, DC, USA

Venue: Double Tree Hotel, Rockville, MD

Chairman: David S. Liem, Potomac, MD Vice Chairman I: Eng Kie Souw, Manorville, NY Vice Chairman II: Arie W. Hartman, Gaithersburg, MD Member I: Lietje Hartman (Gouw Kwie Nio), Gaithersburg, MD Member II: Tjoei Lioe Souw-Lim, Manorville, NY Treasurer: Liza Searl* Volunteers: Liza Searl * Betty Liem* Tjoe Kiok Liem* Lucille Liem* Tony Nie* Tik Wie Ko, Toronto, ON, Canada AREA COORDINATORS: Northern California Tjing Bie Thé, Milpitas, CA Southern California I Steve Kristedja (Tjing Hoo The), Victorville, CA Southern California II Johnny S. Tan, Barstow, CA Northeast U.S.A. Eng Kie Souw, Manorville, NY Southeast U.S.A. Joseph Sie, Charlotte, NC Indonesia David Liem , Potomac, MD Canada Tik Poen Njoo, Brampton, ON The Netherlands A.J. Cuelenaere* Rest of the World Lietje Hartman , Gaithersburg, MD

SUPPORTERS / CONTRIBUTORS: NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS:

132

* Ciputra (Tjin Hoan Tjie) Jakarta Canada 7 * Loretta Maswita Mamesah (Lotje Oey) Tangerang Germany 2 * Richard O. Sada (Ek Liong Oh) Williamsville, NY Indonesia 13 * Paul & Marie Tjandrasuwita Laguna Miguel, CA The Netherlands 10 USA 100


V. RENO, Nevada, USA May 23 – 27, 1999

After the Washington reunion, Reno was once again selected to host the next TFI reunion. Chairperson for this reunion was Dien Ko, wife of Ko Tik Lok, former Vice-chairperson of the 1990 Reunion in Reno.

It was the first time a TFI reunion was headed by a woman. Dien was assisted by the former Chair of the first TFI Reunion in Reno, Thé Tjing Bie, who became Vice- Chairperson. Dien and Tjing Bie were supported by eight team members, each of whom filled a separate role, and nine area coordinators covering California, Eastern United States, Canada, Indonesia, The Netherlands, and elsewhere. In addition to her role as Chairperson, Dien was also in charge of recreation and walk-a-thons.

The program included a picnic in Idlewild Park on the Truckee River, a spacious oasis and playground near downtown Reno. Other items on the program were a lunch cruise on MS Dixie II, the largest cruising vessel on Lake Tahoe, an optional dinner show featuring “Night Beat”, as well as an optional tour to Squaw Valley, a world-class ski resort and site of the 1960 winter Olympics.

In her welcome letter Dien mused about the passage of time. For some, more than 50 years had passed since they attended university. Dien’s emphasis was on happy memories, friends and friendship, and keeping these reunions that had become a tradition, alive.

As in previous reunions, Tjing Bie’s wife Lanny, an accomplished accordion player, entertained the group with her lively music that made people get off their seats, sing and dance.

This time, 142 participants gathered at the Hilton Hotel - formerly known as Bally Hotel, where the 1990 Reno Reunion took place. Again, participants came from all over the world, attesting to the popularity of TFI reunions that enticed friends to spend time and money to travel thousands of miles to wherever a TFI reunion was held. Two participants came from Belgium, ten from Canada, three from Germany, ten from Indonesia, ten from the Netherlands, and the largest contingent came from the United States (107).

As the Reno reunion came to a close, suggestions were put forward to hold the next reunion in Canada but, instead of waiting three whole years, it was decided to have the next reunion within two years. TFI reunion participants clearly enjoyed these reunions and did not want to wait another three years. It seems that, as we grow older, time passes much more quickly, and the Latin phrase memento mori - remember our mortality - becomes more meaningful. Mortality is a reality neither of us can escape. We have lost many friends over the years and during TFI Reunions, it has become a tradition to always remember friends who have gone before us, as we bow our heads in respect for one minute of silence.


1999 TFI REUNION COMMITTEE Venue: Hilton Hotel, Reno, Nevada Chairperson: Dien Ko, Sunnyvale, CA Vice Chairperson: Tjing Bie Thé, Milpitas, CA Treasurer: Hank Kurniadi, Hayward, CA Secretary: Melani Kurniadi, Hayward, CA Accommodation: Iem Gwat Gan & Ronald Lauw, Concord, CA Entertainment: Lanny Thé, Milpitas, CA Recreation: Dien Ko, Sunnyvale, CA Documentation & Publication Tik Lok Ko, Sunnyvale, CA Hospitality: Yvonne Willemsz-Geeroms, Pinole, CA Lietje Hartman , Gaithersburg, MD General Services: Ben Willemsz-Geeroms, Pinole, CA

ACTIVITY LEADERS: Tennis: Lanny Thé, Milpitas. CA Golf Sien Tjwan Liem, Fullerton, CA Walk-a-thons Dien Ko, Sunnyvale, CA Bowling: Tjing Bie Thé, Milpitas, CA

NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS: 139 Belgium 2 Canada 9 Germany 5

Indonesia 8 The Netherlands 7 USA 108

1999 Reno TFI Reunion Sing along


VI. LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA October 20 – 24, 2002

The fact that many TFI-ers were unable to attend the 2001 reunion in Toronto due to the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, led Tjing Bie to arrange a TFI Reunion in Las Vegas in 2002. This reunion was held at the Tropicana Hotel, the same hotel where the first TFI reunion was held, 15 years earlier.

The Las Vegas Reunion was chaired by Johnny Tan Sing Oen, the alumnus who suggested the dinner get-together in Ontario, California, that became the forerunner of TFI reunions, 16 years earlier. Johnny was supported by Vice Chairperson Tan Hoei Tjiat and eight team members, while Tjing Bie, by now a veteran of TFI Reunions, acted as Advisor.

In his welcome letter, Johnny welcomed participants to the fabulous city of entertainments. He mentioned the new hotels that had been built in Las Vegas since the first reunion in 1987, and the free attractions that were available.

Unlike previous reunion booklets, the 2002 Reunion booklet included messages from previous Chairpersons Steve Kristedja (Las Vegas 1987), Thé Tjing Bie (Reno 1990), Kwee Kiem Han (Veldhoven 1993) and Dien Ko (Reno 1999).

Steve’s message dated October 20, 2002, reminded all participants that the first TFI Reunion took place in Las Vegas 15 years ago. That meant that we were 15 years older and evolving from recent retirees to the realm of “seniors” who were more aware of the passage of time. Steve wished all participants to take a solemn moment to remember those attendees --- who have passed away and preceded us into eternity in the past 15 years. In wishing us a happy and enjoyable Reunion, Steve also urged us: While you are all together on this special occasion, may you all cherish each precious moment you have with friends you don’t often see. At our age ... (God forbid), it could be the last time you meet each other!

Tjing Bie wrote that attending Reunions was to meet old friends and make new ones. He wished everyone a happy Reunion and urged them to enjoy their stay in Las Vegas.

In his message dated September 12, 2002, Kiem Han sent his regrets that he and wife Daisy would not be able to join the Reunion in Las Vegas, due to other social commitments. He wished the participants leuke en gezellige bijeenkomsten (fun and cozy get-togethers), zoals we ook vorige keer in Toronto hadden meegemaakt (like the last time we experienced in Toronto xv).


In her message of the same date, Dien thanked our dear Lord for His generosity and love to give us good health and good luck so that we can join the Reunion in Las Vegas. She also looked forward to meeting dear long-time friends and making acquaintances with new ones - - - and to feel young again remembering the good old days! It seems that TFI reunions do make their participants feel young again, as they relive the good old days.

Participants were treated to a picnic in Sunset Park, one of the largest parks in Las Vegas popular for festivals and picnics. Other than that, participants were free to do as they pleased, such as exploring this city with its millions of lights, flashing and blinking day and night to entice visitors to enter the many establishments offering fun and games and, if one was lucky, riches. Participants walked around downtown Las Vegas, and The Strip, as they took in the sights and sounds of this entertainment capital, or tried their luck in the many casinos for which Las Vegas is famous. The sound of music blaring through loudspeakers and the perpetual clanging of slot machines indicate that Las Vegas is, indeed, a city that never sleeps.

Except for the gala dinner on the last day of the reunion, people had the liberty to explore and try out different eating establishments on their own, or with friends, during the first three evenings. After dinner they could attend the social evenings at the hotel, where light snacks, coffee and tea were served.

The booklet lists 156 participants from Australia (1), Canada (7), Germany (2), Indonesia (8), the Netherlands (1), and the United States of America (137). The reunion concluded with an optional fascinating four-day tour of America’s natural wonders: the spectacular Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National monument.

2002 Vegas TFI Reunion Sing Along


2002 TFI Reunion Committee

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Venue: Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Chairperson: Tan Sing Oen, Moreno Valley, CA Vice Chairperson: Tan Hoei Tjiat, Irvine, CA Secretary: Paul Nio, Fullerton, CA Treasurer: Sie Ting Tjhiang, Fullerton, CA Lien Yap, Fullerton, CA Entertainment & Recreation: Robert Sumarsono (Kwa Kong Sik), Anaheim, CA Frank Yap, Fullerton, CA Hospitality: Kristina Sie, Fullerton, CA Lien Yap, Fullerton, CA Jennifer Sumarsono, Anaheim, CA Accommodations: Paul Nio, Fullerton, CA Advisor: Thé Tjing Bie, Milpitas, CA

NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS: 156 Australia 1 Canada 7 Germany 2 Indonesia 8 The Netherlands 1 USA 137

Polonaise at the sixth TFI Reunion in Las Vegas


VII. HEIDELBERG, Germany May 19 – 23, 2004

Ich hab’ mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren is one of the songs that is always sung at TFI Reunions. It therefore was no surprise when the next TFI Reunion was held in Heidelberg. Nestled in the hills of the Odenwald on the shore of the River Neckar, Heidelberg is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. This romantic old city has inspired poets and painters of Romanticism and still fascinates millions of visitors from all over the world as it did, no doubt, fascinate TFI reunion participants whose dream of visiting this grand old city was to become a reality.

The TFI Reunion in Heidelberg which was held at the Marriott Hotel was chaired by long-time German resident Tan Tjoan Gie of Heilbronn. He was assisted by Vice chairman Lie Gwan Eng of West Linn, Oregon in the United States of America, two secretaries, two treasurers and a support team responsible for food, hospitality, accommodation and recreation. Tjing Bie acted, once again, as advisor, while his wife Lanny who had earned herself the nickname “Iron Lady” xvi because of her resoluteness, acted as Coordinator of the team.

Having Committee members living in different countries, thousands of kilometres apart, was a challenge. In spite of electronic communication devices such as telephones, fax and e-mail, it was necessary for Lanny to fly to Heidelberg to assist Tjoan Gie. Together, Tjoan Gie and Lanny auditioned bands from Holland to play at the gala dinner. They also checked out the Biergarten, the Neckar Cruise, as well as boat companies for the post-reunion Rheinfahrt (Rhine Cruise) from Strasbourg to Amsterdam. One of the stipulations in deciding which cruise company to select was the quality of the food that was to be served on board. Tjoan Gie and Lanny finally settled on a French boat that served French cuisine and good wine. To further assist Tjoan Gie with the final preparations for the reunion, Lanny and Tjing Bie flew to Germany a couple of days before the start of the reunion.

In his welcome address which, for the first time, was entirely delivered in Indonesian, Tjoan Gie mentioned the overwhelming interest for the reunion in Heidelberg. More than 300 alumni and friends were interested in attending the Heidelberg reunion, tapi sayang sekali kami hanya dapat menampung 270 (it was, however, a great pity that we could only accommodate 270). He was sorry for those friends who were not able to join and hoped that they would meet at future reunions.

Tjoan Gie conveyed his thoughts on the passage of time: makin lanjut usia, makin cepat sang waktu berlalu rasanya (the older we get, the faster time seems to pass). He urged participants to bersuka ria ber-sama2 (have fun together) –


gaudeamus igitur (let us rejoice) - dalam beberapa hari pertemuan ini, merindukan zaman “baheula” selama studi dalam pangkuan Ibu Pertiwi dan Alma Mater, memupuk persahabatan lama dan menjalin perkenalan baru (in the couple of days we have together, we evoke memories of the olden days during our studies in the lap of Mother Earth and our Alma Mater, as we nourish old friendships and create new ones). xvii

The Heidelberg Reunion booklet includes messages and greetings from previous Chair- and Vice chairpersons. Steve Kristedja, Chairman of the first Reunion in Las Vegas in 1987, applauded the Committee‘s decision to ‘break’ the tradition of meeting only every three years. He commended the choice of location, since we have been singing about Heidelberg during each occasion, why not visit the place and enjoy the sentimental aspect of it. As in his message in the 2002 Reunion book, Steve reminded participants, once again, not to forget to pay tribute to those of us who, in the mean time, have passed away.

Steve’s brother, Tjing Bie, who was Chairman of the Reno I Reunion and Vice-Chairman of the Reno II reunion, welcomed participants to the seventh Reunion and referred to the Ontario dinner meeting as the pioneer of our reunions.

In his message, Tan Soei Tjing of Arnhem who was Chairman of the VEBOS Reunion in Veldhoven in 1993, referred to the passage of time since the first reunion in Las Vegas in 1987. He pointed out that means of modern communication doesn’t seem to be sufficient to consolidate old ties of friendship and to create new ones. As social beings we need closer contact and a reunion is then an exquisite opportunity to realize that.

In his eloquent message, Bernard Souw Eng Kie of Herndon, Virginia, Co-Chairperson of the 1996 TFI Reunion in Washington, also reflected on the swift passage of time, the fabulous time we all had together, the fun, the nostalgia, the camaraderie and the intimate feeling of togetherness --- in a festive setting so familiar to us --- remains a vivid memory practically impossible to forget. He also referred to this reunion as a unique opportunity to exchange private experiences as expatriates in a diversity of foreign lands with more or less distinctive cultures, which may have resulted in different perspectives, despite our common, strongly eclectic culture. Our common cause for leaving our country of birth binds us all with a strong sense of Unity in Diversity, which is further reinforced by our past belonging to the same alma mater.

Dien Ko of Sunnyvale, California, Chairperson of the 1999 TFI Reunion in Reno, compared Heidelberg, a beautiful, cozy student town, to the old Bandung of the fifties and sixties, where many of the participants first met.

Johnny Tan Sing Oen of Moreno Valley, California, Chairman of the 2002 TFI Reunion in Las Vegas thanked the Committee for organizing the reunion in


Europe. As we sing Io Vivat and Gaudeamus, we celebrate our reunion until we all return to Mother Earth. Johnny urged participants to keep up our celebrations of coming together.

The program included the traditional City Tour and a visit to the enchanting Old Castle, one of Heidelberg’s most famous landmarks. A visit to Germany is not complete without a visit to a Biergarten, where a brass band played traditional upbeat German folk music and drinking songs which stimulated our group of Asian seniors to sing along in German, to the great surprise and delight of the locals.

On the reunion program was a leisurely cruise on the River Neckar which gave participants a chance to socialize and reminisce, as the boat passed well-preserved medieval towns, vineyards and ancient fortresses that evoked romantic notions of noble knights, chivalry and honour.

Because of the excessive number of people interested in attending the reunion in Heidelberg, the Committee had to look for a second hotel to handle the overflow, as Marriott was fully booked. 70 of the 270 participants had to stay at the Holiday Inn, a bus-ride away from the Marriott. It was also necessary to reserve two different dining rooms at the Marriott for the dinners. One group was put up in the Neckar Saal. The second group, which included participants staying at the Holiday Inn, had dinner in the London-New York Saal.

After dinner, tables and chairs in the Neckar Saal where the Committee were seated, were pushed aside to make room for participants from the second dining room, so they all could sit together for the evening’s social gathering and entertainment.

Following the Farewell Breakfast on the last day of the reunion, Tjing Bie nominated Han Swan Bing of Ottawa, Canada, to chair the next TFI reunion. As the only known TFI-er living in Ottawa, Bing was hesitant to accept. How was he supposed to form a Committee when there were no other TFI-ers in town? Then Paul Masengi of Toronto stood up in support. So did Californians Frances Liem of Placentia and Robert Sumarsono of Anaheim. It was only after Bing’s wife Kim agreed to help that he decided to accept this honour. A decision was made to hold the next TFI Reunion in Ottawa, Canada, in 2006.

Farewell speeches were held, and then it was time to say goodbye. When Lanny picked up her accordion and the mournful sound of Auld Lang Syne filled the air, participants rose from their seats and grabbed each other by the hand to form a circle. Swaying to the gentle rhythm of the music, people looked at each other, as they sang their goodbyes, their eyes brimming with tears. Saying goodbye to dear friends at the end of a reunion is a moving experience, as some of us will never see each other again. However, almost half of the participants were looking forward to another couple of days of togetherness, as they


embarked on a five-day post reunion river cruise. They boarded the Modigliani in Strassbourg and cruised down the river Rhine to Amsterdam, stopping at picturesque and romantic towns and villages along the route for a most memorable trip.

2004 Heidelberg TFI Reunion Sing Along

Bandung skit at the 2004 Heidelberg TFI Reunion


Biergarten Humpapa at the Heidelberg TFI Reunion in 2004

Post Reunion cruise on the Modigliani from Strassbourg to Amsterdam


2004 TFI REUNION Committee Venue: Marriott Hotel, Heidelberg

Chairman: Tjoan Gie Tan, Heilbronn, Germany Vice Chairman: Gwan Eng Lie, West Linn, OR, USA Secretary I: Po Lian Lie-Tjen, West Linn, OR, USA Secretary II: Ben Willemsz-Geeroms, Pinole, CA, USA Treasurer I: Bertha Djie-Kwee, Maarssen, The Netherlands Treasurer II: Ben Willemsz-Geeroms (see above) Food & Catering: Tjie Lie Tan-Ong & Bertha Djie-Kwee Hospitality: Yvonne Willemsz-Geeroms, Pinole, CA Accommodation & Recreation:

Tjoan Gie Tan & Tjie Lie Tan-Ong, Heilbronn, Germany

Member: Kiong Hoo Djie, Maarssen, The Netherlands Coordinator: Lanny Thé, Milpitas, CA Advisor: Tjing Bie Thé, Milpitas, CA

NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS: 269 Australia 1 Canada 2 Germany 20 Hong Kong 2 Indonesia 54 The Netherland 41 Philippines 2 USA 127

Kebaya show at the Heidelberg TFI Reunion in 2004


VIII. OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada July 12 – 16, 2006

When Ottawa was selected to host the next TFI reunion at the conclusion of the Heidelberg Reunion, a murmur went through the room. Ottawa? Why Ottawa? Where is Ottawa? Rumours started circulating that Ottawa was “niets aan”. In other words, there was nothing appealing about Ottawa.

The fact that some people did not know where Ottawa was, and others mumbled that there was nothing to Ottawa, was a chance for Bing and wife Kim, long-time residents of Ottawa, to showcase the city they loved and called home.

Because they were told not to expect a large number of participants, they decided to promote Ottawa and conduct a survey to find out how many would be interested in coming to Canada’s National Capital. In July 2004, they sent out a questionnaire along with a newsletter entitled “Why Ottawa?” to all TFI-ers on a list that was provided by Tjing Bie and a number of other TFI friends, including Henry and Hetty Tan who offered their help and were the first members of the Ottawa Team.

The newsletter described what Ottawa had to offer. As National Capital of the second largest country in the world (by landmass), Ottawa is considered a World Class City and one of the most beautiful G8 capitals because of its location on the confluence of the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau Rivers. The Rideau Canal that flows through Ottawa and passes through locks between Canada’s impressive Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ottawa stands out as a capital city because of its French and English heritage that made Canada what it is today.

The result of the survey was overwhelming. Four weeks after the questionnaire and newsletter were despatched, more than 100 people indicated that they planned to come to Ottawa. When the survey concluded in August 2004, almost two years before the start of the reunion, there were more than 150 prospective participants. This spurred Bing to go ahead, recruit more volunteers to complete a Team and earnestly start preparations for the reunion.

Although Bing and Kim were not aware of ex-TFI-ers in Ottawa, they managed to form a Committee of devoted TFI-ers from the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Indonesia. As Chairperson of the Ottawa Reunion, Bing was assisted by Vice Chairperson Bertha Djie from the Netherlands. The core team was completed by two Secretaries, two Treasurers, five team members in charge of accommodation, hospitality and entertainment, as well as ten Regional Coordinators covering Canada, Europe, South-East Asia, and various parts of the United States. Four members of the Core Team did double duty as Regional Coordinators, and Tjan Kian Seng of Jakarta was the Team’s representative in Asia.


The fact that the eight Committee members lived in four different countries was a challenge that was solved using modern technology. Because the Team was not able to physically meet for discussions, they made use of Skype for teleconferences. In the autumn of 2004 Kim conceived, designed and created an inter-active website with technical advice and assistance from son Timothy Han. The TFI website http://www.TFI-Reunion.com allowed instant dissemination of the latest information that was accessible anytime, anywhere in the world. It saved a lot of time and money on travel, printing, telephone calls and postage.

To prevent outsiders from snooping into the TFI website, individuals visiting the website had to register first. Once they had been approved, they were free to log in and visit the website any time. In this day and age, it was a necessary step to safeguard the privacy of the TFI website and its members.

In his welcome address, Bing stated that the only reason he agreed to accept the position of Chairperson was to give previous organizers a break. It seemed that the people involved in organizing or supporting TFI Reunions in the past were almost always the same individuals. Bing paid tribute to each member of the Ottawa team and outlined their duties and responsibilities which demonstrated the extent of planning, coordination, management, administrative tasks and teamwork that were involved in the organization of such an enormous undertaking.

The Ottawa Team also decided to create a Constitution and By-Laws as the foundation of their mandate. Each and every rule and regulation that was proposed was thoroughly discussed, reviewed and amended where necessary, before it was passed by TFI Ottawa team members in Canada, the United States, Europe and Indonesia. It must be emphasized that these Constitution and By-Laws were the guidelines for the Ottawa team and not intended to bind any future TFI Reunion organizers.

Bing asked Steve Kristedja, the initiator and first Chairman of these international Reunions, to add a few words to the Ottawa reunion booklet. In his address Steve reminded participants that Canada was the third country outside the U.S.A. in which a TFI Reunion is being held. He sent his regrets that he was unable to attend but made the assurance that our thoughts and prayers will be with you while you enjoy this rare opportunity to fellowship with old-time (mind you, I did not say old) friends. Enjoy and cherish the company of your friends and schoolmates while time permits, because as you realistically well know, it may be the last chance God allows you! xviii

Because the theme of the Ottawa Reunion was caring and sharing, the Committee initiated Group Captains, as proposed by Wini Tan, to welcome participants and make sure they had someone to turn to. Group Captains are those energetic TFI-ers who generously offer their services to make participants feel welcome and assist those with special needs.

Each Group Captain had a certain number of participants under his or her wing, so they had someone to turn to when they needed anything, or when they had to be reminded when and where to assemble for tours and get-togethers. By

http://www.tfi-reunion.com/


2006, participants were much older than when they attended the first TFI reunion 19 years earlier. Some were in wheelchairs, others used canes or walkers to get around and, thus, every effort was made to accommodate participants with special and dietary needs. The hotel and places the group visited had to be wheelchair accessible. The buses used for tours and outings were special buses that could be hydraulically lowered for easy access. Diabetics could have special sugar-free treats and drinks, and participants could also choose low sodium and vegetarian dishes for the elegant sit-down gala dinner.

The Ottawa reunion was about joie de vivre, a celebration of the lives we lived, the friends we made more than half a century ago, and the good things in life we still can enjoy. At this stage of our lives it was, indeed, a blessing to be able to get together with friends from all over the world in the warm embrace of friendship.

The Ottawa Reunion booklet lists 212 registrants from Canada (21), Germany (5), Indonesia (19), the Netherlands (41) and the United States (126). There were 241 paid registrations and 29 cancellations, due to sudden illness, medical emergencies and other excuses. Nevertheless, more than 200 participants still made it to Ottawa, where they stayed at the exclusive Westin Hotel in the heart of downtown Ottawa.

The Ottawa reunion program included the traditional City Tour and a picnic in Rockcliffe Park, one of the most prosperous enclaves in Ottawa on the Southern bank of the Ottawa River. The Sunset Dinner/Dance Cruise on the Ottawa River had a 1950’s theme. Participants dressed in fashionable fifties attire and rock and rolled the evening away. On day three, participants took a nostalgic train excursion on one of Canada’s last remaining steam-powered trains to Wakefield, a quaint little village in Quebec, 35 km north of Ottawa.

During the Gala Dinner Dance James Sosroutomo , leader of the UKI xix band that performed during the evening, paid tribute to Leo Tan Tjeng Thay of Las Vegas, one of the oldest participants. Leo had been ill and barely made it to Ottawa, but he persevered and managed after all. James, who was known as Mr. Elvis because of his Elvis-like voice, sang Viva Las Vegas, especially for “Uncle Leo”, and soon the whole assembly joined in as they sang and clapped along. It was a moving moment. Sadly, James passed away in Toronto, August 22, 2010. We miss him and his wonderful voice, but his memory will last forever.

After the Gala Dinner, Hawaii was voted as the next reunion destination. Richard Danyo of Vancouver and Antony Tjan of Honolulu were selected as Chair- and Vice Chairpersons of the TFI Reunion in Hawaii.

The Ottawa Reunion concluded with a six-day post-reunion tour to Quebec, la belle province. On the program was a visit to le zoo sauvage, a huge wildlife park where visitors could observe more than 80 species of Canadian wildlife in their natural habitat. A visit to Saguenay Park provided participants with a spectacular view of the Saguenay Fjord, the most southern fjord in the world that is considered one of Canada’s Seven Wonders. One of the highlights of the


tour was a whale-watching cruise on the mighty St. Lawrence River, where white beluga, minke and fin whales gather. Participants were lucky to also catch a glimpse of the endangered blue whale, the largest living mammal on earth. The tour included a visit to Charlevoix, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve - a perfect blend of nature and culture - on the southern end of the tundra, where the group stayed at the 5-star Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, high on the cliff of Pointe au Pic with its stunning scenery.

The Basilica of Sainte Anne de Beaupre was also on the itinerary. It is one of Canada’s most sacred places that has been credited with many miracles curing the sick and disabled. There was a visit to Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most European city on the North American continent. A trip to the old port of Montreal, another UNESCO World Heritage Site where the group had their farewell lunch, concluded the tour.

Bertha Djie assisting the late Kam Kian Djien

Group photo Ottawa TFI Reunion in 2006


Picnic in Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa

Looking good! Andrew Ong and Sioe Hwa. At the age of 92, Andrew was the oldest

participant. Transferring chairmanship from Ottawa to Hawaii (Han Swan Bing, Richard Danyo, Tony Tjan, Kim Han)

Picture courtesy of Tan Wie Po & Fien


2006 TFI REUNION Committee Venue: Westin Hotel, Ottawa, Ontario

Chairperson: Han Swan Bing, Ottawa, ON Vice Chairperson: Bertha Djie-Kwee, Maarssen, The Netherlands Secretaries: Henry (Sip Ie) & Hetty Tan, Cincinnati, OH, USA Treasurer I: Paul Masengi , Mississauga, ON Treasurer II: Wini Tan (Tjoei Nio), Toronto, ON Hospitality: Diana Masengi (Tan Giok Nie), Mississauga, ON Meta Tan (Tjoe Tien), Toronto, ON Hetty Tan (Liem Gin Heng), Cincinnati, OH Coordinator Fun & Variety Evening:

Nanny Tan (Liem Nan Hua), Hong Kong, China

Masters of Ceremony: Njoo Tik Poen, Brampton, ON Paul Masengi (see above) Tan Tjoan Gie, Heilbronn, Germany Photography, Documentation, DVD

Henry Tan (see above)

Web Design and Maintenance

Kim Han (Oh Giok Kim), Ottawa, ON

Coordinators: Planning, Program, Tours, Accommodation, PR, food Swan Bing & Kim Han, Ottawa, ON

REGIONAL COORDINATORS: Canada Tan Som Djie, Toronto, ON Europe Djie Kiong Hoo, Maarssen, The Netherlands Bertha Djie-Kwee, Maarssen, The Netherlands South East Asia Tjan Kian Seng, Jakarta, Indonesia USA Northern California Fred Go Ing Dhiam, Santa Rosa, CA Jeanne Teng, Placerville, CA Southern California Frances Liem, Fullerton, CA Robert Sumarsono, Anaheim Hills, CA Rest of U.S.A. Henry & Hetty Tan, Cincinnati, OH

GROUP CAPTAINS Sonya Atmadja (Kwee Giok Nio) – IDN; Djie Kiong Hoo – NL; Aida Ko – CAN; Hans Oei Hong Jauw – USA; Harry Tan (Kok Koan)– USA; Jankie Sie (Oh Giok Liang) – NLD; Richard Sada (Oh Ek Liong) – USA; Robert Sumarsono (Kwa Kong Sik) – USA; Gio Tan Giok Tjhiang – CAN; Tan Hoan Leng – NLD; Tan Khoen Gho – CHN; Tan Som Djie (Coordinator) – CAN; Yeu Bing An – NLD; Diana & Budi Yogisaputra – IDN

NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS: 241 Canada 21 Germany 5 Hong Kong 2

Indonesia 19 The Netherlands 41 United States of America 126 Cancellations 29


IX. HONOLULU, Hawaii, USA September 4 – 6, 2008: Honolulu

September 6 – 13, 2008: Cruise aboard NCL’s Pride of America

When we think of Hawaii, we think of an island paradise, blue skies and crystal clear waters, as well as pretty sun-tanned girls with long flowing hair dancing the hula to the sound of ukuleles and slack-key guitars. It is not surprising this reunion attracted more than 300 participants from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and the United States of America - the largest number of participants ever.

In his welcome address, Chairperson Richard Danyo (Nio Bie Seng) of Vancouver, Canada, reminisced about the passage of time since the first TFI reunion in Las Vegas, 21 years earlier. Richard thanked Steve Kristedja, the first TFI Reunion Chairman, as well as all preceding Reunion Committee members for initiating and organizing these reunion gatherings so successfully, over the past two decades. xx

Richard was backed by Vice Chairperson Anthony Tjan (Poo Gwan) of Honolulu. He travelled to Indonesia to promote the Reunion and the Cruise, and to entice friends in Asia to join. For many, a visit to the fabulous Hawaiian Islands is “a dream come true”, and as Hawaii is closer to Indonesia, it was hoped that this Reunion would attract more TFI friends from Indonesia.

As Vice Chairperson, Tony coordinated the preparations for the Reunion with input from Richard and his Committee members. It was not an easy task, not only because of the cost and distance involved in travelling between mainland U.S.A. and Hawaii, but also because the many Committee Members who live in the United States, live quite a distance from each other. If it had not been for modern technology, the Committee would have had a much more arduous task coordinating the preparations for such a massive undertaking. What a difference twenty years make since the first TFI reunion, when most people did not have computers.

Richard and Tony were supported by two secretaries, two treasurers and 12 other Committee Members responsible for Hospitality, Entertainment, the Gala evening and Cruise. Five persons were responsible for Photography, Documentation and DVD production, as well as Web Maintenance. There were three Masters of Ceremony from the United States, Canada and Indonesia. Because of the extraordinarily large number of participants, the Committee appointed 14 Regional Coordinators and 16 Group Captains, some of which also did double duty as members of the Committee.

As was done in Ottawa, Richard only asked Steve Kristedja, the pioneer of these Reunions, to say a few words for the Hawaii reunion booklet. Steve considered it an honour and enthusiastically complied. He noted that the fleeting time is hard to comprehend, if you think that 20 years are five


Presidential Terms in Office! Steve was hopeful that many new energetic younger faces would bring forth the crop for next leaders. He urged participants to cherish each moment during the Reunion with your old and new found friends and enjoy their companionship, since you don’t know what will happen to you before you meet again. xxi As in his previous welcome letters, we are reminded of the passage of time and how precious each moment of togetherness with our friends is.

Unlike previous reunions, the TFI Reunion in Hawaii was the first time a reunion was held at sea, as well as on land. It was a wonderful idea that was eagerly accepted by all, but that meant that the Committee essentially had to handle arrangements for two different venues. Although the cruise was handled by Selly Liem of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Tony and Richard still had to travel to Hawaii, at their own expense, to check out the ship when it was docked in Honolulu. It was important that they knew what facilities would be available to accommodate a private group of more than 300 participants for the different reunion programs.

The first two days of the reunion were spent at the Sheraton Princess Ka’iulani Hotel in downtown Honolulu, on the Island of Oahu which is described as “The Heart of Hawaii.” xxii The Princess Ka’iulani Hotel is strategically located within walking distance of the beach, the market, restaurants, and the hustle and bustle of downtown Honolulu.

On the first day of the reunion, participants were presented with leis made of beautiful purple and white phalaenopsis orchids. They had their pictures taken with good-looking Hawaiian natives, before attending a vibrant Polynesian dinner show entitled Creation. The show was held in the Ainahau Dinner theatre of the Hotel. With the aid of pyrotechnics and laser lighting for visual effects, the producers of this fabulous show took the audience on an epic journey of song and dance from the time ancient worlds were forged by the ocean, and Wind and Fire came to life across the enchanting islands of the Pacific.

The next morning participants were taken on a guided Island Tour around Oahu. They visited Hawaii’s cultural sights, its world-famous beaches, lush greenery and tranquil beauty. One of the highlights of the tour was Nu'uanu Pali with its steep cliffs where, according to history, hundreds of Oahu's warriors were thrown to their deaths as they made their last stand from King Kamehaha's conquering troops. Today, Nu'uanu Pali provides visitors with a stunning view of the windward side of Oahu. Another stop on the tour was the breathtaking Halona Blowhole. A blowhole is a lava tube under the water. As sea water rushes into it, the water is compressed, causing the pressure to increase and forcing a stream of water to shoot up to thirty-feet into the air. The tour concluded with a lunch at Mandalay, a well-known Chinese restaurant in Honolulu. Back at the hotel, participants had the opportunity to socialize, take a nap and get their luggage ready for the following morning’s transfer to the cruise ship.


After breakfast, participants boarded buses to the Port of Honolulu, where the Pride of America, one of Norwegian Cruise Lines’ ships, awaited them. After checking in and consuming lunch on board, participants could attend the ship’s evening entertainment, while the ship sailed to Kahului on the Island of Maui, the second largest Hawaiian island known as The Magic Isle known for its rugged beauty.

Upon arrival in Kahului, participants were able to arrange their own off-shore tours or participate in tours offered by the cruise line. Participants had a chance to visit the Haleakala Crater, a cool, cone-studded reminder of a once-active volcano located in Haleakala National Park. xxiii Others rented cars and explored the island on their own, or with a group of friends.

Those who preferred to stay on board could gather in the Hospitality Room provided for TFI participants, participate in programs such as arts and crafts, hula dancing, or just sit on deck and relax, or do whatever they liked.

On the fourth evening of the Reunion, the Committee organized a social evening and a FUFU (From Us For Us) talent show. Participants were asked to give a performance that reflected the countries they came from. The delegation from Indonesia put on a batik fashion show to the delight of the ladies, while the Canadians sang Canadian songs. Participants from the Netherlands gave a line dancing demonstration, and the Americans wore masks and dressed up as American symbols. One of the ladies was dressed as the Statue of Liberty, while others dressed in clothes that represented the different ethnic minorities living in the United States. People sang and danced, and had great fun.

After two days in Maui, the ship sailed to Hilo. Located on the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii, Hilo boasts dramatic waterfalls, fertile rainforests and blooming gardens. From Hilo the ship cruised to Kona, on the west side of Big Island. Kona is famous for its beautiful beaches against a backdrop of the Mauna Kea that rises more than 13,000 feet above sea level.

From the Big Island of Hawaii, the ship sailed to the Garden Island of Kauai, a tropical paradise of towering ocean cliffs, pristine forests and cascading waterfalls. Kauai is Hawaii’s fourth largest island and the oldest and northernmost island of the Hawaiian chain. Anywhere the ship went ashore, people had a chance to arrange their own offshore tour or join an organized group tour with a guide. Some visited Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific,xxiv while others visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one of the most fascinating biologic landscapes of the world, because of its volcanic significance. xxv

Cruising certainly is relaxing. It allows everybody to do as little or as much as they please, alone or with whomever they like. Guests can have dinner in any of the ship’s restaurants, any time of the day or night. The choices are endless. There are buffets, Italian, Pan-Asian food, steaks and an upscale French


restaurant to choose from. On a cruise, guests can also attend evening shows of their choice, as offered on board of the ship.

The Gala Dinner Dance took place on the eight evening, when the ship was docked in the port of Nawiliwili, Kauai, where it stayed two nights. The Committee had reserved the Liberty Restaurant for this event between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. There were speeches, sing-songs and celebrations for couples commemorating their golden wedding anniversary during the year of the Reunion. The oldest participants who reached their 80th and 85th birthdays in 2010 were also honoured and presented with gifts.

Organizing a reunion on a cruise ship takes the worry out of organizing separate dinners and entertainment, as almost everything is available on board, practically any time of the day. The cruise ended on day 10 of the Reunion when it arrived back in Honolulu. Participants could go back to the hotel and spend another couple of days in Honolulu, or continue on their journey home or elsewhere.

The Hawaii TFI Cruise reunion booklet lists 335 participants. It was the biggest number of participants in the history of TFI Reunions. The largest contingent came, as always, from the United States of America with 181 participants. The Netherlands came in second (58), Indonesia third (57), Canada fourth (20), Germany fifth (7), Hong Kong and Belgium tied for sixth place with four each, while Australia and the Philippines tied for seventh place with two participants each. This was the first time we had such a large number of participants from Indonesia.

Paul Masengi, Christien & Benjamin Suriadjaya and Richard Danyo


Fufu night: TFI Cruise Reunion, Hawaii, 2008

The late James Sosroutomo greeted by his fans at the Hawaii TFI Reunion


2008 TFI Reunion Committee Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Venue I: Sheraton Princess Ka’iulani Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii Venue II: Pride of America, Norwegian Cruise Line (Sept 6 – 13, 2008)

Chairperson: Richard Danyo (Nio Bie Seng), Vancouver, BC, Canada Vice Chairperson: Anthony Tjan Poo Gwan, Honolulu, HI, U.S.A. Secretaries: Henry & Hetty Tan, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A. Treasurer I: Lieke Tan-Oey, Santa Clara, UT, U.S.A. Treasurer II: Arie Go Thieck Pieck, Walnut Creek, CA, U.S.A. Cruise Coordinator: Selly Liem (Oei Hong Lan Nio), Lake Oswego, OR, U.S.A. Hospitality: Wini Tan (Tjoei Nio), Toronto, ON, Canada Joseph Kam Tiong Hoo & Leny Kam (Tjan), Honolulu, HI, U.S.A. Eugenie Oen, Haiku, HI, U.S.A. Entertainment / Gala

Bertha Djie-Kwee (coordinator), the Netherlands

Sian Kho (Sian Bie), Carlsbad, CA, U.S.A. Nanny Sie Kiem Lan, Houston, TX, U.S.A. Masters of Ceremony:

Simon Ong Thian Siem, U.S.A.

Paul Masengi (Loe Tjien Han), Mississauga, ON, Canada Ida Tan (Liem), Jakarta, Indonesia Photography, Documentation & DVD production:

Henry Tan, Cincinnati, OH

Tan Wie Poo, Bayonne, NJ Lim Hok Kan, Castro Valley, CA Tan Hoan Leng, Purmerend, the Netherlands Web Maintenance Tan Hoan Leng

GROUP CAPTAINS: Coordinator I: Tan Som Djie, Toronto, ON, Canada Coordinator II: Richard Sada, Amherst, NY, U.S.A. Aida Ko (Canada); Harry Tan (USA); Sonyawati Atmadja (Indonesia); Tjiptawati Budiharta (Indonesia); Kunto Harsono (Indonesia); Kian Seng Tjan (Indonesia); Evelyn Andhyiswara (The Netherlands); Fred Pondaag (The Netherlands); Vonny Pramana (The Netherlands); Bing An Yeu (The Netherlands)

NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS: 346 Australia 2 Belgium 4 Canada 21 Germany 7 Hong Kong 4

Indonesia 59 The Netherlands 58 Philippines 2 USA 189


X. BALI, Indonesia. April 4 – 8, 2010

During the gala evening of the 2008 TFI Hawaii Cruise Reunion on board the Pride of America, it was decided that the next TFI reunion would be held in Bali, Indonesia. It was the first time for a TFI reunion to be held in the home land. This was an opportunity for many TFI-ers who were born and raised in Indonesia, but lived and worked overseas, to also visit friends and family. A reunion in the home land was, therefore, the motivating factor for TFI Cruise Reunion participants in Hawaii to select Bali for the next TFI Reunion destination.

A TFI reunion in Bali, Island of the Gods, was bound to attract many participants. This was confirmed by the number of registrants. Based on the Reunion booklet, 127 were from Indonesia. It was the largest number of participants from Indonesia at any TFI Reunion ever. 86 participants travelled all the way from the United States, 17 from Canada, 17 from the Netherlands, five from Germany, four from Australia, four from Hong Kong, and two each from Belgium and France for a total of 262 registered participants.

Chairperson of the Bali Committee was Benjamin Suriadjaya (Tjia Kian Joe) of Jakarta. Vice Chairperson was Kunto Harsono (Lie Kok Toen), also of Jakarta. They were backed by a team of two secretaries, two treasurers, a Program Coordinator, and numerous volunteers responsible for entertainment, registration, food and catering, documentation, publicity, the TFI website, transportation, hospitality, and two Masters of Ceremony. The Committee was supported by Regional Coordinators in Europe, Canada and the United States of America.

Venue for the 2010 TFI Reunion in Bali was the Melia Hotel in Nusa Dua. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens, this four and a half-star beach front resort is located along the shores of Nusa Dua beach, Bali’s prestigious resort enclave.

In his welcome address, Benjamin wrote that a reunion in Indonesia would be a nostalgic journey for those who were born and raised here and have not been back to Indonesia for a long time. For friends coming for the first time, it will be an emotional experience to see how people will look like after so many decades.xxvi As Chairman of the Committee, Benjamin also expressed his gratitude to all members of the committee for their hard work and in realising this reunion.

On the evening of the opening ceremony, participants were presented with a choice of Indonesian scarves to keep as souvenirs. They were welcomed by smiling dancers in their colourful attire who represented various regions of the


Archipelago: Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Moluccas, Irian Jaya and Bali.

Venue for the Opening Ceremony was the Puri Bali, Melia Hotel’s main function hall. After the introduction of Committee members, the assembly sang Io Vivat and Gaudeamus Igitur with vim and vigour, as they did when they were students, evoking memories of times gone by. The opening session included performances of colourful Indonesian folkdances which were much appreciated and enjoyed by the audience who showered the performers with a rousing applause.

After the performance, a group of porters wearing sarongs and matching shirts and head dress arrived, carrying a plank on two poles loaded with a huge pile of ketupats for the ketupat cutting ceremony. The lady performing the ketupat cutting ceremony was Tjiep Wahjudi (Tjiep Nio Tjioe) of Jakarta. By cutting into the pile of ketupat, she heralded the official opening of the reunion and dinner. Ketupat is a diamond-shaped rice cake wrapped in woven coconut leaves. It is traditionally served in Indonesia at open houses and on festive occasions. As TFI reunions are festive occasions, ketupat was a fitting dish to be served at the opening ceremony of the TFI reunion in Bali.

The evening concluded with an angklung performance by a group of ladies from Jakarta playing the traditional Indonesian bamboo musical instruments to the delight of all participants. This was followed by music and dancing that was enjoyed by all.

Day two of the Reunion featured a beach party on the private beach of the hotel, where coconut fronds swayed gently in the breeze. Highlight of the morning was a delicious Indonesian buffet that was served for lunch. People were in a light-hearted mood, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air while socializing, laughing, singing and dancing to a live band, and listening to the sound of music, as the waves kept rolling in to the rhythm of the sea.

Later that afternoon, participants boarded buses for Ubud. Located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency, Ubud is the cultural centre of Bali. Dinner that evening was followed by a magnificent cultural performance at Pura Dalam Puri, where the sound of gamelans filled the evening air and performers in colourful, glittering costumes enthralled the audience.

The next morning, on day three of the reunion, participants were free to do as they pleased until dinner time in the Hong Kong restaurant, where participants were gathered under a huge tent. After dinner there was a “Voor Ons Door Ons” talent show, also known as FUFU (From Us For Us), by participants showcasing their creative talents as they sang, danced, and joked around on stage. A singer entertained the guests and invited various people in the assembly to sing along.


Day 4 of the reunion included the traditional TFI photo session, where ex-students and alumni of different faculties gathered in the lobby of the hotel to pose for photos. After the photo session, participants boarded buses for lunch at Mang Engking’s in Denpasar, the capital of Bali, a short distance from the hotel. They were welcomed by the sound of gamelans as they streamed into the open dining area and took their seats. Surrounded by fish ponds, this well-known Sundanese restaurant with its thatched roof huts specializes in seafood and prawn dishes.

The farewell dinner of the 2010 TFI reunion in Bali was to be held at the poolside of the hotel for a BBQ, but heavy rainclouds threatened to wash out the evening. To thwart a downpour, the Committee enlisted a mystic to make the rainclouds go away. His magic worked - at least during the party. Was it a fluke or was there really something to the mystique of Bali, Island of the Gods?

Guests attending the Farewell Party were welcomed by pretty Balinese girls who handed each lady a flower for her hair. After dinner, guests were treated to an extravaganza of shows that included spectacular fire dances which have its origin in ancient rituals. Beautiful Balinese maidens in glittering costumes wearing a dazzling crown of flaming rods performed the fan dance. Other performers danced and tumbled across the stage twirling fire staffs. It was a mesmerizing performance and a visual feast that held the audience captive.

Tjing Bie, who was involved with almost every TFI Reunion since he became Chairperson of the TFI Reunion in Reno in 1990, suggested that the next Chairperson should be a woman. He proposed Tjiep Wahjudi of Jakarta. At first Tjiep declined, but Tjing Bie and others managed to talk her into accepting the honour to chair the next TFI Reunion which would be held in China. The exact location was to be determined at a later date.

The 2010 Bali Reunion concluded with an optional post-reunion cruise to Japan on board the Legend of the Seas. It took participants from Shanghai to Miyazaki, Kobe and Fukuoka in Japan, after which the ship continued to Busan, South Korea, before participants dispersed and headed home, or to their next destination.

In the mean time, a survey was held to decide in which city the next reunion would be held. The result was Lijiang in the province of Yunnan in China. The old town of Lijiang, which is part of Lijiang City, goes back in history more than 800 years. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. For those who had never been to China, a trip to the land of their ancestors promised to be a cultural treat. Instead of waiting until 2012, it was decided to have the reunion the following year, in 2011. That did not leave much time for Tjiep to organize the reunion. As she does not live in Lijiang, it was going to be quite a challenge for her to organize a reunion in a foreign country, of which she did not speak the language.


Balinese Dance at Pura Dalem Puri, Peliatan, Ubud

Ketupat cutting ceremony by Tjiep Wahjudi


2010 TFI Reunion Committee Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

Venue: Melia Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

Chairman: Benjamin Suriadjaya (Tjia Kian Joe), Jakarta Vice Chairman: Kunto Harsono (Lie Kok Toen), Jakarta Secretary I: Royanto Rizal (Liem Kok Tjien), Jakarta Secretary II: Tjan Kian Seng, Jakarta Treasurer I: Tjan Hong Tjhiang, Jakarta Treasurer II: Josie Wangsarahardja* Program director:

Christien Suriadjaya (Ong Lian Nio), Jakarta

Web Master: Tan Hoan Leng / Wanny Gouw, Purmurend, Netherlands Entertainment: Christien Suriadjaya (see above) Tjiep Wahjudi (Tjioe Tjiep Nio), Jakarta Ishak Sadrach (Ong Hong Liang), Jakarta Oen Sadrach (Siem Giok Oen), Jakarta Elly Tjan (Lie Gwat Hwie), Jakarta Master of Ceremonies:

Ida Karyadi (Ida Liem), Jakarta

Ishak Sadrach (see above) Registration: Hing Laksmono (Liem Hing Hwa), Jakarta Elitasari Agus Sofjan (Oei Liang Mei) Food & Catering: Sally Dharmadji (Sally Tan), Jakarta Sylvie Sudarto (Poey Ay Hoa), Jakarta Documentation / Publicity:

Elly Tjan (see above)

Transportation: Roushdy Arras Jenie, Jakarta Prasasto Sudyatmiko (Lie Giok Tho), Jakarta Hospitality: Kunto Harsono (see above)

REGIONAL COORDINATORS: USA / Canada Henry Tan Sip Ie, Cincinnati, OH Europe Bertha Djie (Kwee Tjoei Gien), Amsterdam

NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS: 264 Australia 4 Belgium 2 Canada 17 France 2 Germany 5 Hong Kong 4 Indonesia 127 Netherlands 17 U.S.A. 86


XI. Lijiang, China 19 – 22 September 2011

A brochure of the old town of Lijiang published by “World Culture Heritage Old Town of Lijiang Protection and Management Bureau” describes Lijiang as the holy land of world culture for its ownership of three world heritages. UNESCO listed the Old Town of Lijiang as World Cultural Heritage, Laojun Mountain in Lijiang as World Natural Heritage, and the Dongba Ancient Scripts, which are preserved in the Dongba Museum in Lijiang, as World Memory Heritage. This is considered a great honour, not only for Lijiang, but for the whole of China. A TFI Reunion in the holy land of world culture promised to be a real cultural treat, and so it was.

Chairperson of the 2011 TFI Reunion in Lijiang was Tjiep Wahjudi (Tjioe Tjiep Nio) of Jakarta, the second woman to chair a TFI reunion. It was courageous of Tjiep to accept the responsibility to organize a reunion in a country where she is not at home, in a language she does not speak. In her acceptance speech at the Bali Reunion, she nervously admitted to being afraid, ik ben zo bang. She then pulled herself together and appealed to her fellow TFI-ers to help her, jullie moeten mij helpen, and so they did.

Vice-Chairperson Kunto Harsono (Lie Kok Toen) and a team of 32 volunteers helped Tjiep in realizing the TFI Reunion in Lijiang. There were three secretaries, two treasurers, five people in charge of programming and entertainment, three Masters of Ceremony, three people in charge of public relations, and ten more people responsible for the website, food and beverages, general affairs, documentation, photography and transportation. The team was also supported by three Regional Coordinators covering Canada, Europe and the United States of America. Honorary Advisors for the Committee were Benjamin Suriadjaya (Tjia Kian Joe), previous Chairman of the 2010 TFI Reunion in Bali, and Soetjipto Nagaria (Tjin Liang Sie), both of Jakarta. It was the largest Committee in the history of TFI reunions. While the majority live in Indonesia, eight volunteers were from Canada, the Netherlands and the United States of America.

In her welcome address, Tjiep refers to the fact that we are scattered across the globe, accustomed to different cultures and ways of life. Nevertheless, we hold one truth in common: Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – “berbeda tetapi satu”- different but united. This fitting principle describes the participants of TFI Reunions, wherever a TFI reunion is being held. It is with this adage in mind that Tjiep reminds us of the importance of unity --- we are united on this special occasion --- by the old memories that we have shared and the new ones that we will create together.xxvii

Venue for this reunion was the five-star Treasure Harbour International Hotel in Lijiang which offers a spectacular view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountains, a snow-capped mountain range north of Lijiang. Located away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Lijiang, the hotel is only a short taxi ride from the Old


Town. Surrounded by shady, well-kept gardens and gurgling streams, the Treasure Harbour International Hotel is an oasis of calm.

Upon checking in on the first day of the Reunion, participants were given the usual bags, reunion booklets and song books, as well as special gifts for the ladies which included a sarong and matching kebaya, which is a type of blouse worn by women in Indonesia over a sarong. The men received a baju koko, a loosely-fitted, long-sleeved shirt with a small mandarin collar and embroidered front. They also received a Chinese cap with a braided tail that was to be worn during the Gala evening.

The first evening’s program included a Meet & Greet buffet dinner in the hotel’s Coffee Shop. As always, the atmosphere during the Meet and Greet was buzzing with excitement and good cheer, when people met friends they had not seen in a long time. People chattered in different dialects, accents, and a mix of languages, interspersed with squeals of delight and lots of laughter.

The next morning started with an early morning wake-up call and buffet breakfast. This was followed by a guided City and Shopping Tour. Participants visited the old town of Lijiang which was first built more than 800 years ago, during the late Song Dynasty (960-1279). The Song Dynasty ruled the country during one of its most brilliant cultural epochs. It was a time of great economic and social change that shaped the intellectual and political climate of China down to the twentieth century.xxviii

The Old Town of Lijiang epitomizes a blend of indigenous Naxi architecture and elements from Buddhist, Lama and Dao cultures that have evolved over many centuries. An ancient system of waterways that is fed by melting mountain glaciers connects to a network of canals filled with crystal clear water. The old wooden houses with their fancy gables and ornate carvings, the numerous bridges, and vibrant floral displays all over town add a mesmerizing charm to this ancient little town, where locals in colourful native dress sing and dance in the town square, to the beat of a gong and the plaintive tune of flutes, and string instruments. Wandering the streets of the Old Town of Lijiang is like being transported back in time, except for the busloads of tourists descending on the same cobblestone streets, throughout the day.

In 1996, the town was hit by a serious earthquake that damaged a lot of the old houses and streets. The Old Town has been rebuilt since, and quaint little shops selling an array of colourful wares and handicrafts line its winding cobblestone streets. On December 4, 1997, UNESCO added the Old Town of Lijiang to its list of World Cultural Heritage Sites.

Back at the Treasure Harbour Hotel, preparations were being made for the Opening Ceremony and dinner show with its Peranakan theme. The ladies were asked to wear their sarongs and kebayas, and the gentlemen were to wear their baju koko.

Participants first assembled in the Hotel Lobby for a photo shoot before proceeding to the grand dining hall, where a stage was decorated in vibrant reds and gold for the evening show. As participants streamed into the dining hall,


they were welcomed by a musical ensemble of wizened old men playing ancient Chinese musical instruments.

The evening’s show was a colourful Chinese Peranakan Wedding and Tea Ceremony. Hence the dress code requiring sarong kebaya and baju koko for the participants who inadvertently played the role of “wedding guests.” For participants who had never been to a peranakan wedding, the show was an interesting glimpse into Chinese-Indonesian culture. For the wedding show, two of the guides who had come along from Indonesia played the “Bride and Groom.” Dressed in classical Chinese wedding attire, they descended the stage and stopped at each table for a chat and pictures with the “guests,” as is done at real peranakan weddings. It should be mentioned that the kebayas Tjiep ordered came in seven different colours. They were custom-made and embroidered for this special occasion. In an effort to make sure the kebayas fit, Tjiep brought along a seamstress from Indonesia to make adjustments where necessary. It shows her attention to detail and perfection. In a personal interview with Tjiep, she expressed how happy she was to see the ladies dressed in sarong kebaya for the opening ceremony.

Unfortunately, Christien, wife of former Chairperson Benjamin Suriadjaya (Tjia Kian Joe), tripped over a cable during the opening ceremony. She broke her arm and wrist but stayed, in order not to disrupt the opening ceremony, even though she was in a lot of pain. After dinner, Christien and Benjamin were escorted to the airport for a flight to Singapore for medical care. It was a pity they had to break off further participation in the reunion.

On day III of the Reunion, participants were free to do whatever they were interested in. Buses were at their disposal to take them to various destinations. Some went shopping, while others attended a sold-out show directed by Zhang Yi Mou xxix, an award-winning film producer who produced and directed the spectacular 2008 opening ceremony of the summer Olympics in Beijing, which Time Magazine described as the grandest spectacle of the new millennium.

The following morning participants boarded buses going to the Black Dragon Pool Park, a short distance from Lijiang. The Black Dragon Pool, which is actually a small lake, derived its name from an ancient Chinese legend. According to the story, there once were ten black dragons that terrorized the land, leaving chaos and destruction, wherever they went. Then Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals depicted in Chinese mythology, imprisoned nine of the ten evil dragons in a tower, leaving only the youngest black dragon free. In exchange for his freedom, the youngest black dragon was to protect the land and keep it safe. It is said that he still lives in the pool today.

Upon arrival at the park, the TFI group crossed a white marble bridge known as the Suocui Bridge, from where they had a spectacular view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance. This beautiful bridge with its five arches spans the Black Dragon Pool with its emerald waters and roaring waterfall that supplies water to the Old Town of Lijiang. The Park is considered one of the most idyllic parks in China. It is a gathering place for locals out for a leisurely walk, practicing tai chi, playing mahjong, or watching a show on the


elaborate and ornately decorated stage in a clearing in the park. This ancient Naxi stage that is surrounded by verdant greenery, steps from the lake, is known as the Hanyue Stage.

On this sunny morning, Henny Purwonegoro, a showbiz celebrity from Indonesia who was hired to entertain TFI participants during the reunion, appeared on the Hanyue Stage and invited TFI participants to come closer and join in the fun. Henny was accompanied by a young musician, also from Indonesia, playing an electronic keyboard. As old familiar tunes filled the air, she gesticulated for TFI participants to sing along. Soon Henny was joined by Ishak Sadrach (Ong Hong Liang) of Jakarta, Jose Hadijuana (Jo Bin Kwan) of Berlin, and Nanny Tan (Liem Nan Hua) of Hong Kong, who each took a turn at the microphone, singing at the top of their voices.

TFI participants soon loosened up and started singing, dancing and jumping around in the open area in front of the stage, as they grabbed partners to dance the polonaise. A group of tourists from the Netherlands happened to be walking by when, to their surprise, they heard this group of Asian seniors singing and dancing to the tune of “Daar bij die molen”. It is a Dutch song many participants remember from their childhood in Indonesia, when Indonesia was still known as the Dutch East Indies. The Dutch tourists stopped and gawked, before they suddenly decided to sing along, rocking back and forth to the rhythm of the music, waving their arms in the air.

A number of locals joined the dancing TFI group, doing their own tai-chi like movements. Fien Tan of Bayonne took an old Naxi grandmother by the hand and waltzed with her. It was a heartwarming sight. This gathering of old friends openly sharing in laughter, song and dance is what makes TFI Reunions so special and uplifting.

On the last day of the reunion, the farewell dinner was to be an outdoor extravaganza. An elaborate stage was erected at the bottom of the stairs, in front of the hotel, where the festivities were to take place. The area was decorated with colourful balloons, banners, streamers and lanterns, and the tables were set with elegant cream-coloured linens and candles.

At 6 p.m. all participants, dressed in elegant Chinese outfits, descended the stairs to the outdoor party area, as they were welcomed by lion dancers moving to the traditional beat of drums, gongs and cymbals. Cameras clicked and flashed, as photographers snapped pictures of the participants in their fancy outfits. Alumni from the different faculties later posed for formal class pictures, as was customary at TFI farewell parties.

In the meantime, the dark clouds that had formed on the horizon earlier in the day continued to threaten the outdoor festivities. Shortly after the first performers went on stage to perform the Lion Dance, a cool breeze chilled the air. Lightning lit the darkening evening sky, followed by the distant rumble of thunder, when a sudden downpour burst from the clouds, aborting the performance, as the audience fled for shelter. People scurried up the stone steps into the hotel lobby. Hotel staff came running out carrying umbrellas and


assisting the elderly, while others rushed to carry steaming hot casseroles and trays loaded with food for the buffet, back into the hotel.

While some of the participants became a little wet, they all made it safely into the hotel. They gathered in the Coffee Shop and scrambled for seats in the area around the buffet, while late-comers ended up sitting on the enclosed terrace, just outside the doors. It was a pity we had to miss the rest of the performance by local artists who had sought their own shelter and disappeared.

After dinner, there were numerous speeches lauding Tjiep for her hard work and dedication in coordinating the reunion. Tjiep admitted that organizing a reunion in a foreign country, thousands of kilometres away from home, where not everybody spoke English, was quite a challenge. She said she could not have accomplished this tremendous task without the commitment, hard work, personal support and financial contributions she received from her many friends. When asked if I could name them to honour them, she said there were too many to mention, and she was afraid she’d miss someone.

Speaking on behalf of all participants, Henry Tan Sip Ie of Cincinnati expressed the participants’ gratitude and praised Tjiep and her team for a job well-done.

As the evening came to a close, participants were asked to select the next Chairperson and location for the following reunion which was to take place the year after, in 2012. A motion was put forward to select Tan Hoan Leng from the Netherlands, but Leng was not present, and his wife Wanny declined on his behalf. One person nominated Henry Tan, while another suggested Thé Tjing Bie of Milpitas, California, but his wife Lanny took the microphone and stated that, “according to the rules, a Chairman can only be Chairman once,” and since Tjing Bie was Chairman of the Reno Reunion in 1990, and Vice Chairman of the Reno Reunion in 1999, he was not supposed to accept the position of Chairman a second time.

David Sugita of Placentia, California, who had acted as Master of Ceremonies, proposed Vancouver, but Tjing Bie reminded participants that the next TFI Reunion would commemorate the 25th anniversary of TFI Reunions. Since the first TFI Reunion was held in Las Vegas, he suggested that the next Reunion should be in Las Vegas also. The assembly agreed, and Oei Djong Gie emphasized once more, that Tjing Bie should be the person to head the 12th TFI reunion in Las Vegas.

As nobody else came forward, Tjing Bie was voted Chairman by acclamation. It was Tjing Bie’s older brother, Tjing Hoo (Steve Kristedja) of Apple Valley, California, who spearheaded the first TFI reunion, 24 years ago. It, therefore, was only fitting that his younger brother should be the person to head the 25th anniversary celebrations and round the circle of reunions in its first quarter century.


Ladies in Peranakan Sarong Kebaya greeting the reunion participants

Opening ceremony of the 11th TFI Reunion in Lijiang

Kunto Harsono & wife posing with Thé Tjing Bie


2011 TFI Reunion Committee Venue: Treasure Harbor International, Lijiang.

Honorary Advisor: Benjamin Suriadjaya (Tjia Kian Joe), Jakarta Soetjipto Nagaria (Liang, Sie Tjien), Jakarta Chairperson: Tjiep Wahjudi (Tjioe Tjiep Nio), Jakarta Vice Chairperson: Kunto Harsono (Lie Kok Toen), Jakarta First Secretary Royanto Rizal (Liem Kok Tjien), Jakarta Second Secretary: Tjan Kian Seng, Jakarta Third Secretary: Roushdy Arras Jenie, Tangerang First Treasurer: Yuwono Siswanto (Joe Swie Ho), Bandung Second Treasurer: Sylvie Sudarto (Poey Ay Hoa), Jakarta Web Master: Tan Hoan Leng / Wanny Gouw, Purmurend, NLD Program Director: Christien Suriadjaya (Ong Lian Nio), Jakarta Entertainment: Ishak Sadrach, Oen Sadrach, Jakarta; Nugroho, Bandung Master of Ceremonies Ishak Sadrach, Ida Karyadi, Jakarta; Vonny Jenie, Jakarta Public Relations: Erly Anggrahini (Ang, Siok Lie), Jakarta Ly Ing Nagaria, Lanny Kusuma (Ang Siok Lan), Jakarta Publicity: Linda Wisendha* Registration / Souvenirs: Vonny Jenie (Thio, Tiong Nio)(see above) Food & Beverage: Lanny Zakaria*; Henny Restiorino* General Affairs: Lanny Thé (Tjen Po Lan), Milpitas, CA, U.S.A. Documentation: Tan Wie Poo, Bayonne, NJ, U.S.A. Photography: Richard Danyo (Nio Bie Seng), Vancouver, Canada Ridwan Gunawan (Thio Kim Houw), Jakarta Kang Ie Boen, Purmurend, Netherlands Transportation: Prasasto Sudyatmiko (Lie Giok Tho), Jakarta REGIONAL COORDINATORS: U.S.A./Canada: Henry & Hetty Tan (see above)

Europe: Bertha Djie (see above)

NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS: 203 Australia 2 Belgium 2 Canada 18 Germany 2

Hong Kong 2 Indonesia 124 Netherlands 19 U.S.A. 34


XII. LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA October 17 – 21, 2012

The 12th TFI Reunion will be held at the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. It will commemorate the 25th anniversary of TFI Reunions.

The optional Post Reunion Tour (PRT) is organized by Selly Liem of Lake Oswego, OR. It is an 11 day cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Sea. Starting in Quebec City, Canada, it sails along Canada’s east coast to the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in New Jersey. Ports of call include: Gaspe, Canada; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Sydney, Nova Scotia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, New Brunswick; Bar Harbor, Maine; Portland, Maine; Cape Liberty Cruise Port, New Jersey

2012 TFI Reunion Committee

Venue: Monte Carlo casino and Resort Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Honorary Chairman:

Steve Kristedja (Thé Tjing Hoo),

Chairman: Thé Tjing Bie Milpitas, CA Reunion coordinator:

Lanny Thé (Tjen Po Lan), Milpitas, CA

Secretary I: Henry Tan Sip Ie, Cincinnati, OH Secretary II: Hetty Tan (Liem Gin Heng), Cincinnati, OH Treasurer I Ben Willemsz-Geeroms, Pinole, CA Treasurer II: Ron Lauw (Tjoe Hong), Martinez, CA Website Administrator:

Tan Hoan Leng, Purmurend, Netherlands

REGIONAL COORDINATORS Europe: Bertha Djie (see above) North America: Henry Tan (see above) Indonesia: Roushdy A. Jeny


Addendum: TORONTO REUNION September 13 – 17, 2001

I have taken the liberty to include the Toronto Reunion, which was supposed to be a TFI reunion, to honour the men and women who worked hard to get this reunion off the ground, in spite of the fact that they were not able to recruit enough TFI volunteers to form a TFI team.

During the 1999 reunion in Reno, it was decided that the next TFI Reunion should be held in 2001 instead of 2002. Toronto was selected as the next reunion location - the first time a TFI Reunion was to be held in Canada

Oh Kong Ing and Liem Chiang Lam, two TFI alumni, were the organizers of the reunion that was to take place in Toronto, Canada, in 2001. As both Kong Ing and Chiang Lam live in Kitchener, Ontario, more than 100 km (60 miles) away from Toronto, they had to find TFI alumni living in Toronto to form their team.

TFI alumni Paul Masengi, Tan Bian Djoen and Sam Wardhana who live in Toronto became part of the team, but it was necessary to recruit more to complete the team. In addition to Chair- and Vice Chairpersons, the team needed two treasurers, a secretary and coordinators in charge of programs, hospitality, food, accommodation, entertainment and transportation. Although Toronto has the largest Indonesian community in Canada, there were not enough TFI-ers in Toronto who were prepared to complete the team. Friends and graduates from other Indonesian universities, such as Airlangga, Parahiangan, Pajajaran, IKIP (Institut Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, now known as UPI, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia or Teachers’ College) and Trisakti jumped in and offered their help. After all, what are friends for? Although they did not share the same alma mater, they shared the same origin, homeland and ideals.

In the Toronto Reunion booklet, Kong Ing stated: “As you all know, this Reunion was first planned as a continuation of the ITB Reunions. We tried and tried, but we could not find enough ex-ITB volunteers to realize this plan. To be able to go ahead with this Reunion, we had to look for volunteers from other universities. We did that, and the full committee came into being. Beside the organizing committee, this diversity was also reflected in the composition of the participants. Our reunion motto is Friendship and Good Times. We were here to meet old friends and to bond new friendships, even those from different universities.”

Of the six Core Committee members, i.e., Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, General Coordinator and Program Coordinator, four (66%) were TFI alumni. The other two were graduates of other universities, i.e. UNPAD (Universitas Padjadjaran) and the University of Amsterdam.


The support team consisted of 13 volunteers, only two of which were TFI alumni. To justify a team with a majority of non-TFI members, the Chairman made the commendable decision to name it the Toronto Reunion although more than half of the registrants were TFI ex-students and alumni.xxx

The Toronto Reunion was held at the Day’s Hotel, just two days after the horrific terror attacks on September 11 which had an immediate and substantial impact on international travel worldwide. Airports were closed and flights were cancelled. Dozens of would-be participants from the United States and Europe were not able to fly to Toronto to attend the reunion. These cancellations threw the whole Committee for a loop. The hotel was booked and trips and outings had been pre-arranged. Should they cancel the reunion? On such short notice it was clearly impossible, especially, because a number of people had already arrived prior to the terror attacks, and food for more than 200 people had been planned and ordered. Telephone calls were made, emergency meetings were held to deal with this crisis, and a decision was made to forge ahead and do the best they could.

A number of loyal TFI-ers from the United States did everything they could to get a flight to Toronto. After several futile and disappointing trips to their local airport, in the hope of catching a flight to Toronto, their persistence finally paid off. They managed to get on different planes leaving the United States for Canada and, although the Reunion had started, they were still able to join their friends for the last two days of the reunion. Of the 208 registrants, 100 were able to make it to Toronto using other means of transportation.

The Toronto Reunion stands out in my mind, not only because of the tragedy of the terror attacks that rocked the world and killed thousands of innocent people, but also because we were confronted with the horror of such a vicious assault. But, life goes on, regardless.

The horrific tragedy of that violent attack weighed heavily on our minds, and people were understandably in low spirits and rather subdued. Fortunately, Sunny Oey Pek Ho, a Presbyterian minister from Ogdensburg, New York, who happened to be one of the participants, was able to inspire calm. He led us in prayer for the thousands of victims, their friends, and families.

The shock of this frightful tragedy brought us closer together, not only as reunion participants but as friends and human beings who were reminded of how precious life is, and that it should not be taken for granted, as it can be snuffed out in a blink, when one least expects it.

In spite of the September 11 event that cast a heavy shadow on the reunion, participants were still able to enjoy each other’s company and catch up with friends. The tour organizers, hotel and caterers were very understanding and, as


a result, the Committee was able to modify the reunion program and adjust it to the number of participants that was reduced by half.

Participants were still able to visit Casa Loma castle, the former estate of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier, industrialist and military man.xxxi They were treated to a picnic lunch in a park near the picturesque town of Niagara on the Lake, as well as a trip to Niagara Falls, one of the main tourist attractions of the world. On the last day of the reunion, there was a Toronto City Tour and a leisurely cruise on Lake Ontario from where participants had an amazing view of the city of Toronto with its sky scrapers and CN Tower, a symbol of Toronto and once the tallest free-standing structure in the world.

The organizers of the Toronto Reunion are to be commended for their courage and resilience in the face of disaster, and their ability to adapt to a difficult, most unusual situation.

2001 Toronto Reunion Committee Members


Toronto Harbour Cruise

Niagara Falls excursion


TORONTO Reunion Committee September 13 – 17, 2001

Venue: Days Hotel, Toronto, ON

Chairman: Oh Kong Ing, Kitchener, ON Vice Chairman: Lim Chiang Lam, Kitchener, ON Secretary: Paul Masengi (Loe Tjien Han), Mississauga, ON Treasurer: So Poo Giap, North York, ON General Coordinator: Tan Bian Djoen, North York, ON Program Coordinator: Tan Giok Liong, Toronto, ON Hospitality: Diana (Giok Nie), Mississauga, ON Clara Oh, Kitchener, ON Food coordinator: Wina Siswanto, Kitchener, ON Jelie Lim, Kitchener, ON Publication: Eddy Siswanto, Kitchener, ON Transportation & Accommodation:

Sam Wardhana (Ang Giok Kwie), Mississauga, ON

Contests: Tan Mei Lan (Gan), Toronto, ON Jong So, North York, ON Entertainment & Music: James Sosroutomo (Thé Kee Gwan), Mississauga, ON Photography: Ko Tik Wie, Toronto, ON Aries Budhyanto (Tjioe, Tjiong Soen), Scarborough, ON Masters of Ceremony: Ennya Budhyanto (Lauw, Lee Kiauw), Scarborough, ON Leo Gan Keng Liong, Etobicoke, ON Reunion Booklet (Editor, Designer):

Eddy Siswanto, Kitchener, ON

Editorial Assistant: Ennya Budhyanto (see above)

NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS: 207 (only 100 made it to Toronto, because of the terrorist attacks on September 11, that hampered international travel) Belgium 2 Canada 73 Germany 2 Indonesia 8 Netherlands 10 USA 112


INDEX OF NAMES

Adhipurna, Lin (Ong, Bwee Nio) - IDN, 7, 9

Andhyiswara, Evelyn - NLD, 45 Ang, Giok Kwie see Wardhana, Sam,

63 Ang, Siok Lan see Kusuma, Lanny, 57 Ang, Siok Lie see Anggrahini, Erly, 57 Anggrahini, Erly (Ang, Siok Lie) - IDN,

57 Atmadja, Sonya (Kwee, Giok Nio) -

IDN, 39, 45 Budhyanto, Aries (Tjioe, Tjiok Soen) -

CAN, 63 Budhyanto, Ennya (Lauw, Lee Kiauw) -

CAN, 63 Budiharta, Tjiptawati see Wahjudi,

Tjiep, 45 Ciputra (Tjie, Tjin Hoan) - IDN, 7, 9, 20,

22 Cuelenaere, A.J. - NLD, 22 Danyo, Richard (Nio, Bie Seng) - CAN,

3, 7, 9, 37, 38, 40, 43, 45, 57 de Looff, J.C. - NLD, 18 de Vries-Tuerah, H. - NLD, 18 Dharmadji, Sally (Tan) - IDN, 50 Djajapranata, Yvonne - IDN, 10, 13 Djie, Bertha (Kwee, Tjoei Gien) - NLD,

33, 34, 37, 39, 45, 50, 57, 58 Djie, Kiong Hoo - NLD, 33, 39 Gan, Iem Gwat see Lauw, Iem, 2, 24 Gan, Leo (King Liong) - CAN, 63 Go, Arie (Thick Peck) - USA, 45 Go, Ing Dhiam, Fred - USA, 39 Go, Tik Hauw see Nugroho, 57 Go, Tjong Lee - USA, 13 Goei, Ing Liat - USA, 10, 13 Gouw, Kwie Nio see Hartman, Lietje,

22 Gouw, Sioe San - SIN, 16 Gouw, Wanny - NLD, 38, 50, 57

Gunawan, Ridwan (Thio, Kim Houw) - IDN, 57

Hadijuana, Jose (Jo, Bin Kwan), 54 Han, Bing Tjoe - NLD, 18 Han, Kim (Oh, Giok Kim) - CAN, 1, 3,

38, 39, 68 Han, Siu-Ling - CAN, 2 Han, Swan Bing - CAN, 2, 30, 38, 39 Han, Timothy - UK, 35 Harsono, Kunto (Lie, Kok Toen) - IDN,

45, 46, 50, 51, 56, 57 Hartman, Arie W. - USA, 19, 22 Hartman, Lietje (Gouw, Kwie Nio) -

USA, 22, 24 Jansen, J. - NLD, 18 Jenie, Roushdy Arras - IDN, 50, 57 Jenie, Vonny (Thio, Tiong Nio) - IDN,

57 Jo, Bin Kwan see Hadijuana, Jose, 54 Joe, Swie Ho see Siswanto, Yuwono,

57 Kam, Joseph (Tiong Hoo) - USA, 45 Kam, Kian Djien - CAN, 37 Kam, Leny (Tjan) - USA, 45 Kang, Ie Boen - NLD, 57 Karyadi, Ida (Liem) - IDN, 50, 57 Karyadi, Teddy T.B. (Tan, Ban Kong) -

IDN, 7, 9 Kho, Sian Bie - USA, 45 Khoe, Jan Tjiang - USA, 10 Khouw, Eng Kie see Kurniadi, Hank, 13 Ko, Aida - CAN, 3, 39, 45 Ko, Dien - USA, 13, 23, 24, 25, 29 Ko, Tik Bing see Kumaradja, Bing, 13 Ko, Tik Lok - USA, 10, 13, 23, 24 Ko, Tik Wie - CAN, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13,

22, 63 Kristedja, Jeanne (Nie Siok Lan) - USA,

7, 9


Kristedja, Steve (Thé, Tjing Hoo) - USA, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 22, 25, 29, 35, 40, 56, 58

Kumaradja, Bing (Ko, Tik Bing) - IDN, 13

Kurniadi, Hank (Khouw, Eng Kie) - USA, 13, 24

Kurniadi, Melani (Oei, Ing Lan) - USA, 13, 24

Kusuma, Lanny (Ang, Siok Lan) - IDN, 57

Kwa, Kong Sik, see Sumarsono, Robert, 27, 39

Kwee- Liem, D.G.P. - NLD, 18 Kwee, Giok Nio see Atmadja, Sonya,

39 Kwee, Kiem Han - NLD, 2, 14, 18, 25 Kwee, Tjoei Gien see Djie, Bertha, 50 Laksmono, Hing (Liem, Hing Hwa) -

IDN, 50 Lauw, Iem (Gan, Iem Gwat) - USA, 2,

13, 24 Lauw, Lee Kiauw see Budhyanto,

Ennya, 63 Lauw, Ronald (Tjoe Hong) - USA, 2,

13, 24 Liang, Sie Tjin see Nagaria, Sutjipto, 51 Lie, Giok Tho see Sudyatmiko,

Prasasto, 50, 57 Lie, Gwan Eng - USA, 13, 33 Lie, Kok Toen see Harsono, Kunto, 46,

50, 51, 57 Lie, Po Lian - USA, 13, 33 Liem, Dick (Sien Tjwan) - USA, 7, 9,

10, 13, 24 Liem, Frances - USA, 30, 39 Liem, Gin Heng see Tan, Hetty, 39, 58 Liem, Hing Hwa see Laksmono, Hing,

50 Liem, Ida see Karyadi, Ida, 50 Liem, Kok Tjien see Rizal, Royanto, 50,

57 Liem, Nan Hua see Tan, Nanny, 54 Liem, Selly (Oei Hong Lan Nio) - USA,

41, 45

Liem, Sing Sioe, David - USA, 16, 19, 22

Liem, Yoe Tjiang - USA, 13 Lim, Chiang Lam - CAN, 59, 63 Lim, Hok Kan - USA, 45 Lim, Jelie - CAN, 63 Lim, Laurette - USA, 13 Lim, Selly - USA, 58 Lim, Tek Hian - USA, 10, 13 Loe, Tjien Han see Masengi, Paul, 45 Lyman, Stanley - IDN, 10, 13 Mamesah, Loretta A. Maswita (Oey,

Lotje) - IDN, 10, 13, 20, 22 Masengi, Diana (Tan, Giok Nie) - CAN,

3, 39, 63 Masengi, Paul (Loe, Tjien Han) - CAN,

2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 20, 22, 27, 30, 39, 43, 45, 59, 63, 68

Nagaria, Ly Ing - IDN, 57 Nagaria, Soetjipto (Liang, Sie Tjien) -

IDN, 51, 57 Nie, Siok Lan see Kristedja, Jeanne, 9 Nio, Bie Seng see Danyo, Richard, 40,

57 Nio, Paul (Tjoe Djiet) - USA, 2, 7, 9, 10,

13, 27 Njo, Sian Hwie - USA, 7, 9 Njoo, Tik Poen - CAN, 22, 39 Nugroho (Go, Tik Hauw) - IDN, 57 Oei, Djong Gie - USA, 56 Oei, Hans (Hong Jauw) - USA, 39 Oei, Hong Lan Nio see Liem, Selly, 41 Oei, Ing Lan see Kurniadi, Melani, 13 Oei, Liang Mei see Sofjan, Elitasari, 50 Oen, Eugen - USA, 45 Oey, Lotje see Mamesah, Loretta, 13,

20, 22 Oey, Sunny (Pek Ho) - USA, 60 Oh, Clara - CAN, 63 Oh, Ek Liong see Sada, Richard, 20 Oh, Giok Kim see Han, Kim, 39 Oh, Giok Liang see Sie, Jankie, 39 Oh, Kong Ing - CAN, 3, 59, 63 Ong, Andrew - USA, 38


Ong, Bwee Nio see Adhipurna, L, 9 Ong, Hong Liang see Sadrach, Ishak,

50, 57 Ong, Mia (Myung Sook) - USA, 7, 9 Ong, Simon T. (Thian Siem) - USA, 2,

7, 9, 45 Ong, Sioe Hwa - USA, 38 Ong, Tjing Ho - USA, 7, 9 Poey, Ay Hoa see Sudarto, Sylvie, 50,

57 Pondaag, Fred (Phoa, Soen Tjiang) -

NLD, 45 Pramana, Vonny (Lie Gwat Liang) -

NLD, 45 Quan, John B. (Thé, Tjoen Liong) -

USA, 2, 7, 9, 10, 13 Quan, Sylvia - USA, 13 Que, Soei Keng - NLD, 2 Restiorino, Henny - IDN, 57 Rizal, Royanto (Liem, Kok Tjien) - IDN,

50, 57 Sada, Richard O. (Oh, Ek Liong) -

USA, 20, 22, 45 Sadrach, Ishak (Ong, Hong Liang) -

IDN, 50, 54, 57 Sadrach, Oen (Siem, Giok Oen) - IDN,

50, 57 Santoso, Budi - CAN, 7, 9 Searl, Liza - USA, 22 Sie, Jankie (Oh, Giok Liang) - NLD, 39 Sie, Joseph (Kong Loen) - USA, 22 Sie, Kristina - USA, 27 Sie, Nanny (Kiem Lan) - USA, 45 Sie, Ting Tjhiang - USA, 27 Siem, Giok Oen see Sadrach, Oen, 50,

57 Siswanto, Eddy - CAN, 63 Siswanto, Wina - CAN, 63 Siswanto, Yuwono (Joe, Swie Ho) -

IDN, 57 So, Jong - CAN, 63 So, Poo Giap - CAN, 63 Soejoto, Djoko - USA, 6, 9

Sofjan, Elitasari Agus (Oei, Liang Mei) - IDN, 50

Sosroutomo, James (Thé, Kee Gwan) - CAN, 36, 44, 63

Souw, Eng Kie - USA, 19, 20, 22, 29 Souw-Lim, Tjoei Lioe - USA, 22 Sudarto, Sylvie (Poey, Ay Hoa) - IDN,

50, 57 Sudyatmiko, Prasasto (Lie, Giok Tho) -

IDN, 50, 57 Sumarsono, Jennifer - USA, 27 Sumarsono, Robert (Kwa, Kong Sik) -

USA, 27, 30, 39 Suriadjaya, B. A. (Tjia, Kian Joe) - IDN,

7, 9, 13, 43, 46, 50, 51, 53, 57, 68 Suriadjaya, Christien (Ong, Lian Nio) -

IDN, 43, 50, 53, 57 Tan, Ban Kong see Karyadi, Teddy

T.B., 9 Tan, Bian Djoen - CAN, 63 Tan, Dewi (Yap Gwat Lee) - USA, 7, 9 Tan, Fien - USA, 38, 54 Tan, Giok Liong - CAN, 2, 63 Tan, Giok Nie see Masengi, Diana, 63 Tan, Giok Tjhiang, Gio - CAN, 39 Tan, Gwat Tiong - USA, 13 Tan, Harry (Kok Koan) - USA, 39, 45 Tan, Henry (Sip Ie) - USA, 39, 45, 50,

55, 58 Tan, Hetty (Liem, Gin Heng) - USA, 34,

39, 45, 57, 58 Tan, Hoan Leng - NLD, 3, 39, 45, 50,

55, 57, 58 Tan, Hoei Tjiat - USA, 25, 27 Tan, Ida (Liem) - IDN, 45 Tan, Johnny S. (Sing Oen) - USA, 13 Tan, Khoen Gho - CHN, 3, 39, 68 Tan, Kok Koan see Tan, Harry, 39 Tan, Lan Nio - USA, 7, 9 Tan, Leo (Tjeng Thay) - USA, 36 Tan, Lian Ham - USA, 9 Tan, Lieke - USA, 45 Tan, Lincoln (Lian Hian) - USA, 7 Tan, Mei Lan (Gan) - CAN, 63


Tan, Meta (Tjoe Tien) - CAN, 39 Tan, Nanny (Liem, Nan Hua) - HKG, 3,

39, 54 Tan, Siauw Yang - NLD, 7, 9, 13, 18 Tan, Sing Oen, Johny - USA, 6, 7, 9,

10, 22, 25, 27, 29 Tan, Sioe An - SIN, 16 Tan, Sip Ie see Tan, Henry, 39, 50, 55,

58 Tan, Soei Tjing - NLD, 2, 14, 18, 29 Tan, Som Djie - CAN, 39, 45 Tan, Swie Siang - NLD, 18 Tan, Tjoan Gie - DEU, 28, 33, 39 Tan, Wie Poo, William - USA, 45, 57 Tan, Wini (Tjoei Nio) - CAN, 39, 45 Tan-Kwee, I.L.S.N. - NLD, 18 Tan-Ong, Tjie Lie, 33 Teng, Jeanne (Nie, Siok Lan) see

Kristedja, Jeanne - USA, 2 Teng, Jeanne see Kristedja, Jeanne -

USA, 39 Thé, Ilse - USA, 13 Thé, Kee Gwan see Sosroutomo,

James, 63 Thé, Kok Wie, Tony - USA, 13 Thé, Lanny (Tjen, Po Lan) - USA, 13,

24, 33, 57 Thé, Lien Nio see Yap, Lien, 27 Thé, Tjing Bie - USA, 2, 8, 10, 13, 22,

23, 24, 25, 27, 33, 55, 56, 58, 68 Thé, Tjing Hoo see Kristedja, Steve, 2,

13, 22, 56, 58 Thé, Tjoen Liong see Quan, John B, 9 Thio, Kim Houw see Gunawan,

Ridwan, 57 Thio, Tiong Nio see Jenie, Vonny, 57 Tjan, Anthony (Poo Gwan) - USA, 3,

37, 38, 40, 45 Tjan, Elly (Lie, Gwat Hwie) - IDN, 50 Tjan, Hong Tjhiang - IDN, 50 Tjan, Kian Seng - IDN, 3, 35, 39, 45,

50, 57

Tjan, Soe Iet - USA, 2 Tjandrasuwita, Marie - USA, 7, 9, 20,

22 Tjandrasuwita, Paul A. (Tjan, Soe Iet) -

USA, 7, 9, 10, 13 Tjen, Po Lan see Thé, Lanny, 57, 58 Tjen, Willy - USA, 5 Tjia, Kian Joe see Surjadjaya, B. A.,

46, 51, 53, 57 Tjioe, Henry (Lian Siang) - USA, 2, 3,

7, 9 Tjioe, Tjiep Nio see Wahjudi, Tjiep, 47 Tjioe, Tjiok Soen see Budhyanto, Aries,

63 Tjoa, Daniel - USA, 13 Utomo, Rudy Tjipto - IDN, 7, 9 van Kampenhout-Hendriksz, E.V. -

NLD, 18 van Kraaijenoord, A. - NLD, 18 Wahjudi, Tjiep (Tjioe, Tjiep Nio) - IDN,

3, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 55, 57, 68 Wangsarahardja, Josie - IDN, 50 Wardhana, Sam (Ang, Giok Kwie) -

CAN, 63 Willemsz-Geeroms, Ben - USA, 24, 33,

58 Willemsz-Geeroms, Yvonne - USA, 24,

33 Wisendha, Linda - IDN, 57 Wowor Jansen, Everdine - NLD, 11,

18 Yap, Frank (Tjong Hauw) - USA, 7, 9,

27 Yap, Gwat Lee see Tan, Dewi, 9 Yap, Lien (Thé, Lien Nio) - USA, 27 Yeu, Bing An - NLD, 39, 45 Yo, Tjin Oen see Yogisaputra, Budi, 39 Yogisaputra, Diana & Budi (Yo, Tjin

Oen) - IDN, 39 Zakaria, Lanny - IDN, 57


FOOTNOTES i. Although the correct acronym for the “Technische Hogeschool” in Bandung as explained by

former TH students, and as described on the school’s website, is THB, the Technische Hogeschool was usually referred to as simply TH. The first and subsequent reunion committees, however, used the acronym THS. As this error was not discovered until I started delving into the history of this esteemed institution, I shall continue using the acronym THS, as used by the Reunion Committees.

ii. Rhein-Neckar Zeitung. Saturday/Sunday, May 22-23, 2004. Partly translated from German by Tan Khoen Gho.

iii. Jakarta Post. What’s in a Chinese Name? January 30, 2012. iv. Ibid. v. These were the acronyms that were printed on the 1987 reunion booklet vi. Kristedja, Steve. Welcome Message. THS/FIPIA/ITB Reunion 1097 booklet. Las Vegas, May

22, 1987. vii. Kristedja, Steve. Email to Kim Han. September 28, 2009

viii. Thé Tjing Bie. Email to Kim Han. March 4, 2012. ix. The, Tjing Bie. Welcome Message TFI Reunion, Reno. Reunion Booklet, page 1. Reno, USA.

1990 x. http://www.virginiacity-nv.org/ xi. Tan, Soei Tjing. Welcome Message. VEBOS REUNIE. Reunion Booklet, page 5. Veldhoven,

Netherlands. 1993 xii. Jansen, Jason. Welcome Message. VEBOS REUNIE. Reunion Booklet, page 3. Veldhoven,

Netherlands. 1993 xiii. http://www.nps.gov/mall/index.htm xiv. The first largest cathedral in the United States is the Cathedral of Saint John the divine in

New York City. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Saint_John_the_Divine xv. Kiem Han was referring to the September 13 – 17, 2001 reunion in Toronto that was only

attended by half of the registered participants, due to the terrorist attacks in the USA that halted international travel.

xvi. Tan, Nanny and Khoen Gho. Report of the Heidelberg TFI 2004 Reunion. p. 1 xvii. Tan, Tjoan Gie. Herzlich willkommen in Heidelberg. TFI Reunion, Heidelberg. Reunion

Booklet, page 4. Heidelberg, Germany. 2008. xviii. Kristedja, Steve. Welcome Letter. TFI Reunion, Ottawa. Reunion Booklet, page 8. Ottawa,

Canada. 2006. xix. UKI = Umat Katholik Indonesia xx. Danyo, Richard. Welcome Letter. TFI Cruise Reunion Booklet. Hawaii 2008. p. 5

xxi. Kristedja, Steve. TFI Cruise Reunion Booklet. Hawaii 2008 . p. 6 xxii. Travel Graphics International. The Island of O’ahu. St. Paul, MN. 2008 xxiii. http://www.haleakala.national-park.com/info.htm xxiv. http://www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/waimea-canyon.html xxv. http://www.nps.gov/havo/naturescience/index.htm xxvi. Suriadjaya, B.A. Message from the Organizing Committee. TFI Reunion, Bali. Reunion

Booklet, page 3. Bali, Indonesia. 2010. xxvii. Wahjudi, Tjiep. “Message from the organizing committee.” TFI Reunion, Lijiang. 2011, p.6

xxviii. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/nsong/hd_nsong.htm xxix. Time Specials. Online magazine:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1861543_1865103_1865107,00.html

xxx. According to an established unwritten rule, a TFI reunion can only be a TFI reunion when the Committee is made up of TFI-ers and the majority of participants are ex TFI students and alumni. Participants who are not TFI-ers have to be sponsored by a TFI-er.

xxxi. http://www.casaloma.org/Tour/

http://www.casaloma.org/Tour/

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Kwee Kiem Lian, Sonya Kwee Giok Nio and Nanny Tan in front of “The Little White House in the River”, Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada (2006 Ottawa PRT). Picture courtesy of Kim Han

Documents

TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttsstfi-reunion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/TFI-History-Final-HR3.pdf · TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttss Acknowledgements 2 PRELUDE 4 About TFI Reunions