When Vivien Louie was growing up in Hong Kong in the 1970s, Lydia Shum was not only a household name, she was part of the household: Watching Ms. Shum as host of the variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight was a nightly family event, from the time Ms. Louie was two or three years old.
"She smiled and laughed all the time," said Ms. Louie, promotions and special projects manager for Fairchild Television in Vancouver. "She just [brought] happiness to people."
Ms. Shum, who is also known as Lydia Shum Din-Ha, Lydia Sung and Lydia Sum, will be buried tomorrow after a private funeral in Metro Vancouver, where she lived for many years before returning to Hong Kong. The popular television host, actress and comedienne died last week of cancer.
Ms. Shum had strong family connections to Vancouver: Her daughter and some of her siblings live here, as did her mother, who died recently. Ms. Shum's brother is the fashion designer Alfred Sung.
"Everybody when you ask them [about] Fei Fei, everybody knows her," said Ms. Louie, who compared Ms. Shum to Oprah Winfrey in terms of popularity. Fei Fei literally means "fat fat" but was a term of endearment Ms. Shum embraced, according to her fans. She was easily recognizable, with her signature pop-bottle-thick wing-tipped glasses, her big hair and her smile.
Ms. Shum was born in Shanghai in 1945 or 1947 (the discrepancy in birth year may arise from the fact that she began acting at such a young age that she pretended to be older than she was) and moved with her family to Hong Kong shortly thereafter.
She landed her first film roles in the 1960s, and later moved to hosting; fronting Enjoy Yourself Tonight, which ran for three decades, and many awards programs.
Her hosting duties extended to Vancouver, where she was host of fundraising galas for the immigrant services group S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
"Since 1997, we've raised about in excess of $5-million, and she had a huge part in making that happen," said Tony Moy, director of resource development with
S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Mr. Moy said Ms. Shum not only volunteered her services, flying to Vancouver on her own dime to appear at the galas, she also brought some of the biggest Hong Kong pop stars along with her, people the foundation would never have been able to attract - or pay.
"Lydia set an example and people followed," Mr. Moy said.
"Lydia's fundraising efforts on behalf of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. are an inspiration, and remind us that one person can truly make a difference," B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said in a statement yesterday.
"She leaves behind a legacy of joy, laughter and caring."
Vancouver's mayor will make a special proclamation at today's council meeting and will declare a Lydia Shum Day.
Family members are expected to attend.
Ms. Shum will be buried beside her parents.
Her funny, friendly persona was not just an act, said Mr. Moy (who compares her to Roseanne Barr and Milton Berle).
He said she was so popular with the workers at GM Place, where she was host of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. galas, that the stadium workers would often inquire about whether she was returning.
"That's the kind of impression that she left on people," said Mr. Moy, who knew Ms. Shum was ill but was nevertheless shaken by her death.
"You can't help but cry over what a great lady she was and what a talent she was and what a legacy she has left in Hong Kong and for people all over the world.
"She's one of a kind. No one, no one, no one will ever be able to replace her."
A public memorial for Lydia Shum will be held on Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Choi Hall at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Social Service Centre in Vancouver.
Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...PStory/National
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