[pomonaperson]

Hi!

Sorry--I'm new to these forums and someone from Reddit suggested that I post here to spread the word. I hope this is the right place to post this, but if not I'll gladly take this down or move it to the appropriate section...

My mother and I (who are from California) are trying to reconnect with the family of one of her adult school friends, Leslie, who moved to Vancouver about 20 years ago. About 2-5 years ago, we were informed by Leslie's husband (Henry?/Harry?) that Leslie had passed away due to breast cancer. My mother was torn, and she was so heartbroken that she became quite depressed for a few weeks. When she finally decided to call Henry back to find out more, she found that nobody would answer her calls or call her back. Ever since then, we haven't heard from Leslie's family at all.
Recently my mother and I were talking and she realised that she never got closure as to how Leslie's family was doing--which is why I'm posting here. We would love to get back in touch with them, but it's been very difficult tracking them down.

Here is what I know about them:
- Both of our families are Taiwanese.
- My mother and Leslie went to adult school together about 20 years ago in Southern California. From what I know Leslie moved her family to Vancouver shortly afterwards because she couldn't get a US citizenship.
- The family's last name is 紀. My mother doesn't know what the English romanisation of this is: it could be Gee, Ge, Ji, Chi... it all depends on how they decided to spell it. I've checked Facebook but I couldn't find anyone who fits that description.
- Leslie has two children, a son named Kevin should be about 21 years old, and a daughter named Joanna who should be around 18 years old.
- Leslie and her entire family visited us around 2006-2007 in Southern California. Unfortunately we didn't take any pictures together and my memory of that event is a bit hazy.
- I don't know if the family moved back to Taiwan after Leslie's death, but it might be a possibility.
- I have a very old photo of Leslie and her family here (https://imgur.com/WeOBz81)
- I am currently in the process of finding a phone number that I can connect them to, but so far I haven't had much luck.
- Here is the reddit version of this thread: LINK (https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/7o6x6s/trying_to_reconnect_with_a_taiwanese_family_that/)

Does this fit the description of anyone you might know? Please let me know if you might have any additional questions and I'll be sure to pass them along to my mother!

Thank you in advance for your help!

[murd0c]

good luck on your search, have you tried checking through FB?

[pomonaperson]

yup! I've tried searching for both Kevin and Joanna and looked through tons of FB accounts but unfortunately none of them match my description :(

[highfive]

try calling bc cancer agency. I'm not sure if they'll release information to you but if you explain your story, they may look into a file on whether they had a patient named Leslie (or another legal name?) and point you to the right location for contact.

If she had breast cancer, she was probably at the bc cancer agency.

That or look up the obituary of Leslie from one of the funeral homes here.

Good luck!

[Presto]

That or look up the obituary of Leslie from one of the funeral homes here.

You can also check out obituaries that might have been announced in various papers. It allows for date range search to help narrow things down

The Vancouver Sun Obituaries (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/vancouversun/obituary-search.aspx)

[winson604]

Best of luck on your search but sorry I can't add any value

[twitchyzero]

try calling bc cancer agency. I'm not sure if they'll release information to you but if you explain your story, they may look into a file on whether they had a patient named Leslie (or another legal name?) and point you to the right location for contact.

If she had breast cancer, she was probably at the bc cancer agency.

Good luck!

for confidentiality reasons you will not find contact info through them

[mb_]

Maybe someone can do a reverse look up on Henry/Harry's and see if they can find something?

[ilovebacon]

I can try to ask around about their kids. Usually people tend to know everyone if you grew up in Vancouver. My sister is around his age, wont guarantee anything though.

[pomonaperson]

You can also check out obituaries that might have been announced in various papers. It allows for date range search to help narrow things down

The Vancouver Sun Obituaries (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/vancouversun/obituary-search.aspx)

that sounds like a good idea! let me give those a look

[pomonaperson]

I can try to ask around about their kids. Usually people tend to know everyone if you grew up in Vancouver. My sister is around his age, wont guarantee anything though.

if you could, that would be great! please let me know if you hear of anything!

[nsx042003]

I would bet the Taiwanese spelling of her last name would be "Chi"

hope that helps narrow down your search

[Speed2K]

There are so many variables. Leslie might not even be her legal name. Did she actually take on her husbands surname? What's her full chinese name?

Good luck.

[twitchyzero]

there used to be a segment on an extremely popular Taiwanese game-show that reconnected former relationships...mentors, close friends, etc...but it was in the 90s and predating Facebook

your post just gave me a massive hit of nostalgia...I wish your family all the best in the search for closure

try contacting our local taipei economic and cultural office (Taiwan's unofficial embassy), I suppose even if they have face-tracking capabilities they wouldn't release sensitive information, but could be a last resort?

but yes, it's more likely Leslie still carried her maiden name, not the family surname

[AzNightmare]

Dang... I knew of a Joanna Chi from work and got excited for a sec, but she's like in her 40s. Not the right person, lol.

But I was really hoping I could have helped in some way. Oh well, good luck. Hope it works out in the end.

[MG1]

https://www.inspirehealth.ca

Try going there with whatever information you have on her. They're a pretty understanding bunch.

[JesseBlue]

Pacific State: Archive (http://thepacificstate.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/text)

Kevin Chi 24, Van/Sea


Look at the jan 2013 post.

"Mom had chemo..."

[JesseBlue]

I don't have Twitter and here is his page

https://mobile.twitter.com/chimajor?lang=en

[highfive]

Good job JB!

[MG1]

Reddit knew that RS members would come through............ way to go, JesseBlue.

[Cr33pUh]

maybe a good way is to post on UBC Confessions?

https://www.facebook.com/newubcconfessions/

[twitchyzero]

the detective work here never disappoints

[DragonChi]

Another job well done. GJ JB.

RS CSI FTW.

[TOS'd]

FeelsGoodMan

[ilovebacon]

RS should seriously consider joining the CIA lol

[Teriyaki]

Yessssssssssssss

[HonestTea]

Damn RS detective skills

[tiger_handheld]

damn.... RS

#broughtateartomyeye

[JSALES]

I'm surprised you can even find someone like that on Tumblr out of all places

[pomonaperson]

Pacific State: Archive (http://thepacificstate.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/text)

Kevin Chi 24, Van/Sea


Look at the jan 2013 post.

"Mom had chemo..."

OH MY GOODNESS THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! right now it's 3 in the morning but once my mom wakes up I'm going to get her to confirm that it's him as soon as possible! honestly words can't express how happy I am right now... I can't wait till the morning comes :) I'll be back with her reaction soon!

[Razor Ramon HG]

OH MY GOODNESS THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! right now it's 3 in the morning but once my mom wakes up I'm going to get her to confirm that it's him as soon as possible! honestly words can't express how happy I am right now... I can't wait till the morning comes :) I'll be back with her reaction soon!

https://www.instagram.com/chimajor/

Looks like he's still living in Vancouver.

https://www.facebook.com/Kevinischimajor

[SkinnyPupp]

Stay creepy, revscene. Sometimes it's for good SeemsGood

[GLOW]

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/d4/d41339a1ca4823cf39fa29453d41d073186851f2a09f0b0751 3024e1af43ebc8.jpg

[AzNightmare]

http://s.quickmeme.com/img/66/665fc0cb9c5a6b256dec955cca26d48559397f66852e41e988 c7879573c0f629.jpg

So awesome to hear. Keep us updated!

[SupraTTturbo2jz]

Pacific State: Archive (http://thepacificstate.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/text)

Kevin Chi 24, Van/Sea


Look at the jan 2013 post.

"Mom had chemo..."

January 2013 post also.

"My mom is back in town this week but she's afird to show us her bald head cause of herr chemo. How do i make her feel beautiful again without shaving my own head?"

[Retrac]

What an epic saga, amazing work JB! Waiting for the reaction to seal the deal!

[heisenberg]

we need an update!!!!

[pomonaperson]

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the late response, but I figure that some of you would want an update! (ty for reminding me on reddit! you know who you are!)

When I showed that profile to my mom that morning, I was sure that she was going to recognise him right away... but to my surprise she said (in Mandarin) "hmmmm.... that looks like a stranger to me. but then again, he could have changed from the last time I saw him." I wasn't sure what to make of this, so I tried to reach out to this Kevin. Unfortunately I don't have a Tumblr, and his Twitter was private so I tweeted him but he never responded.

Now that I was actually making progress in this case, my mom decided to go through some old phone books / photo books to see if she could find some more clues to solve the case. She happened to come across an old phone number listed in one of her books as one of Leslie's relatives and called it. To her surprise, Kevin's uncle picked up! From there, he was able to give us a status update on the family and even sent us a picture of what Kevin looks like now!

As it turns out, this Kevin (the one that was found here) is a completely different person from the other Kevin! I don't know how many Kevin Chis there are out there who fit my description, but apparently more than one exists. I was absolutely positive that the Kevin here was the right guy... sorry to get all your hopes up.

However despite all this, I'd really like to thank all of you here at Revscene for helping me out and giving me hope this last week. I'm struck by how kind all of you were, and how many suggestions and well wishes that came in trying to help me with this search. I'd like to give a special shout out to JesseBlue for their amazing detective skills, and to those people who messaged me on Reddit telling me about Revscene. (Speaking of which, someone commented on my Reddit post telling me to check RS at 3am in the morning but when I went to check their comment never showed up. you might be shadow banned...)

If I'm ever in the Vancouver area (which will probably be soon since I'm going to see Kevin eventually!) I'd like to treat some of y'all to a cup of coffee (or whatever you guys like to drink up there)! Even though it ended up not being the right guy, I'm sincerely grateful for everything y'all have done here.

Thank you so much!