From Boulder, CO, Dec. 18, 2012

In the middle of a workshop at NCAR today, I learned with deep sorrow that my former mentor (1985-1990) Prof Tao Shiyan has passed away just one day ago. I cannot believe that it was my very last time to see him when I visited him in Beijing eight months ago. He looked still so healthy at that time!  He even talked to me that he was very excited to see our NCEP GFS/CFS model having useful skill in medium-range (week 2 and beyond) forecasts. Now, Prof. Tao is gone. He is one of the greatest meteorologists and pioneer scientists in China. It’s a great loss to Chinese meteorological community. I regret that I didn’t visit him again one month ago when I was in China in early November. Here I am writing to IAP/CAS to express my sincere condolence and pass my heartfelt sympathy to Prof. Toa’s family. He lives in people’s heart forever.

With profound sympathy,

 

 

DU Jun (杜钧), NOAA Scientist

National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)

Washington, DC, USA.