Ming-Hao with family
Picture of Ming-Hao with family
Ming-Hao with his wife
Ming-Hao at a dinner party
View from WTC office
Ming-Hao at a Chinese New Year Parade
Ming-Hao on vacation with his family
Ming-Hao with family
Ming-Hao with children
Photo of Ming-Hao with co-workers
Ming-Hao with his Family
Picture of the back of Ming-Hao's home
Picture of the back of Ming-Hao's home
Ming-Hao playing mini golf with his son
Ming-Hao on vacation with his family
Ming-Hao receiving his award from the Chinese Institute of Engineers
Ming-Hao in cap and gown with his son
Ming-hao with family in Taiwan
Ming-Hao with his son on a ski vacation
Portrait of Ming-Hao
Ming-Hao talking at an event
Picture of Ming-Hao kayaking on vacation
Ming-Hao in front of the WTC
Portrait of Ming-Hao at work
Portrait of Ming-Hao
Ming-Hao speaking at an event
Ming-Hao at an airport coming from vacation
Ming-Hao posing for a photo on a ski trip
Portrait of Ming-Hao at work
Ming-Hao posing for a photo on vacation
Ming-Hao posing for a photo on vacation
Rolling Requiem Concert in memory of those lost
Ming-Hao's business card
Recovered blood donor card
Medal given by Taiwan for Ming-Hao
Taiwanese Medal Case
Institute Service Award for Ming-Hao given by the Chinese Institute of Engineers
Memorial plaque donated by the Board of Livingston Chinese School
Ming-Hao with his parents and his children
Ming-Hao in a soccer uniform in front of the beach where he played
Ming-Hao playing rugby with his team during a game
Ming-Hao with a friend at a rugby game (in uniform)
Obituary for Ming-Hao
9/11 living memorial dedication
Newspaper clipping of the funeral for Ming-Hao
Collage of photos from the memorial service
Collage of photos from the memorial service
Memorial service program
Memorial service program
Livingston 9/11 Memorial
New Jersey Living Memorial, A Grove of Remembrance
Empty Sky: NJ State 9/11 Memorial
Conseleya 9/11 Memorial
Dewitt 9/11 Memorial
Montclair State University 9/11 Memorial
East Newark 9/11 Memorial
Fair Haven 9/11 Memorial
Freehold Township 9/11 Living Memorial Tree Grove
An experienced engineer, Ming- Hao Liu worked on many big jobs after he came to the United States from Taiwan in 1985, including reconstruction of the Brooklyn- Queens Expressway and planning for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line.
But redesigning the backyard of his home in Livingston was a project that brought him an equal amount of pride and joy. A new driveway, a patio and deck were all part of the just-completed project.
"It was his last dream," said Sunil Rajani, a resident of North Brunswick and co-worker of Mr. Liu's in New York. "Every day, he talked about the yard. He'd just started thinking about the next phase -- new trees and planters."
Mr. Liu, 41, a senior staff engineer for the Washington International Group, was working on the 91st floor of Two World Trade Center when the building was struck by a hijacked jet Sept. 11. Although other employees of the firm were able to make it to safety, Mr. Liu did not. The family was informed last week by New York City police that his body had been identified.
Mr. Liu's wife, Jiun-Min, said the two were speaking on the phone seconds before the crash abruptly ended their conversation.
Jiun-Min Liu remembered her husband as a caring man, one with an inquisitive mind and leadership qualities. His pursuit of knowledge sometimes led him to stop his car and approach strangers with questions about the landscaping of their property.
"I would warn him about speaking with strangers, but he was warmhearted and made friends very easily," she said.
Natives of China who knew each other on Taiwan, the Lius earned master's degrees at the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University. They married here in 1987. Mr. Liu's degree was in civil engineering; Mrs. Liu's is in statistics.
Mr. Liu was active in both his profession and community. He was treasurer of the Chinese Institute of Engineers in this country and a member of the International Chinese Transportation Professionals Association. He was also chairman and principal of the Livingston Chinese School, organizing trips for pupils and parents alike.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Liu is survived by his parents, Lo-Yao and Jung-Lan Kao Liu of Oakland, Calif.; four sisters, Lucille Pak of Livingston, Betty Chi of Lexington, Mass., and Shirley Fu and Jenny Yao, both of Oakland, Calif.; a brother, Ming-Cheng Liu of Chester; two sons, Allen, 12, and Austin, 7; and 14 nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Trinity Covenant Church on Cedar Street in Livingston. The family has decided it will bury Mr. Liu with photos of his reconstructed backyard.
Donations may be sent to the Livingston Chinese School, P.O. Box 179, Livingston, N.J. 07039. They should be sent to the attention of Shianjong Liu or York Tsuo.
Profile by Guy Sterling published in THE STAR-LEDGER
New York Times Portraits of Grief
If he had not been an engineer for the Washington Group International in the World Trade Center, Ming-Hao Liu would probably have been content teaching children or planning parties. After all, that is precisely what he did during most weekends as the principal of the Livingston Chinese School, near his home in Livingston, N.J.
Last year, Mr. Liu, 41, persuaded four busloads of parents and students to go to Tennessee for a field trip, after emphasizing that the journey, not the destination, mattered most. Seizing the microphone, he encouraged students to get up in the front of the bus and talk in Mandarin about these questions: "Why do you love your parents? What do you want to do for your parents?" recalled his wife, Jiun-Min.
Another time, during a trip back to his native Taiwan, he was planning to return with some gifts for his two young sons. But when he stumbled upon new textbooks for his Chinese school, he stuffed all 150 books into his suitcase. His sons' gifts did not fit. He left them with his mother-in-law. His wife understood. His sons are still learning. "They didn't know why Daddy spent so much time for other people and for the school," Mrs. Liu said. "I tell them: `It's not for himself; it's for other people. He always wants to make things good.' "
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