My beloved wife, Catherine W. Gao, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2026, at the age of 86. She underwent a thrombectomy to remove a thrombus the size of one and a half sesame seeds, but the surgery may have ruptured the brain vessel, causing extensive bleeding in her right brain and leaving her in a coma for a week. It was truly a case of bad timing, unfavorable location, and a mismatch between her and her circumstances.
Catherine Gao was born in Shanghai on October 29, 1939. Her mother was the daughter of a Han Lin (Emperor's Academy officer) in the late Qing Dynasty, possessing a highly educated upbringing, which was a rarity among women at that time.
If "life is short, but art is immortal," then her life was dedicated to science and raising her two sons, who can be considered her artistic masterpieces. The eldest son, Alvin Gao, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a master's degree in Aerospace Engineering. He later had the opportunity to intern at the US Senate in Washington, D.C., and subsequently he became an aerospace engineer. Alvin participated in the Space Shuttle program and met with several astronauts, including John Young and Steven Nagel. The second son, Raymond Gao, graduated from the prestigious Case Western Reserve University with a degree in Engineering. He later earned an MBA from Texas Christian University. He became the editor-in-chief of a self-published computer journal at a young age. He currently works in Munich, Germany. He is exceptionally linguistically gifted, and he speaks five languages: English, Chinese, French, German, and Polish. In addition, he is undertaking a significant project—editing a unique book of great historical importance in the fields of philosophy and religion—that is crucial for bridging the gap between Eastern and Western cultures and religions. Therefore, he reserves the right to announce this groundbreaking project in the near future.
Catherine Gao graduated from the Shanghai University of Science and Technology. In 1968, Catherine married the love of her life, Gao Kuixiong (Johnson K. Gao), in Shanghai. Her career in biological research included work at the Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, the Academy Sinica, and three universities in the United States: the University of Tennessee at Knoxville; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Together they raised a loving family and created a wonderful life filled with golden dreams and adventures. Catherine was a loving mother to her sons, Alvin and Raymond, and a doting grandmother to her granddaughter, Emma. Family was the cornerstone of her life, and she cherished every moment spent with them. Her contributions to science were profound and lasting, reflecting her unwavering pursuit of knowledge and exploration.
Besides her achievements in her professional field, Catherine was kind and humble. Her calligraphy skills were superb, which was far exceeding the average level of her Chinese friends. Catherine also possessed an astonishing memory, able to memorize numerous phone numbers without hesitation and recite them effortlessly.
Catherine's parents and brother, Wei Huan, and sister, Wei Hua, have passed away before her. She left behind her loving husband, Gao Kuixiong (Johnson K. Gao), her younger brother, Wei Qiang, and her younger sister, Wei Li, two beloved sons, and a granddaughter. The love, kindness, tranquility, and wisdom she left behind will continue to inspire them, perhaps that was related to her X chromosome, which her granddaughter, Emma, inherited. For her, peacefully departing this beautiful world may have been a relief. May the star of fortune guide her to heaven.
Gao Kuixiong (Johnson K. Gao)
The cremation will be held at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Homes~ Ridgeview Memorial Park ~ Ridgeview Crematory in Allen, Texas.
https://www.turrentinejacksonmorrow.com/memorial-parks
McKinney / Allen / Plano
2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, TX 75013
PH: (972) 562-2601
Due to the extremely hot weather, the memorial service will not be attended by many friends. Some of our intimate friends may wish to send flowers to Catherine Gao.
https://www.turrentinejacksonmorrow.com/keepsakes-floral-more/ridgeview-florist
When ordering on the website, it needs to pay $20 for delivery.
When ordering by phone, you do not need to pay $20 for delivery.
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Local: (972) 562-4127
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