Notes & Asides.(Brief Article)(Column)(Obituary)

--Robin Wu, R.I.P.

At the National Review staff Christmas party, we were surprised to see Robin Wu. Of course he had been invited, as a close former associate, but in recent years he had appeared infrequently at our Christmas affair -- he was married, had a child, and spent all of his time in his law office in Chinatown. And then too, he was sick.

Robin Wu, born in 1941, arriving in America as a teenage refugee, was the most upwardly mobile phenomenon in the experience of National Review. He was hired as NR librarian late in 1970 and promoted to research director in 1974. He earned a master's in library science and then another degree, in law.

For ten years he accepted any assignment we gave him, and performed his work masterfully. Then one day he left his tearful dependents and began his law practice.

His widow passed the word that, because of his illness, he had turned down the invitation, but that when the day came he appeared rather agitated at home. She realized that he wanted to see his friends at National Review one more time.

So she drove him and their little boy into the city and gave us the pleasure of his company, and heightened the sense of loss on hearing of his death.

WFB