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Mar 24, 2008 a tribute to one of the best…As I walked pass Professor Kong’s office, as I do most everyday, an indescribable feeling came over me. I would always run into him in the hallway. He would always say “its ok?” and I would say my usual “yes everythings good.” But on this day I knew he wouldn’t be there. About a week and a half ago, I was shocked to hear that the professor who made my first semester at MIT one of the most interesting had passed away. Last semester I walked into my first class at MIT feeling scared, inferior, and just about ready to turn around and walk back to North Carolina. When in walks this older Asian man with a maroon sweater, white collar shirt with a scarf tied like an ascot, and slacks. He was small in stature but very intimidating until he opened his mouth. Instead of talking about electromagnetics and throwing out all these equations that I am sure I wouldn’t know, he began talking about James Clerk Maxwell; his life, his friends, everything you would ever want to know about Maxwell and more. Instead of acting pretentious and intimidating he made jokes and colorful analogies, he asked us questions. I had never experienced a professor who knew and had accomplished so much, but was so down to earth. Many times he painted a colorful picture of Maxwell’s life and accomplishments, and other times he went head first into the subject we had signed up to learn, electromagnetics. But he always managed to bring humor and interactive conversation to the classroom. Including the day when a student came to class dressed as him. Everyone waited with baited breath for him to notice the student who sat on the front row with the same sweater, slacks, and scarf; even the same hair style. But of course professor played it cool throughout the whole class until the end when he even agreed to take a picture with the student which of course made its way to facebook. I probably will never have another professor like Professor Kong, but I count it a blessing that I was in the last class to experience his unique style of teaching. He was, in my opinion, one of MIT’s best and he will be missed.
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Joy, So well said and equally felt — even without your experience of taking a class with Prof. Kong, this kind of magic made its way to all who knew him.
My fondest memory is taking some portrait photographs of Prof. Kong. He went from serious very rapidly to the most hearty and natural laughing pose a photographer could ever want. Though his ascot was slightly off, his eyes and his laugh were perfect. I promise to add these pictures when back after spring break. You surely have initiated the best possible memorial — posts from his widest and yet closest family–his students, colleagues and friends. –patsys
Posted by: Patsy Sampson on March 24th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
He certainly will be missed by a lot of students at MIT, and by so many more who will not get the chance to meet and work with him, or learn about Maxwell’s mom.
Posted by: Laura on March 31st, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I was very sad to read in the Course VI newsletter of the passing of my favorite MIT professor, Prof. Kong, hearing of it 9 months after the fact. Your tribute printed with Kong’s obituary helped restore my spirits and assure me that I wasn’t alone in admiring the teacher, and the man. Even in 1975, when I took his EM class, he was already in every way the same person you described 33 years later. His class changed the direction of my course of study at MIT and the subsequent pursuit of my career. I am sure that he has had a tremendous, positive impact on our world.
Posted by: Mike Lipchak on January 10th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I too was very sad to see the article in the newsletter about Professor Kong’s passing. He was my course VI advisor in 1971 when, as naive freshman, I had barely an idea of what EE was about. I remember him hosting a group of us at Joyce Chen’s and relating stories about how one time he was with a group of young students and out of all of them, he was the only one that got carded. I also remember him introducing us to an abalone dish, describing it “like eating an eraser.” He was incredibly gracious to me throughout my checkered academic career even though EM turned out to be my worst subject and he even happily signed my petition to place out of his class! Although I didn’t learn EM from him, if I’ve learned to give students today who haven’t quite found their way a break to figure things out, then Professor Kong has helped me get that lesson.
Posted by: Mark Chow on February 22nd, 2009 at 4:57 am
Professor Kong was my course VI advisor in 1971 when, as very naive freshman, I had barely an idea of what EE was about. I remember him hosting a group of us at Joyce Chen’s and relating stories about how one time he was with a group of young students and out of all of them, he was the only one that got carded. I also remember him introducing us to an abalone dish, describing it “like eating an eraser.” He was incredibly gracious to me throughout my checkered academic career even though EM turned out to be my worst subject and he even cheerfully signed my petition to place out of his class! Although I didn’t learn EM from him, if I’ve learned to give students today who haven’t quite found their way a break to figure things out, then Professor Kong has helped me get that lesson. I’m very sad to hear of his passing. Thank you Joy for allowing me to share this memory in your blog.
Posted by: Mark Chow on February 22nd, 2009 at 3:06 pm