Friends remember women as kind and caring 　　 　　By JOHN MARBLE 　　Monitor Staff Writer 　　 　　Xuming (Michelle) Wu and Jingxuan (Jean Shane) Shi (pictured left) were two extraordinary women who were devoted to their families, their husbands’ success, and the education of their children. 　　"When Los Alamos was evacuated for the Cerro Grande Fire, my family and Jean Shane’s family stayed in a motel in Colorado," said Shi’s friend Hong Cai. "I remember sitting by the swimming pool with her and talking about our children’s future. She always had a beautiful smile and beautiful dreams for her children." 　　"Michelle used to take lunch to her son at Montessori School every day," said Wu’s friend Hong Zhu. "She was always willing to do something extra to help other people, and she taught the children all the time." 　　Wu and Shi were killed in a traffic accident as they were walking on North Mesa Road Friday evening. It was a walk the two women made nearly every evening, said friends. Zhu often accompanied Wu and Shi on the walks. 　　"The last time I saw Michelle was Friday, when she came by my house and asked me if I wanted to go on a walk," said Zhu. "I had walked with them on Thursday, but I had to work Friday night." 　　Another friend, Baolian Cheng, said that Wu was a very loving mother and a wonderful wife who enjoyed music and gardening. "She was a very good, selfless person who always helped and did her best," said Cheng. "We used to talk about our children’s education and expressed our feelings to each other." 　　Cheng met both women in 1994 when she moved to Los Alamos. Cheng met Shi at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the two women worked. 　　"Jean Shane (Shi) volunteered to teach Chinese School class at Mesa Library every Sunday," said Cheng. "She taught what she felt children should know about Chinese ancient poems, language, customs and principles." 　　"You couldn’t find a better woman than Jean Shane," said Cai. "I’ll always remember her as being friendly, reliable, dependable and always willing to help. She was a dedicated mother, and made her house a really sweet home. She would always give, give, give, without ever thinking of herself. I can’t go to her house now without thinking that she is no longer there. She always talked about her husband’s work and was very proud that she supported him to be successful in his career." 　　Zhu said that she and Wu had been friends for a long time and neighbors since 1996. "She loved her husband and children, and was concerned about other people," said Zhu. "She was dedicated to supporting her husband in his career." 　　Wu was born in Shanghai, China, in 1961 and received a bachelor of science degree in science from Xian Jiaotong University of China in 1982. She and her husband, Quanxi Jia, moved to Los Alamos in 1993. She is also survived by two sons, Shawn Y. Jia, 14, and Richard Y. Jia, 5. 　　Wu worked for Los Alamos National Bank the past three years. Jill Cook, vice-president for human resources at LANB, said Wu was very well liked and involved in the banking business. "She was part of our bank family, and will be missed by everyone here," said Cook. 　　Shi was born in China in 1965, and received a bachelor of science degree in nuclear chemistry from Beijing University in 1986. She and her husband, Xian Chen, moved to Los Alamos in 1994. She is also survived by a daughter, Amelia, 9, and a son, Alfred Chen, 6 months. Shi worked in the Bioscience Division at LANL. 　　Wu and Shi died at Los Alamos Medical Center after a vehicle driven by John G. Martinez, 41, struck them from behind on North Mesa Road. 　　Shi’s infant son was in a stroller with the women and is now under care at University of New Mexico Hospital. 　　Martinez was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs and with driving on a revoked license. 　　Wu’s 5-year-old son and Shi’s 9-year-old daughter were riding bicycles ahead of the group on Friday night. Cheng said that Los Alamos Police had to obtain information about Wu and Shi from their children, so they knew "something terrible had happened." The children were taken to the police station and released to Zhu. 　　Cheng said that both the women’s husbands were on travel at the time. She said Shi’s husband, Xian Chen, returned home at 8 or 8:30 p.m. to find an empty house, and then received a telephone call from the police station telling him what happened. Cheng said that Chen has been staying at UNM Hospital with his infant son, and his daughter, Amelia, is staying with Zhu. 　　Cheng said friends of the family met Wu’s husband, Quanxi Jia, at Albuquerque International Sunport on Saturday after he was notified of his wife’s death. 　　"Michelle’s husband could not believe it," said Cheng. "He moved like he was in a very bad dream. He moved like a machine. It was very, very sad." 　　Cheng said that friends did not tell any of the children that their mothers were dead. She said they waited for their fathers to let them know. All that the children knew was that their mothers had an accident and were in the hospital. 　　"(Wu’s 14-year-old son) knew something bad had happened," said Cheng. "He didn’t want to talk. When his father returned, he went back to his own room. I talked to him and told him his father needed his support. (Wu’s 5-year-old son) just sat there, not moving, with just a tear on his face." 　　Cheng said Shi’s 9-year-old daughter, Amelia, hasn’t been told about her mother yet. She is staying with Zhu while her father is at the hospital with her brother. 　　"I don’t know what is best for her," said Zhu. "We are waiting for her father to tell her. We are just trying to make things easier for her. We don’t want her to get too much shock. But I think she knows." 　　Cheng said friends and neighbors are helping the family. "Neighbors are sending food. People no one knows are showing up at the door with food." 　　Cheng said that she also felt sorry for Martinez’s family. 　　"He has family, too," she said. "But I hope people wake up. You can’t drive drunk anymore. Drunk driving is a major cause for traffic accidents in New Mexico. " 　　 　　 　　 　　National News 　　Provided by iSyndicate 　　 　　2001 Los Alamos MonitorAll Rights Reserved.

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