Yumin "Keith" Zhao

Yumin Zhao was born in Nanchang, China, in 1929.  At the age of eight he moved with his family to Shanghai.  

He attended University of Shanghai which was operated by the Methodist Missionary from the U.S.  He studied Law and graduated in 1951.  Yumin was on the university's soccer team and was known as an outstanding goalie.  He was also an amateur boxer who got his nose broken more than once.

After graduation, Yumin was first assigned to work at the Shanghai Supreme Court.  Due to his capitalist family background, he was deemed unsuitable to work in the justice department by the communist government.  He was re-assigned to teach language at Dong Fen High School where he met his future wife, Yunxue Li, a music teacher.  They had two daughters, Qin Zhao and Jie "Jane" Zhao.  Yumin was highly respected by his students.

During Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution that lasted from 1966 - 1976, Yumin was treated with harsh unfairness.  He was accused of being a foreign spy because many of his siblings and their families had migrated to the U.S. or Canada.  Yumin was prevented from teaching for six months.  During that period, Yumin learned to be a handyman; he made clothes and also continued to teach his family.  The government found no evidence to support their accusation.  He was subsequently allowed back to teach.

In 1978, Yumin became a College teacher specializing in Chinese Language.  In November 1980, he immigrated to the United States and resided in the Los Angeles, California area.  In America, Yumin held a number of jobs including being a realtor and a life insurance salesman.  Finally, he was employed to teach Chinese at the Defense Language Institute of the U.S. Defense Department in Monterey, California.  He was awarded the honour of "Lifetime Professorship".

In May 2008, Yumin retired and moved to Boca Raton, Florida.  He and his wife enjoyed travelling and had been on a number of cruise ships visiting many countries.

Yumin was an advocate for soccer and enjoyed watching the games.  He also took pleasure in watching Chinese movies and television series.

Yumin is survived by his wife (Lucy) Yunxue, daughters Qin and Jie (Jane) and son-in-law Rich Anderson.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 4:00-7:00pm at Glick Family Funeral Home.

The funeral service will take place at 11:00am on Friday in the Reflections Chapel at Boca Raton Mausoleum.  

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