A familial bond

Most people would agree that the core of the successful story of the Chao family is its wonderful daughters.

"They all possess traditional filial piety," says James Chao. "Elaine calls me every night before I go to bed. If she can't, due to travel or some other reasons, she'll send an email." On the eve of Trump's inauguration, James Chao traveled to Washington again.He hosted a dinner for some old friends, including alumni of Shanghai Jiaotong University, his alma mater. Elaine Chao and her husband attended.

Holding her father's hand, Elaine Chao said, emotionally: "Not many people have fathers or parents who are able to see them in whatever they do. My mother left on Aug 2, 2007. I am extraordinarily grateful that my father is able to be here and see so much of what his children have been able to accomplish."

Of her husband, Elaine said: "I have been very blessed to have a wonderful, supportive husband. He cooks. He does his own laundry."

James Chao buried his beloved wife, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, about 40 kilometers north of midtown Manhattan. Chiang Kai-shek's wife, Soong Mei-ling, is also buried there.

Every Saturday, James Chao visits Mulan's final resting place and prepares a cup of tea for her. He loved to do the same when she was alive.

One week before the launch of James Chao's biography at the HCNY, I had the luck to obtain a copy from Chiling Tong, longtime friend of the Chao family and founding president of the International Leadership Foundation. She used to be the associate director of the Minority Business Development Agency in the US Department of Commerce.

John Tsu, the late chairman of the Asian Republican National Committee, introduced us more than 20 years ago, and I had the honor to attend Tong's wedding in Taipei in 1996. Her husband, Joel Szabat, is deputy assistant secretary of transportation and executive director of maritime administration.

Before we had lunch together, I was so excited to read James Chao's 434-page biography in one night that I stayed up until 3 am. I met Tong and Szabat the next day, and we had a discussion about the book.

James Chao concludes, fairly, about his success: If you can't change your environment, change yourself.He had struggled as a waiter and a low-level seaman in his early years.

Fortune is a core indicator to evaluate success. But for James Chao, his daughters - Elaine, May, Christine, Grace and Angela - are an even more brilliant report card he has earned. (His second daughter, Jeanette, passed away in 2008.)

I hope someone can translate this biography into English so that more people in the US could know his great family history.

Larry Lee is vice-chairman of China Daily Holding Co Ltd.