World-famous journalist Israel Epstein, died of disease in Beijing on May 26 after failing to respond to medical treatment at the age of 90.

Xinhua News Agency broadcasted the news about Epstein's death, praising him as an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and eminent internationalist fighter.

An informed doctor at the foreigners' ward of the Union Hospital disclosed that Epstein, due to infection of the lung and other parts of the body a month ago, was sent by his family to the hospital, later, his illness worsened plus his advanced age, he was sent to the gravis observation ward but died of illness after failing to respond to treatment.

"What we descendants feel gratified is elderly Epstein had basically accomplished what he should do in his life, and because he suddenly fell ill, elderly Epstein did not suffer too much pain before he died." Epstein's son Mr. Wu said.

As an internationally well-known journalist, Epstein left behind many famous works done in his life. "Elderly Epstein was a lifelong journalist and engaged in lifelong writing." Mr. Wu said that in engaging in lifelong writing, elderly Epstein almost did the work all by himself, he wrote by hand at first, later he did writing with his computer, in the past few years he had difficulty in writing, even in giving a short message reply with e-mail box, it could take him one or two hours, but he still insisted on doing the work himself.

Between 1988 and 1998, Epstein spent 10 years in completing the "Biography of Soong Ching Ling", in his birthday last year, Elderly Epstein's Reminiscence "Witness to China" was published.

Former Deputy Editor-in-Chief Chen Rinong of "China Today" magazine said, "Epi (the intimate name of Epstein) is a man who sets his mind on his career. Epi kept many of his covering notebooks beginning from the covering of Yan'an by Chinese and foreign reporters in 1944, Epi had kept all the covering notebooks." Chen Rinong was once a subordinate of Epstein.

Chen Rinong recalls that during his 70th, 80th and 90th birthdays, Epi was either received or visited respectively by Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, and he had maintained long-term good friendly relations with Soong Ching Ling and others.

Before the portrait, Ms. Huang, widow of Epstein, looked very sorrowful. Before getting married to Ms Huang, Epstein had been married twice, but without rearing any children, he once adopted two Chinese orphans, one boy and one girl

In 1985, Epstein and his colleague Ms Huang came together, later they had one son and one daughter, two of the four children are living abroad and another two are in Beijing. At ordinary time, Ms. Huang lived together with Epstein as well as a housekeeper. Besides the housekeeper, it was mostly Ms Hunag who took care of Elderly Epstein's daily life.

Of the 90 years, 82 years in China. Epstein witnessed tremendous centennial changes in China and he was proud of this phase of his experience, he said, "In the time and space set by history for me, I feel nothing else that is better and more significant than my personal experience and my pitching into the revolutionary work of the Chinese people".

"Epi" is the intimate name Chinese friends used to call Epstein. In the eyes of friends, Epstein is not tall, with a pointed lower jaw, likes to wear dark blue Western-style dress, wearing a smile in his mouth. When greeting others, Epstein invariably stretched out his hand and firmly clasped other's hand.

"Over the past decades, China actually has become the only theme for my writing."

"I'm 90 years old, speaking from another angle, I'm only 73 years old, because I began doing Chinese revolutionary work in 1933." That's the way Epstein summed up his career in China in the face of flowers on the day of his birth anniversary.

In 1915, Israel Epstein was born in Warsaw, Poland, his father was put in jail for participating in the Jews' anti-Tsar rule, in 1917, at the age of two Epstein's family was immigrated to China.

In 1931, Epstein graduated from a junior middle school and began his journalist career at the "Beijing-Tianjin Times", he served as a reporter at the UPI when he was 22 years old.

"We Jews are subject to discrimination, so we must not discriminate against others. Similar fate made Epstein cherish a "heart of equality" toward the hungry, poverty-stricken Chinese people.

Later, Epstein wrote in reminiscence, "My interest has gradually, yet decisively shifted to the events and development trends of China, in the decades that followed, China has actually become the only theme for my writing."

The July 7, 1937 Lugouqiao (Marco Polo Bridge) incident broke out. Epstein was faced with an important option: His parents did not want to live under Japan's rule, and planned to leave China, where they had been living for over 20 years, and migrated to the United States.

At the Tanggu Port, Epstein watched his parents boarding the ship. At the harbor, many landing ships loaded fully with Japanese soldiers were pulling in to shore. However, Epstein decided to stay behind.

"I see a completely different China"

What made Epsteain unforgettable lifelong was his Yan'an tour made in early summer 1944. At that time, in the capacity as reporter of US "New York Times", the Times magazine and the United Labor News Service, he participated in the Chinese and foreign reporters northwest China-visiting group and arrived at Yan'an after breaking through blockade.

In an article, Epstein wrote a brand-new scene he saw with his own eyes: A stretch of golden wheat and millet signals that a bumper harvest is in sight, beans, cotton and flax are green and luxuriant--all come within sight. Old people and children all have rosy cheeks.

More importantly, here Epstein felt very unrestrained: "Mao Zedong was a heavy smoker, he planted tobacco himself. Commander-in-Chief Zhu De liked to eat vegetables, he opened up a plot of land on which he cultivated quality and delicious tomatoes."

In a family letter, Epstein wrote, "I see a completely different China which is totally different from the China under the rule of Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-sek. This China is full of hope and free from starvation and defeatist sentiment. Yan'an makes people feel that future China has emerged today."

Israel Epstein

Born in Poland in 1915.

Beginning from 1931 he did press work at the "Beijing-Tianjin Times".

Served as reporter with UPI of the United States in 1937.

In 1939, he joined the League in Defense of China sponsored and organized by Soong Ching Ling, in which he was in charge of publicity work. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he worked hard to report to the world's people about the heroic struggle carried out the CPC leaders, the Liberated Areas and the Chinese people.

In 1951, in response to the invitation of Soong Ching Ling, he returned to China to participate in the work of starting publication of "China Reconstruct"

In 1957 he was granted China's citizenship. During his lifetime, he was standing committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), honorary editor-in-chief of the "China Today", former "China Reconstruct", vice-chairman of the International Council of the China Industry Cooperation Association and member of the China Welfare Council, etc.

By People's Daily Online