Fu Da-ren

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Fu in November 2017

Fu Da-ren (Chinese: 傅達仁; pinyin: Fù Dárén; 3 April 1933 – 7 June 2018) was a Taiwanese basketball player and television presenter.

Fu Da-ren was raised in an orphanage established by Soong Mei-ling after his father, Republic of China Army Major General Fu Chung-kuei [zh] (1885–1938), was killed in action during the Second Sino-Japanese War.[1][2]

Fu was on the roster of the Republic of China national basketball team in the 1958 Asian Games, and won a silver medal.

In 1980, Fu received a Golden Bell Award. Several catchphrases familiar to athletes and sports fans in Taiwan were popularized by Fu during his broadcasting career.[3]

Fu was Christian.[4] In later life, Fu was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and actively supported euthanasia.[5] His family researched options for assisted suicide, but found that although the End of Life Option Act made the procedure legal in California, no hospital in Los Angeles would accept Fu's medical records.[4] He traveled to Switzerland in November 2017 to join Dignitas, an organization that provides assisted suicide to its members.[6] Days later, Fu chose not to die by euthanasia[7] and received a visit from Tsai Ing-wen upon his return to Taiwan.[8] In May 2018, Fu flew to Zurich and underwent euthanasia on 7 June 2018, aged 85.[4][9] Fu's death was filmed. The video was released to Taiwanese media in February 2019 and went viral.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lin, Howard (19 March 2008). "Crowds mark 111th anniversary of Madame Chiang Kai-shek's birth". Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  2. ^ Hsu, Chloe; Hsu, Elizabeth (21 August 2015). "Lee Teng-hui's benefits as ex-president may be stripped". Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  3. ^ "EDITORIAL: Remembering a broadcast legend". Taipei Times. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Lai, Julianna (10 July 2018). "Peace at last: Frank Fu Da-ren's parting gift". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Ex-sports commentator advocates for euthanasia". China Post. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. ^ Lung, Po-an; Liu, Kuan-lin (10 November 2017). "Former sports announcer joins Swiss assisted-suicide organization". Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  7. ^ Lung, Po-an; Hsu, Elizabeth (19 November 2017). "Sports journalist cancels euthanasia plan". China Post. Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  8. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan (20 November 2017). "President Tsai meets with Fu Da-ren". China Post. Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  9. ^ Lee, Chin-wei; Chang, S.C. (7 June 2018). "Former sports anchor Fu Da-ren ends life by assisted suicide". Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  10. ^ Zhang, Phoebe (28 February 2019). "'Farewell, so long': video of Taiwanese TV host's assisted suicide fires up euthanasia debate". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 15 July 2020.