'He was larger than life': Friends, family pay tribute to Dr. Freddie Fu in Pittsburgh

Family, friends and colleagues gathered on Friday at Heinz Memorial Chapel in Oakland to memorialize renowned orthopedist and sports medicine pioneer Dr. Freddie Fu.

His daughter, Joyce Lok-See Fu, called the days leading up to her father’s Sept. 24 death surreal as she watched so many people share their stories and say their goodbyes.

“People were able to celebrate his life with him while he was still alive,” Joyce Fu said.

She said she shared a draft of her eulogy with him last week.

While she spoke of his love of learning and teaching, his dedication to his work and his thirst to always do more, she also remembered the more private moments when he was simply her father. She recalled a ski trip to 7 Springs on a school night; multiple trips to Kennywood and dozens of rides on the Thunderbolt while her mother and brother were away for two weeks; and his choice of a sequined tuxedo to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.

“He loved life,” she said. “He was larger than life.”

Fu, 70, created UPMC’s sports medicine program and was physician for Pitt’s sports teams for some 30 years. He was the longtime chair of the orthopedic surgery department, and he developed techniques and procedures that changed the way in which such surgeries were done.

“When people found out where I worked, they would share delightful stories about Dr. Fu,” said Dr. Robin West, an orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon. “He didn’t care if you were a sports star, coal miner or politician — he treated everyone the same.”

West said that in the waning days of his life, Fu told her not to be sad — that he’d taken advantage of every moment life gave him.

Dr. Timothy Ward, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, recalled his first interaction with Fu: at lunch in the hospital cafeteria, Fu “speaking a mile a minute with a mouthful of food.”

The world’s candle, he said, will be dimmer without Fu.

“What is Freddie’s true legacy?” Ward asked. “I would submit that it is his example of compassion for people, helping others and desire to improve the lives of those around him.”

His heart, said his son, Gordon Ka-Hong Fu, was big enough to love everybody.

“He loves all of you with all his heart,” he told those gathered to remember his father. “He put everything in life into making everybody’s life better.

“I don’t feel like I ever had to share him with anybody,” he continued. “But I’m glad I did.”