悼念曾经的领导、亲爱的同事、真挚的朋友——严红副院长、严红教授和严红大姐
Long Tribute from a Colleague and Friend
投稿人：王丁喜
Contributor: Wang Dingxi
严老师曾是我的领导，但在我心中，她更像一位朋友，一位大姐姐。回想起与您相处的点点滴滴，恍如昨日。您的音容笑貌，犹在耳边，犹在眼前。我们第一次相见，是在2015年的伦敦。当时同行的还有叶轮机伴随优化领域未来的国际知名学者徐慎忍教授。您、慎忍和我都是第一次见面，相识于异国他乡。正是您的热诚，给了我们坚定的信念，我们才得以回到学校，从此与您结下了深厚的缘分。
Professor Yan was once my leader, but to me she was more like a friend and an elder sister. Thinking back on every moment we shared, it feels like yesterday. Her gentle smile is still before my eyes and in my ears. We first met in London in 2015. Traveling with us was Professor Xu Shenren, a rising international scholar in turbomachinery optimization. It was the first time for all three of us to meet, far from home. It was your warmth that gave us firm confidence and brought us back to the university, where we forged a deep bond with you.
记得2018年，我们一起策划在挪威召开的美国机械工程师学会叶轮机博览会上举行展览。大约八年前的这个时节，有一次您、赵磊和我讨论展板内容，讨论到很晚。那是中国高校第一次在这个行业顶会上进行宣传和展览。今年，我们已经准备再次参展，这次会议在意大利，可是这次，没有了您。
In 2018, we planned an exhibition for the ASME Turbo Expo held in Norway. Around this time eight years ago, you, Zhao Lei, and I discussed the display materials late into the night. It was the first time a Chinese university showcased itself at this top event in the field. This year we are preparing to exhibit again, this time in Italy, but you will not be there.
2018年，参加完美国机械工程师学会叶轮机博览会后，我们一同前往西班牙马德里理工访问交流。记得在马德里街头餐馆等餐时，我们还一起高唱《我的祖国》。
After the ASME Turbo Expo in 2018, we traveled together to the Technical University of Madrid for an academic visit. I still remember us singing My Motherland together while waiting for food at a street restaurant in Madrid.
2019年，我邀请林肯大学葛畅老师来校讲授暑期课，您邀请葛畅老师、她的父亲和孩子们，还有我家和您的父母，一起在正禾宾馆共进晚餐。当时老人、孩子欢聚一堂，其乐融融的情景，至今历历在目。今年我本想再次邀请葛畅老师来讲授暑期课，可是这次，没有了您。
In 2019, I invited Professor Ge Chang from the University of Lincoln to teach a summer course. You invited Professor Ge, her father and children, my family, and your parents to dinner together at the Zhenghe Hotel. The scene of elders and children gathered in joy is still vivid to me. I had hoped to invite Professor Ge again for a summer course this year, but you are no longer here.
记得2021年，我们在您的领导下组织GPPS会议，因为疫情，会议只能线上召开。GPPS会议明年很可能会在西安举办，可是这次，没有了您。
In 2021, under your leadership we organized the GPPS conference, which had to be held online due to the pandemic. Next year the GPPS conference may be hosted in Xi'an, but this time, you will not be there.
疫情期间，我困在英国。有一次，您小心翼翼而又委婉地问我是否还会回到学校。我当时回答，我毫不怀疑能在英国找到一份不错的工作，但我怀疑能否再遇到同样好的同事——这“同样好的同事”里，就包括您。
During the pandemic, I was stuck in the UK. Once, you asked me gently and tactfully whether I would return to the university. I replied that I had no doubt I could find a good job in the UK, but I doubted I would ever meet colleagues as good as these again, and that included you.
记得2024年复活节期间，青梅带着我家老大和老二回国，我们一家和您与查老师在正禾宾馆小聚，青梅把您当作知心大姐姐，倾诉她在海外生活的艰辛。青梅计划今年暑假带孩子们回国一趟，但是他们这次注定看不到您了。
During Easter in 2024, Qingmei returned to China with our two older children. Our family gathered with you and Professor Cha at the Zhenghe Hotel. Qingmei treated you like a trusted elder sister and shared the hardships of life overseas. She planned to bring the children back this summer, but this time they will not get to see you.
我翻看了和您的微信聊天记录，才发现我已经一年多没有见到您了。倒数第三次交流是在去年12月5日，我当时给您留言：“严老师好，很久没见了，今晚有空么？我请您坐坐。”您回复道：“丁喜好！好久不见了。但我今天不在西安，回头有空我带点儿好茶好糕一起聚聚。”我还在期待着您的好茶好糕，可您却悄悄地走了。
I looked back at our WeChat messages and realized I had not seen you for more than a year. The third-to-last exchange was on December 5 last year. I wrote, “Hello, Professor Yan. Long time no see. Are you free tonight? Let me treat you to a sit-down.” You replied, “Dingxi! Long time no see. But I’m not in Xi’an today. When I’m back, I’ll bring some good tea and pastries and we’ll get together.” I was still looking forward to that tea and those pastries, but you slipped away quietly.
倒数第二次交流是今年1月12日。我去瑞士参加会议，途经巴黎时和前同事马林见了面，合了影，发给您。您回复说：“哈哈，你去法国了？一点儿没变啊，马林没啥变化呀，还是很年轻，同时你也看着年轻有活力。”看到您的回信，我仿佛听到了您爽朗的笑声，丝毫没有察觉您正重病在身。
The second-to-last exchange was on January 12 this year. I went to a conference in Switzerland and met my former colleague Malin while passing through Paris, took a photo, and sent it to you. You replied, “Haha, you went to France? You haven’t changed at all. Malin hasn’t changed either, still looks very young, and you also look young and full of energy.” Seeing your reply, I could almost hear your hearty laugh and had no idea you were seriously ill.
最后一次交流是3月6日。我给您留言：“严老师您好，您在学校么？什么时候方便坐一坐？”您回复道：“这学期 休息一学期。”这一次，我从您的回复中感受不到那惯常的爽朗笑声，隐约觉得有些异样，但我没有往坏处想。我记不清什么原因，没有回复您。其实我一直想回复您：严老师，什么时候我去看看您。
The last exchange was on March 6. I messaged, “Hello Professor Yan, are you on campus? When would it be convenient to meet?” You replied, “This semester, I’m taking a semester off.” This time I could not sense your usual hearty laughter in the message and felt something was different, but I did not think of the worst. I can’t remember why I didn’t reply. What I always meant to say was: Professor Yan, when can I come to see you?
严老师，我来看您了，可是这一次，您再也不会回复我了。我26日在朋友圈悼念您的离去，收到了100多位朋友对您的哀悼。
Professor Yan, I came to see you, but this time you will never reply. On the 26th I mourned your passing on WeChat Moments and received condolences from more than 100 friends.
29基地的王子维留言道：参加了严红教授刚回西工大开的讲座“再见美国”，记忆犹新。
Wang Ziwei from Base 29 wrote: “I attended Professor Yan Hong’s lecture ‘Goodbye, America’ right after she returned to NPU, and it remains vivid in my memory.”
上海海事大学的钟兢军教授留言道：太意外了，沉痛悼念。
Professor Zhong Jingjun of Shanghai Maritime University wrote: “So unexpected. Deep condolences.”
清华大学任静教授说：太突然了！gpps还见过严老师，看起来一切都好，太突然了。严老师和我1997-1999同在清华做博后，是邻居，也是好朋友。出站后她去了美国我去了德国，十多年后又先后回来。严老师一直都很严谨，不幸英年早逝，深切怀念她。
Professor Ren Jing of Tsinghua University said: “So sudden! I saw Professor Yan at GPPS and she seemed fine. So sudden. From 1997 to 1999, she and I were postdocs at Tsinghua, neighbors, and good friends. After we finished, she went to the U.S. and I went to Germany, and more than a decade later we both returned. Professor Yan was always rigorous. It is heartbreaking that she passed so young. I deeply miss her.”
北京宇航系统工程研究所陈立为研究员给我留言：严老师什么情况？太震惊了。2017年我来时严老师十分亲切热情，严老师音容犹在，涕零。
Researcher Chen Liwei of the Beijing Institute of Aerospace Systems Engineering wrote: “What happened to Professor Yan? I’m shocked. When I visited in 2017 she was so kind and warm. Her voice and image are still with us. I am in tears.”
牛津大学何力教授给我留言：I am very sorry for NPU for losing such an excellent academic and for you a close colleague. Pls pass my condolence. 他在和我通话时回忆你们之间的相遇：好几次他受邀来学校访问，您接待了他；组织2021年的GPPS会议；还有2023年在香港GPPS会议上的相遇以及共进晚餐。
Professor He Li of Oxford University wrote to me: “I am very sorry for NPU for losing such an excellent academic and for you a close colleague. Please pass my condolence.” On the phone he recalled your meetings: several times he was invited to visit the university and you hosted him; the 2021 GPPS conference you organized; and the 2023 GPPS meeting in Hong Kong where you met and had dinner together.
当我把你离去的噩耗在微信里告知慎忍时，他不相信。当我告诉他噩耗来自于福振时，他说，我需要缓缓。您肯定想知道慎忍这几天在干什么。这一周他在开展第三届航空发动机和飞机计算流体力学培训。昨天他上完课后搭乘最后一趟航班来给您送别。在微信朋友圈里写道：我从来不需要任何人的认可和赞许，但是这一次不一样，我多么希望我那可爱的敬爱的亲爱的有点骄傲和小任性的严红老师能看到我做的事，哪怕相比于她的成就显得如此渺小而微不足道，然后听她再对我说一声 cool,well done, shenren.
When I told Shenren the terrible news on WeChat, he did not believe it. When I said the news came from Fuzhen, he said he needed a moment to process. You would want to know what Shenren has been doing these days: this week he has been running the third training program on computational fluid dynamics for aircraft engines. Yesterday, after class, he took the last flight to come and see you off. On his WeChat Moments he wrote: “I never need anyone’s recognition or praise, but this time is different. How I wish my lovely, respected, dear Professor Yan Hong, a little proud and a little willful, could see what I’ve done, even if it is so small compared to her achievements, and then say to me once more: cool, well done, Shenren.”
当福振告诉我噩耗，我第一时间告诉青梅。她语无伦次地回复到：啊？不可能吧？怎么回事？她跟我们差不多大啊？天啦，接受不了，太难受了，不能接受啊。
When Fuzhen told me the news, I immediately told Qingmei. She replied in confusion: “Ah? No way. What happened? She was about the same age as us. Oh my, I can’t accept it. It’s too painful, I can’t accept it.”
昨天在您家里，听汪大哥讲述你们一路过来的故事，才知道，您是多么的不容易，一直默默地承受了太多，您一直把最美好的留给别人，展现给我们一个超出是您那弱小身体能够长期承受的强大的自己。
Yesterday at your home, after hearing Brother Wang recount your journey, I realized how hard it had been for you, how much you endured in silence, always leaving the best for others, showing us a strength far beyond what your frail body could bear for long.
严老师，您的离去，让我们失去了一位可敬的领导、可亲的同事、可爱的朋友。愿天堂没有病痛，愿您安息。我们将永远怀念您。
Professor Yan, your departure has taken from us a respected leader, a kind colleague, and a dear friend. May there be no pain in heaven, and may you rest in peace. We will always remember you.
2026年3月28日凌晨初稿于南京，2026年3月28日下午终稿于西安。
Drafted in Nanjing early on March 28, 2026, and finalized in Xi’an on the afternoon of March 28, 2026.