Ling Zhang

On Saturday, September 1, 2018, Ling Zhang, wife and best friend of Thomas McAuliffe, passed away at the age of 55, after a long struggle with cancer. Ling was born in Jilin, China. When she was 17, she left home and took the long train ride to Beijing to begin her university studies, just three years after the end of the Cultural Revolution. She became fluent in English without the benefit of having someone to speak with. She obtained a Masters in Law. After becoming disillusioned with the justice system in China, Ling went on to obtain her PhD in economics. During her time at university, Ling witnessed the Tiananmen Square events. Her first job as a PhD was writing for a newspaper published by the Democracy Party of China. When she was 48, after many years of study and hard work, Ling retired from her position as a mutual fund designer at Bosera Funds in Shenzhen so that she could marry her one and only husband, myself, Tom McAuliffe. Ling liked to say she had a "rich life experience." She loved tending to her amazing flower garden here in the valley, our dogs, and the natural beauty that we are lucky enough to have here. To all of those who may have had an opportunity to get to know her, she was a very special person. We will miss her sorely. May she rest in peace.
A simple graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 22, 2018, in the Hailey Cemetery, 541 Fox Acres Road, Hailey, Idaho. Please share a photo or memory and light a candle at www.woodriverchapel.com