Linda Lau with Dr. Roy Lau
劉梁一詩與夫婿Roy Lau
(The following text is an excerpt from the book Chinese Americans in Irvine 1971-2021.)
Linda was an influential Orange County philanthropist, known for bridging cultural divides, great style and grace. She was first and foremost a lover of culture and cultures. Active in the arts community in Orange County, Linda was associated with the Bowers Museum for many years in multiple roles, and was also tapped for her impeccable style to be the shop buyer. That same style would lead her to create an eponymous line of jewelry that was carried by Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Her most notable achievement was as the guiding force and founder of the Historical and Cultural Foundation of Orange County, which celebrated the contributions of, and supported the preservation of, the various ethnic heritages in Orange County.
Linda and her husband Roy Esme Lau, were lovers and collectors of all types of art. Linda served on the Board of Trustees of the Newport Harbor Art Museum, and served with distinction on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Arts Alliance. She was recognized for her service and support of the Asian/Pacific Student Association during their quest to have Asian-American Studies recognized at UCI; her philanthropy by the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives; and by the Orange County Department of Education for developing a traveling exhibit to introduce students to the art of Japan. The couple were also great gourmets - following celebrated chefs - and were enthusiastic members of the French gastronomic society La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and Les Amis du Vin. Linda moved to China after her husband died in 2007.
In her own inimitable way, Linda was a trailblazer. Even within the confines of what would be considered acceptable pursuits for a refined lady of her era, she cultivated her own unique brand by exuding confidence and charm, and by combining elegance and grace, empathy and activism, intellect and influence, delight and depth – truly a Woman of Style & Substance! (Written by Gloria Dahlberg)
Photo from left to right include: Tony Hsu, Rosalind Chang, George Cheng, Roy Lau, Linda Lau, Arlene Cheng, and Lily Hsu
劉梁一詩與友人
(以下文字摘錄自《爾灣華裔紀實1971-2021》一書)
在1970-1990 年代，劉梁一詩女士，在她所居住的橙縣大爾灣區，是一位積極投身公益事業並竭 力倡導的先趨者。她出生於香港教育世家，畢業於夏威夷大學音樂系，婚後相夫教子之餘，在南加州貢獻畢生的心力於非營利事業。多年來，Linda 是推動不同族裔之間融洽與溝通的先驅，她的耕耘與成就備受稱道與懷念。她以自身中西合璧的學養與優雅，藉由橙縣多元藝術音樂文化活動，以促進不同種族之間的交流與和諧。其中，包括了寶爾博物館 Bowers Museum。劉梁女士是第一位亞裔人士積極參與主流社會的博物館領域，其中包括推出不同族裔的文物寶藏箱（Treasure Chests），到橙縣各中小學區巡迴展覽， 在當時不易接受少數族裔又是女性的時代氛圍下，非常難能可貴，文物寶藏箱在橙縣至今仍備受寶爾博物館重視而廣泛巡迴展出。
Linda 以其個人的魅力與才華為表帥，不僅她個 人脱穎而出，而且帶動眾多不同族裔的新血步其後塵共襄盛舉。Linda 在所有正式場合，永遠以一襲典雅端莊，令眾人驚艷不已的中國旗袍出席，僅此一點就足以令人津津樂道:「劉梁一詩的一生，就是高雅與智慧完美结合的一首史詩。」
在 1980 年代中期，Linda 最令人矚目的成就是引導並建立橙縣文史基金會（Historical and Cultural Foundation of Orange County），該會對於發揚並保留各族裔的文化傳承有著極大的貢獻。
此外，Linda 備受推崇與紀念的成就，包括亞太裔學生協會（Asian/Pacific Student Association）向爾灣加大爭取設立亞美研究課程時，她在幕後奔走以及大力的協助；以及擔任國家籌款協會（National Society of Fund-Raising Executives）負責人。
所有認識 Linda 的友人，公認她擁有獨特高雅幾近無懈可擊的審美眼光，出於愛好，Linda 曾經與友人共同成立珠寶設計公司，他們設計的成品，在 Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue 均極受歡迎，引為風潮。
Linda 和夫婿 Roy Esme Lau 醫師都熱愛藝術並且是藝術品的收藏者。她擔任新港藝術博物館董事，也是橙縣藝術聯盟的董事。
Linda 和夫婿熱衷美食，常追隨他們喜歡的大廚，而且是法國美食協會的會員（French gastronomic society La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs，and Les Amis du Vin）。
2007 年，Linda 在她的夫婿過世後，為了方便與昔日友人共享晚年，遂遷居香港以及中國大陸，2018 年 Linda 在中國廣東省珠江市過世，但是她的風範及聲名將令人深深懷念，她的貢獻將歷久彌新。（中文翻譯：黃少華)