March 8, 2021, Richard Fong

RIP Uncle Willie.

March 9, 2021, Paul Tze Kong YOUNG

Willie, though you have left the train carriage on which our class at St Joseph's College making our worldly trip, we missed your caring actions and wits that make the trip relax and fun. You will be remembered for your hard work and ethical contribution to the spread of knowledge and bridging languages. Now that you have entered the space of peace and happiness, do remember to say hello to Peter for us all...
-Paul Tze Kong YOUNG

March 9, 2021, Chiu Yin Wong Hempel

I thought of Willie the morning of March 1 as I was driving to the Post Office. I said to myself I should write to him. I hadn't done so for far too long. I wish I had that thought months and years earlier. I owe my publishing career to Willie. He hired me from London to become Publisher in Longman HK. I joined his operation knowing the basics of editing, commissioning, marketing and production. Willie taught me how to put these pieces together to create a business. He showed me how to think strategically, negotiate by listening and watching, and execute planfully. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious. He challenged me to do better than I thought I was capable of doing. I wished I had made it to Vancouver to visit him and Happy. New York, after all, is on the same continent. He will always be an inspiration to me, and I know to many people who have worked with him. We will all miss him -- and that ever-present twinkle in his eyes. I send my deepest condolences to Happy and to his entire family.

March 9, 2021, Xiaozhan Gao

【悼念沈維賢先生】
遽聞先生仙逝，不勝哀痛。
忘不了那些年在你領導下共同努力的日子，
你的卓越形象，不斷在我們腦海湧現。
你是
香港出版奇才，
中國業界良友。
你最早
開拓香港自編英語教材，
首創英漢雙語詞典系列。
你親自領導
與中國夥伴創造《新概念英語》（新版）出版奇跡，
締造朗文亞洲與中國合作出版黃金時代，
既為中國提升英語教育盡心出力，又為朗文創收高額業績。
你富有獨特魅力
以“海派”魄力豪爽、果敢決斷、精明細緻著稱，
又深受英倫文化薰陶成為溫和嚴謹、翩翩風度真君子。
你是我們最尊敬的上司，又是最誠摯的好友。
你給過我們諄諄指導以及溫暖的鼓勵和關懷；
你永遠是我們最親切的 Willie。
安息吧，你將被我們銘記在心間！

高孝湛 趙嘉文

March 9, 2021, Charmaine Shen

此刻心有千言萬語，不知從何說起.....
感激uncle 讓我的童年過得更快樂、
沒有忘記過去對我的每點關愛。
懷念每一幕我們一起的時光！

Thanks for everything
～ until we meet again!

March 9, 2021, Gillian Bickley (née) Workman

So sorry to hear Willie has passed on. As a part-time editor in the late 1970s, I was a very junior member of the team at Longman Far East but knew clearly the respect in which he was held. Later, in a different capacity, I participated in the large and generous Longman annual events, where Willie was a welcoming and very cordial host. RIP, Willie!

March 9, 2021, Glynnis Chan

Willie was a great and wonderful man with a full of love from his heart. Let me say again for his invitation that I got the opportunity of working with Happy Melody Singing Choir charity show and BCCANCER MCVP Charity Gala in 2019. I am so thankful for the opportunity of helping people because of his passion. We miss you.
My deepest condolence to Happy and families.
Glynnis

March 9, 2021, Aman Chiu

Our hearts are heavy with sympathy. No words can describe how saddened we are when hearing the sad news.
Willie was an extraordinary leader. There are many in the publishing field who will deeply mourn his passing as his was a life of service, love, compassion and excellence. Someone so inspiring can never be forgotten. We will remember Willie for his zest for life, humour, wisdom, as well as his exemplary leadership. May he rest in peace.
Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to Happy and families.
-Mr. Gao and Aman

March 9, 2021, Kyle Shen

Uncle Willie was a true gentleman with a real zest for life. He literally pulled himself up by his bootstraps to build not just a fantastic career for himself, but also a wonderful life for his family. I will especially miss his generosity, clarity of thought, wit, and keen sense of humor. I fondly remember his many stories, particularly those of their childhood days and of our grandparents. I probably learned as much about Grandpa from Uncle Willie as anyone else.
We all admired his hard work, determination, and toughness, a Shen family trademark. He faced his illnesses with great bravery and dignity, an example for the rest of us.
We will all greatly miss our dear Uncle Willie. Our love and thoughts to Happy, Yvonne & Kurt, Kevin & Peggy, Owen & Izzy, Leanne & Sophie. We are so sorry for your terrible loss and wish we could be there in person to remember him.

Love, Kyle, Holly, Gladys & Emily

March 9, 2021, Xiaozhan Gao

外语教学与研究出版社（中国，北京）（简称：外研社）是沈维贤先生生前建立的中国内地最主要合作伙伴。该社是中国享誉国际最大最重要的专业外语教育出版社。他们通过高孝湛先生发来电邮如下：

1.外研社原社长、中国教育出版与传媒集团原董事长 李鹏义
高先生：
您一切可好？
刚从思英处得知沈兄逝世噩耗，痛心万分。沈兄不仅是朗文公司在亚洲区域蓬勃发展的功勋员工，他对英语学习在中国的发展更是功不可没。烦请您向沈兄家人转达我及外研社同仁的哀悼，希望他们节哀珍重。愿沈兄安息。
谢谢！并祝安好。

朋义

2.外研社副总编辑 章思英
高先生好：
这真是令人伤心的消息。已将消息报告李朋义社长，同时烦请您代表外研社的同事们向沈先生的家人表达哀悼吧。谢谢您！
相信您上月27号的手术一定很顺利。祝您早日康复！

章思英

3.外研社副总编辑 王勇
高先生，
听闻沈先生逝世的噩耗，心情十分沉痛！多年以来沈先生对我们的支持和关心历历在目，这些将永远留在我们的心中，化作事业和生活前进的动力。
愿沈先生一路走好！沈先生家人们节哀顺变！也祝愿您身体早日康复！
谢谢！

王勇

4.外研社研究与发展中心总经理 宋微微
高先生：
听闻沈先生噩耗，十分悲痛，没想到这么快沈先生就离我们而去。
我刚刚在memorial website看到了沈先生和您的合照，还有和Louis, Julia及李社长的合影，往事历历在目。沈先生当年对我们的支持，对我们是非常宝贵的财富，最近经蔡女良老师推荐，赵嘉文先生介绍了一位香港插画师给我们的测评项目，已经签订了插画师协议。当年沈先生亲手播撒的种子，已经发芽、长大、开花、结果，必会生生不息。相信沈先生若知晓，当会感到欣慰。
愿沈先生走好！请沈先生家人保重！也请高先生多多保重！

宋微微

March 10, 2021, Lillian Tsoi

Dear Mr. Shen,
You will always be remembered as a great leader, a wonderful colleague. We will miss you. May you rest in peace.

March 10, 2021, Iris Yeung

沈先生，我有幸為朗文漢語詞典負責排版的工作，在1988年來說，限於當時的電腦科技，可以說是浩大的工程，當年你用港幣9萬8千元，購入一套排詞典系統及電腦，簡直夠膽量。日本電影《字裡人間》-- 在出版社幽暗的一角，坐著早被社會遺忘的「宇典編輯部」，正正導出要出版一本詞典要有超凡的毅力及勇氣，感謝你的堅實領導。

我們永遠懷念您!

楊笑芬

March 11, 2021, David Royale

Sincere condolences from the Royle family: Terry, David, Kathryn and Michael. Great memories of working for Willie in HK at LGFE from 1978 to 1982; without doubt the best bit of my Longman career; plus visits to Vancouver when we were embarrassed by the warmth of the welcome and the hospitality. Willie was a true one-off, and I was very glad to have had the opportunity to work for/with him and to learn from him. We have planted trees in his memory in the UK National Forest. Thinking of Happy, Yvonne and Kevin at this very sad time. DR.

March 11, 2021, S.C. Fong

🌹🌹🌹 Good bye my Dear BOSS 🌹🌹🌹
from: SC, Annie, Fannie, Derick and Florence

March 11, 2021, Farrah Ching

To many, Willie was known for his leadership, his wit and his wonderful sense of humour. To me, he was both an inspiring boss and a kind, supportive friend. RIP, Willie. I recall the dinner with you and Happy in Vancouver with fondness. With this message, I send my deepest condolences to Happy and to the rest of his family.

March 11, 2021, Amy Leung

Please accept our deepest sympathies.

March 11, 2021, Alice Sung

R.I.P

March 11, 2021, Florence Tong

May you rest in peace.

March 11, 2021, Robyn Fleming

Dear Willie. It was an honour and a pleasure to know you during the period 1986 to 1993, when I worked with your wonderful team in Hong Kong on China business books. Condolences to your family. xx

March 12, 2021, Yvonne Fung

I will remember Willie not only as an inspiring boss, but as a dear friend. He was a philanthropist and music lover. Combining these two talents, Willie and Happy had raised huge sums of money for the B.C. Cancer Foundation by organizing and participating in several charity concerts over the years. This involved finding suitable venues, rehearsing their Happy Melody Choir in their home, searching for supporting programs to perform in the concerts, like ethnic dancing, instrumental playing, and solo performances, and, not least of all, soliciting donors. These concerts were hugely successful.
The last time I saw Willie was in Match last year, just before the pandemic restrictions. He invited me to a concert performed by the orchestra of the Vancouver Academy of Music, of which he was a much appreciated patron. I cannot believe that he is no longer with us. His smiling face is how I will always remember him. May he enjoy the rewards of his good deeds in heaven, and may God bless Happy, Yvonne, Kevin, and his grandchildren.

March 12, 2021, Alistair Scott

Willie was the Big Man at Longman's throughout the 20-year period when I was in Hong Kong, acting in a similar capacity for Oxford University Press. Competition was fierce, but cooperation was always friendly - largely due to Willie's character: he was always honest, courteous and ready with a laugh. He was larger than life...........and now, very sadly, this is no longer the case. I saw him last in Vancouver, four years ago, when he and Happy entertained my wife and me to a splendid dinner. And he might be glad to be remembered as a wonderful host. Farewell Willie

March 12, 2021, Jessica Yan

My sincere condolences.

March 13, 2021, Tommy Lee

Hi Willie We first met 68 years ago; the Josephian years passed quickly but fate kept us in touch on and off even though I moved from HK to Sydney to Seattle. I still remember our mutual pep talks just a few weeks ago. Your shining character will be sorely missed

March 15, 2021, Della Summers

So sorry to hear this. Willie was a great man and a great colleague. I liked him very much. Please accept my condolences.
Della Summers
(Ex-head of Longman Dictionaries)

March 16, 2021, Clare Vickers

RIP, Willie. We shared a love of dictionaries... you were a shining star!

March 17, 2021, Linda Pelham

I can say without doubt that Willie was the most important and influential person in my working life. He gave me my first job in publishing; and he was generous with his advice and wise in his guidance. Thanks to Willie I was offered a place on the writing team of Welcome to English, Longman's new primary English course, that went on to break new ground and many records. It was Willie's stewardship of this project that made it such a success.

I also have reason to thank Willie for another life-long friendship when he asked me to go to Beijing in the spring of 1984 to work with Wong Chiu Yin on the publication of the first edition of the China Investment Guide.

What an extraordinarily full and rich life Willie had: his successful career building Longman into a publishing powerhouse in HK and China but above all, in the respect and affection he inspired in his colleagues, family and friends. As a member of his Longman family I feel grateful and privileged to have known him.

Sending my deepest condolences to Happy, Yvonne, Kevin and their families.

March 18th, 2021, Julian Rea

I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Willie. I worked with willie for Longmans for many years and developed an admiration and fondness for him. He was a most generous man and a colleague who became a friend. My family are saddened by the news and we will remember you in our prayers.