By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — Saturday morning was both a happy day and a sad day.
It was happy, because it was the day that the Ruby Shiau Chiang Memorial Field was dedicated at West Windsor Community Park.
And sad, because the dedication of the softball field took place almost one year to the day that Ms. Chiang died, following an automobile accident at the entrance to the park on the Princeton-Hightstown Road.
Over the past year, friends and supporters had raised nearly $50,000 to pay for improvements to the softball field, including two bullpens for the pitchers to warm up, new bases, and a scoreboard that bears Ms. Chiang’s name. She was a youth softball coach.
Dozens of young softball players — including girls that Ms. Chiang coached in the West Windsor Ninjas Travel Softball’s U-8 team — sat under tents, in lawn chairs and on the grass, along with their parents and other community members at the dedication ceremony.
“Wow,” said Niki Erb, as she looked out at the dozens of attendees on the softball field. Ms. Erb was a close friend of Ms. Chiang, and one of several speakers at the dedication ceremony.
“Look around and you see bunches of families, friends and co-workers. They have come to this one place that has special significance. This (softball) is what Ruby lived for,” said Ms. Erb, who coached the Ninjas girls softball team with Ms. Chiang.
Everyone knew she loved being a coach, Ms. Erb said. But Ms. Chiang had so many dimensions, she said. Ms. Chiang also wanted to be a great friend, a great wife and a great co-worker. She loved her husband, Robert Chiang, and her children, Kevin and Julia, and was not afraid to show it.
Turning to Ms. Chiang’s family — her husband and children, and her parents and siblings — Ms. Erb said, “You guys are amazing. She was who she was because of you. She is what you wanted. It doesn’t happen by accident.”
Ms. Chiang had rules to live by — be nice, think good thoughts, say please and thank you, smile and listen to others “from your deepest heart,” speak kindness and never give up, Ms. Erb said. But the most important thing her friend taught her was to be happy with what you have, she said.
“Losing Ruby stinks. There is nothing okay about it. (But) we are better people because of her. When I needed Ruby, she was always there,” she said.
Brian Mayer, who serves on the West Windsor Ninjas Travel Softball’s board of trustees, said that what he remembers most about Ms. Chiang is her smile. She had a great smile, but more importantly, she made everyone around her smile — friends, family, co-workers, coaches and players, he said.
“Ruby always had the ability to make the players and coaches around her feel good about anything that was worrying us. She would focus on hitting and made every girl a better all-around player,” Mr. Mayer said. She had a way with all of the girls that made everyone smile.
But last August, no one wanted to smile. “Our hearts were broken and our heads were low,” he said, after her death. But during the winter, Mr. Chiang called him and spoke about plans to name the field after Ms. Chiang — which ultimately led to Saturday’s softball field dedication.
“Let’s always remember Ruby for the happiness and joy she brought all of us. When you come to this park, please take a moment to look at the Ruby Chiang Memorial Field and make the corners of your mouth turn up in a smile. That is what Ruby would always do for us, so we need to return the favor,” he said.
Ms. Chiang’s family — her parents, Jeff and Jane Shiau, and her brother and sister, Kelly Shiau and Vickie Shiau Chou, thanked the community for its support. Her father said they had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support in the wake of Ms. Chiang’s death.
“We hope that every time you have a gathering at this special field, that you will remember Ruby’s gentle and kind spirit and take a piece of Ruby home with you in your hearts,” her brother, Kelly Shiau, said.
Ms. Chiang’s husband, Robert Chiang, said that “it has been a difficult year for our family.” But the community helped with so many acts of kindness — late night talks, providing meals for the family and giving a ride to Kevin and Julia when they needed it, he said.
Mr. Chiang recalled his wife’s grace, patience and unwavering love for her family. She would want everyone to be better parents and better people, he said, adding that he hoped the softball field would be a tribute to her.
“Turn off the TV, spend more time with family and cherish those moments with your family. They will not last forever,” he said.
“Ruby would not want this to end on a somber note. So, let’s fire up the scoreboard and let the games begin,” Mr. Chiang said.
