Reuben Ezekiel Kadoorie

(Arabic: خضوري‎)

To our knowledge Reuben Ezekiel Kadoorie fathered four possibly five children in Shanghai, China. Two daughters and three sons with Catherine Lee Wai-Ying, a Eurasian from Tsing Tao, Shendung Province. Their introduction was apparently through a mistress of another prominent Jewish businessman. Reuben was 51 and Catherine 16 when their first daughter Flora was born in 1918.

Catherine was an attractive Teutonic-featured and statuesque woman about 5'6" with a very commanding presence, spoke English, Cantonese and Shanghainese but was illiterate. Fleeing an epidemic in Tsing Tao, Catherine's parents absconded with their son but abandoned Catherine and her old sister (who later died). It was a kindly neighbor that helped Catherine to safety in Shanghai.

The family lived in a very large mansion [address being verified] befitting his name and success with the stockbroking firm Benjamin & Kelly. He was also known as R.E. Kelly. The house had servants, gardeners, two kitchens (one Kosher).

Historical recounts from his two daughters Flora and Rosa suggest Reuben left Baghdad at a very early age (11-13yo) travelling by foot to India, probably Bombay, where he secured work with family members. This led him to Shanghai where he was involved in the family businesses and then worked at Benjamin & Kelly. Reuben was also an active member of The Shanghai Race Club and owned winning horses under the name of Mr Durgor. He suffered from abdominal complaints and received regular medical treatment, possibly overseas.

In or around 1932 after the death of their fourth child (infant son) and birth of a fifth child, Reuben's common-law union with Catherine Lee became estranged. Reuben then resided at 905 Yu Yuan Road while he maintained his family within walking distance in lesser accommodation at 8 Edinburgh Road.

He passed in 1941 aged 74. His demise was during the Japanese occupation of China and an era of frozen assets. Leaving only a non-certified Will and bedside familial testimony, his children were left bereft of formal acknowledgement, faith and any support. All Reuben's assets were liquidated and his wealth subsumed by the Kadoorie businesses apparently aided by a lawyer called Koffman or Kaufman (who subsequently died in Paris, France). Catherine was evicted from 8 Edinburgh Road after unsuccessfully contesting ownership.

Flora was born with olive skin and thick black hair. She says her father calling her "my little Indian". Rosa on the other hand was fair skinned with auburn hair. Both remained very attractive well into their later years.

Flora recalls her father taking them as children to the cinema, family meals, going to Thomas Handbury School for Girls in their chauffeur driven dark blue Buick car (replaced with a rickshaw because the car was too ostentatious for the school), taking dancing lessons at Marble Hall, friendship with the Cheung children (offspring of Sir Ellis's daughter), receiving pocket money which was later substantially increased so she would not seek work in an office, offers of overseas education (countermanded by Catherine) and then to match-make her with a good Jewish husband. Striving for independence and attracting her own suitors, Flora married the charming Richard Lieu Kit-Yue at age [verify] and lived at [address being verified] where they had three children.

Recounts from Hillaire du Berrier (Rosa's first husband) indicate that in 1943 Rosa was gifted about $10,000 by the Kadoorie family which, on dubious advice, she invested in shares of an unsuccessful biochemical company. Being married to a US Citizen, Rosa was able to escape China to live in the USA but spent many very difficult years as a solo mother in Dekota until she remarried and resided in Concord Massachusetts. She passed in San Antonio Texas [verifying date] and is survived by one daughter, two granddaughters (both winners of State beauty contests) and four great grandchildren who all live in close proximity in New Hampshire.

Catherine, Flora and their families remained in Shanghai under the Japanese occupation. Being Eurasian and stateless they avoided being placed in the prison camps but suffered greatly nonetheless.

With no nationality or certified papers, Catherine fled Shanghai in 1949-1952 with the help of Flora (travelling with Flora and her three young children, two devoted ah-mas, and one small bag each) undergoing a perilous road and Pearl River journey to Macau. They entered Macau as refugees (disguised to look Chinese and terrified they would be rejected and forced to go back). They then made their way to Hong Kong where they resided for more than 3 years (July 1952-March 1956) all in one bedroom as guests of a friend at 1st floor, 66 Robinson Road. Catherine and Flora selling their jewelry to pay for their upkeep.

Catherine lived in Hong Kong for many years in the care of her daughter Flora and Catherine's sons. Suffering a serious accident (c1960's?) where she was rammed and pinned against a wall by an out of control truck, Catherine claimed an epiphany and became a devout Christian. She immigrated to Sydney Australia, made a number of visits to Shanghai (to see her youngest daughter Amy at 7 Yu Yuen Road Lane 1032 and seek medical treatment) and then moved to Honolulu Hawaii where she passed in 1983 aged 81.

Flora divorced her first husband and married Bob Richards on 8th September 1956, lived in rented apartments at 117-1 (April-August 1956) and (from September 1956) at 115-1 Grand Court, Kadoorie Avenue. The two Ah-Mas "Ah-Ngun" (Silver) and "Ah-Ng" (Number 5) who traveled with Flora from Shanghai remained in service to her new blended family (often without pay due to the family's desperate circumstances - at peak there were 12 people in the household). Both Ah-Mas became Buddhist nuns and retired to the monastery on Lantau Island.

Being "stateless", Flora eventually secured a passport for Hong Kong British Nationality on 6th July 1966 and in 1979 successfully immigrated to Auckland, New Zealand where she finally achieved Citizenship and home ownership. At time of writing 23rd August 2013, Flora is alive and well, age 95. Her family of "jewels" are safely scattered around the globe; five children (from two marriages), two stepchildren, thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren in Sussex and London England, Vancouver Canada, California and Arizona, Sydney Melbourne and Perth Australia, and Auckland New Zealand.

It's with great sadness that we advise of the peaceful passing of Flora Kadoorie Richards on 7th August 2014, a mere 39 days short of her 96th birthday. Born in the Chinese Year of the Horse, Flora was indeed like the most elegant Arabian Horse, with stunning looks, courage, stamina and longevity. Leading, guiding and scattering her own herd of children and step children to new and more fruitful lands and futures, she found stable ground in New Zealand and it is here that her ashes will be interred (together with her husband Bob). A final resting place in her own promised land renowned for green pastures and clean air.