In June 2000, when Chang turned 100, his wife Edith Chao passed away. Afterwards, Chang grieved deeply and rarely spoke. Family members would often find him sitting alone, lost in thought. In September of this year he was hospitalized to treat chronic pneumonia.
張學良於去年六月度過百歲生日後，即遭逢夫人趙一荻病逝之痛，張學良從此變得寡言，家人和看護時常看到少帥獨坐沉思。