Chia-chen Chu (Cecilia) Kang, Ph.D Princeton, N.J. April 14, 1923 to June 22, 2009 Services On: 6/28/09
Chia-chen, 86, Princeton resident for 42 years, died June 22, 2009 at home. Born in Shanghai, China she immigrated to the United States to get her advanced degree in chemistry. While at the University of Illinois, she met and married Chi Lung (Charles) Kang. At a time when women rarely had significant careers, she had a distinguished career as an analytic chemist with M.W. Kellogg, culminating in her becoming responsible for the analytic chemistry department of the company. She left the company to develop her ideas to increase the efficiency of converting coal to gas, and received multiple patents. Her success in her career enabled to her honor her father by establishing a fellowship at the University of Illinois so other Chinese women could have the same opportunities for success she had. Survived by husband of 58 years, Chi Lung (Charles) Kang, Princeton; son & daughter-in-law, Jeff and Brenda Kang, West Hartford, CT; son & daughter-in-law, Ray & Kim Kang, Orono, MN; five grandchildren, Lee Kang, Chelsea Kang, Harrison Kang, Eleanor Kang and Rachel Kang, three sisters, Baofen Zhu, South River, NJ; Jiaofeng Zhu, East Brunswick, NJ; Jiacui Zhu, Shanghai, PRC; three brothers, Jiapeng Zhu; East Brunswick, NJ; Jiakun Zhu, Piscataway, NJ, Jiahong Zhu, Shanghai, PRC and numerous nieces and nephews. A gathering service, 11:30 – 1:30 P.M. Sunday, June 28, 2009 Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ. and reception at Shanghai Park restaurant, Princeton, NJ from 2:00-4:00PM. A memorial service will be held in Princeton at a future date. Condolences can be submitted online at www.thekimblefuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Chia-chen Chu Fellowship Fund, c/o University of Illinois Foundation, 1305 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801.