UC Berkley Chancellor dies at 67

[achtungbaby]

By MICHELLE LOCKE
The Associated Press

BERKELEY – Chang-Lin Tien, who became the first Asian-American to head a major U.S. university in his seven years as chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, has died. He was 67.

Tien, who had a debilitating stroke after surgery for a brain tumor in fall 2000, died Tuesday at Kaiser Permanente hospital in Redwood City, Berkeley officials said in a statement released today.

An internationally known expert on heat transfer and thermal science – he helped developed the insulating tiles for the space shuttle – Tien was also famous for his support of social causes, speaking out in favor of affirmative action before and after UC's governing board of regents dropped race-based admissions in 1995.

"His energy and optimism, his willingness to fight for the principles he cherished, and his loyalty and love for this campus made it stronger and better," Berkeley chancellor Robert M. Berdahl said in a statement.

full story (http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=9370&section=BREAKING_NEWS&year=2002&month=10&day=30)

[koreanp1e]

Where can I get more informations about him?

also ðÀ :frown:

[achtungbaby]

You can run a search for "Chang-Lin Tien" or check U.C. Berkeley's website.

[Chris]

I had the pleasure to meeting Dr. Tien in fundraiser and various nonprofit function and he is truly an inspiration to talk to. He will be greatly miss.

[bigwong235]

this is an email all students got from chancellor berdahl:

Dear Cal Students,

Last night the light that so brilliantly shines from our great university
flickered for a moment. One of our brightest leaders and dearest
friends has left us. Former Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien, 67, passed away Tuesday
night, Oct. 29, 2002. We grieve for him and for his family. On behalf
of the entire Cal community, we send our heartfelt condolences to his
wife, Di-Hwa; his children, Norman, Phyllis and Christine; and his
four grandchildren. To them we also express our enormous gratitude
for sharing him with us.

Chang-Lin Tien, who served Cal for 42 years as a professor of engineering and
as Chancellor from 1990-97, was a remarkable man and an exemplary scholar.
His boundless love of the University of California was matched only by
his devotion to his family and a determination to always do what was
right. His energy and optimism, his willingness to fight for the
principles he cherished, and his loyalty and love for this campus
made it a stronger and better place.

A campus memorial is planned for Thursday, Nov. 14, 3-4 p.m. at
Zellerbach Hall, with a reception to follow in the mezzanine. A
wonderful online tribute to Chancellor Tien has been produced by UC
Berkeley's Office of Public Affairs and may be viewed at:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/release...02/10/tien.html (http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2002/10/tien.html)

To honor Chang-Lin Tien - professor, chancellor and Golden Bear -
there is but one appropriate sign-off, said with spirit, even if
accompanied by tears: Go Bears!

Sincerely,
Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl

[kasia]

chancellor tien has done a lot for the asian american community at u.c. berkeley. he has lived a truly honorable life and is a man of integrity. and he will always be remembered as that.

[bwc]

sad occasion :cry:

[ChinaLama]

It's especially sad that he suffered illness and died so young, with so many potentially productive years ahead.

One of his memorial projects is the Chang-Lin Tien Center for East Asian Studies, at:

http://www.urel.berkeley.edu/tiencenter/

[deez nuts]

I been in the east coast all my life. He was an inspiration and gained my respect on what he meant for the AA community and what he did for the AA community. Truly a great man. My parents spoke very highly of him, reading about his accomplishments from Chinese newspapers from then till now.

[artsfartsyjanet]

I'm a bit angry that I didn't know there was an Asian chancellor anywhere in the US, but I can't blame anyone I guess.... Nonetheless, being aware about him so late is better than not knowing about him at all. I feel for everyone who knew him or hear of him. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

[Shuriken]

(Late post:) I had no idea that Chancellor Tien was in ill health. I would have hoped that he'd lived longer and continue to do more progressive work for the Asian American community. I'm sad that he's passed on.

[kwalan]

Originally posted by artsfartsyjanet@Oct 31 2002, 07:52 PM
I'm a bit angry that I didn't know there was an Asian chancellor anywhere in the US, but I can't blame anyone I guess.... Nonetheless, being aware about him so late is better than not knowing about him at all. I feel for everyone who knew him or hear of him. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
UC Santa Barbara has had an Asian chancellor since 1994. His name is Henry T Yang (http://www.chancellor.ucsb.edu/).

After reading about Chancellor Tien online, my parents mentioned his death to me recently and I was surprised they had heard about him.