Yu Chen Lin

Yu Chen Lin passed away on January 25, 2026, at the age of 93.

Born in Beijing, China, Yu Chen was the youngest of three children of Shu-Hua Li, a prominent educator and academic, and Chen-Yuan Wan, who passed away when Yu Chen was only five years old. In 1950, at the age of 18, Yu Chen emigrated to America by way of France.

Yu Chen began her American education at Lindenwood College, a small women's college in St. Charles, Missouri, where she found a nurturing environment that eased her transition to a new country and language while forming lifelong friendships. She graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in chemistry and biology. Though drawn to medicine, limited financial resources led her to pursue a Master of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which she completed in 1956.

At Wisconsin, she met Tien-Hui (Lewis) Lin, whom she married in the summer of 1956. Their partnership was tragically cut short when Lewis passed away unexpectedly in the winter of 1965. They had no children.

Yu Chen continued her academic pursuits while working in research positions at Temple University and Jefferson Medical College. In 1971, she earned her PhD in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She joined the faculty of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), where she distinguished herself over the course of two decades, ascending to full professor and earning numerous teaching awards and accolades for her dedication to educating future healthcare professionals.

Beyond academia, Yu Chen was an avid traveler, enjoying cross-country road trips, Caribbean cruises, and tours through Europe and Asia, often accompanied by her beloved niece Pauline. She nurtured a lifelong passion for photography, enjoyed quilting and trips to Atlantic City, and was a devoted fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles.

Yu Chen Lin's life was marked by resilience, intellectual achievement, and an enduring warmth that touched the lives of students, colleagues, family, and friends. She will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her niece, Pauline Li and her husband David Cheney of Kendall Park, New Jersey; her nephew, George Li and his wife Katherine, of Sugar Land; grand-nephew, Brian of Sugar Land, TX.

Family and friends are invited to attend her Visitation, Saturday, March 21st from 11 AM – 12 PM at Jackson Funeral Home, 308 Haddon Avenue, Haddon Township, NJ, where her Memorial service will begin at 12 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Yu Chen’s memory may be made to the Glaucoma Research Foundation 131 Steuart Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94105.

Arrangements by Jackson Funeral Home, Haddon Township, NJ www.jacksonfh.net