Jimmy Chung Ming Yang

Jimmy Chung Ming Yang, loving husband and father, doting grandfather, and foodie extraordinaire passed away peacefully on September 30, 2016.

Born in China on September 14, 1945, Jimmy spent most of his childhood in Taiwan. The eldest of five brothers, Jimmy honed his leadership skills by bossing his little brothers around constantly. It didn't matter because they all loved their "da ge" (big brother) and obeyed his every word. For Jimmy, family meant everything. When his mother was battling cancer, Jimmy devoted his time and energy caring for her, traveling across continents and oceans to help her find better treatments.

Jimmy was the kind of man you'd want as a friend. Generous and loyal, Jimmy never hesitated to help a friend in need, even if it meant self-sacrifice. In good times, he was gregarious -- fun-loving, witty, and always up for a karaoke party. In difficult times, he was steadfast -- his own heart ached when he witnessed friends going through hardships.

The love of his life was a girl he met at a dance party in Taipei, over 40 years ago. Apparently, Bonnie and her friends had decided to dress in matching outfits, so it was a little challenging to tell the young women apart. But for Jimmy, his eyes and heart found his one and only. There was a hitch though. Jimmy was heading to the United States to continue his graduate studies in chemical engineering. A man of certainty and action, he proposed after only six months of courtship and Bonnie emigrated to the U.S. Together, they built a lifetime of memories.

Everyone who knew Jimmy knew that no distance was too great to seek out the best dishes that he'd then recreate in his own kitchen. One of his greatest joys was to cook for his family, especially his two granddaughters Isabel and Annabel whose palettes and foodie adventures are sophisticated and discriminating beyond their young ages, thanks to grandpa's culinary gifts.

There isn't enough space to list out all the family and friends who loved and knew Jimmy. Everyone who remembers him is asked to celebrate his memory in their own way. If it helps, he appreciated an upbeat karaoke song, a fine Cuban cigar, and a good drink. He leaves behind his wife, Bonnie Yang and daughter, Vivian Shic, whose worlds will be just a little less brighter without him.