Obituary of Kenneth Chi-Kun Yang

On February 24, 2015, Kenneth "Kenny" Chi-Kun Yang (楊基焜) passed peacefully unto our Lord Jesus Christ. Kenny was born on January 12, 1932 in Ching-Shui, Taichung, Taiwan to Chao-Chia Yang (楊肇嘉) and Pi-Yun Chang Yang (楊張碧雲). He spent his childhood in Japan, China, and Taiwan with his family and his father, an intellectual and political emissary, as well as a former Minister of the Interior of Taiwan. Kenny learned at a young age, at the knee of his father, the importance of supporting one's community and in providing aid to those in need. In 1954, Kenny emigrated to the United States as a student of Business Administration and Mathematics at the University of North Carolina and West Georgia University. In his youth and early years in the States, Kenny was very involved in the Taiwanese community and was a dedicated supporter of Taiwanese independence. Kenny came to Washington, DC in 1960, where he would eventually settle and build a family with his wife Mary, and children Elizabeth and Michael in Washington, DC; Annandale, Virginia; and later in Great Falls, Virginia. In addition to his active family life, Kenny also continued his long journey of extensive activism in the community. In 1968, he was the founding president of the Taiwanese Association of America, Greater Washington Chapter (formerly known as the Formosan Club). In 1985, along with several other Asian-American financial leaders, he founded Eastern American Bank, FSB (now known as "Fulton Bank") in McLean, VA, serving as its first Chairman of the Board from 1986 to 1990. Kenny was also a member of the McLean Rotary Club, as a Paul Harris Fellow, since 1989, also serving as its Treasurer and Chairman of the Club's Committee on World Community and Service Projects. From 1992-1993, he also served as the President of American Citizens of Taiwan Origin. And from 1996-1997 he served as the President of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Council. Even after retirement, Kenny remained active in his community, he was a strong supporter of the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church and served as a Japanese instructor at the Washington DC Taiwanese School (Hoahuo Taioaan Haghau) from the mid 2000's until his passing. Professionally, Kenny was also very involved as well. He formed his own computer consulting firm, Systems Concept, Inc, based on his wide ranging experience with computers from the late 1960's to the late 1980's. He was formerly affiliated with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, as a Technical Officer from 1981 to 1987. And from 1973 to 1981 he served as Assistant Director of Biometric Laboratory. He also held a research faculty appointment at the George Washington University in Washington, DC from 1965 to 1978. After a long and fulfilling professional life, Kenny retired in the early 1990's and was able to spend much time traveling abroad and going on hiking trips with Mary and friends. Always active in his youth, sports were a large part of Kenny's life, particularly tennis and soccer, and in his retirement golf sparked a renewed passion for sports, which he enjoyed very much, as a member of Lowe's Island Club in Sterling, Virginia and at the YMCA in Reston, Virginia, where he was a devoted student of many classes, including tai-chi and yoga. He was a great fan of his favorite UNC Tar Heel basketball team, the Washington Redskins, and always rooted for the underdog. The millennium also brought to Kenny one, or rather three, of the great joys of his life, his grandchildren, Natalie, Veronica, and Marcus. Kenny was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all who met him. Always patient and mindful of others needs, with never a poor thought or word for anyone, he was steadfastly cheerful, smiling, and thinking of others until the end. He is survived by his wife Mary and daughter Elizabeth of Great Falls, Virginia; son Michael and daughter-in-law Soo, and his treasured grandchildren Natalie, Veronica, and Marcus of San Mateo, California; and his sister Shiang Shun Yang Tsai (蔡楊湘薰) of Taipei, Taiwan. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.