Dear ICSA members and friends,
With great sadness, ICSA announces the loss of our one of the original ICSA members and the former branch chief of biostatistics at NICHD/NIH, Dr. Kai Fun Yu.
On Thursday, July 8, 2021, Kai Fun Yu, loving husband and father of two children passed away at age 70 after a 7-month battle with lymphoma. Kai was born in 1950 in China to Cheung Yu and Wai Chun Lau.
Kai received his bachelor’s degree at Dartmouth College and a PhD from Columbia University. Kai had a passion for teaching and began his career as a statistics professor at Yale University. Kai worked at NIH for 20 years and retired in 2011. After his retirement, Kai decided to return to his true passion, teaching, and spent five years in China at Tsinghua University and United International College. In 2016, Kai returned to Maryland where he enjoyed traveling and reading.
Kai loved life, and he grabbed every opportunity to try or learn something new. Kai always had a smile on his face and something insightful to share. He had infinite patience and a reassuring demeanor. Kai was known for his intellect, yet what really set him apart was his generous heart and how he made people feel.
It was his family, which brought Kai the most joy in life. Kai is remembered with love by his wife of 43 years, Eunice, son Jarvis, daughter Pauline, son-in-law Jay, and granddaughter Sloane. Kai will also be fondly remembered by his brothers and sister, Kwai-Lin, Kai-Bor, Kai Yuen, Kai Chun, and numerous nieces and nephews.