Shenbei Zhang

Shenbei Zhang died peacefully at his home in Carlsbad, CA on February 16, 2026, at the age of 88. Shenbei was born on November 25, 1937, in Bei Bei, Chong Qing(北碚, 重庆), son of the late Yao Ming and Zhang Zong Han. He is survived by his wife, Qinyu Xu, daughter Ying Zhang, son-in-law Robert Madison, grandsons Thomas & Alex Madison of Carlsbad, California. He is also survived by two sisters, one brother and many nieces, nephews, extended family in China.

Shenbei grew up during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the family moved frequently. After the war, the family settled down in Shanghai, where his dad started a position with East China Normal University. Shenbei graduated from Tong Ji High School and was accepted into multiple colleges including Tsinghua University, which he was unable to attend due to tuberculosis. After the recuperation, he started to work as an apprentice at Institute of Biochemistry Chinese Academy of Science. Shenbei would spend over four decades serving in various positions within the Chinese Academy of Science. This is the place where he completed his graduate school, met his future wife, built his career, his family and made countless friends. After his retirement from the Academy, he kept close contacts with former colleagues, cheered for every milestone and success they have achieved.

They say that life starts when you are 30, for Shenbei, it starts well into his 50s. He would join his family in United States in 1994 and worked as a marketing specialist for Promega Corporation in Madison, Wisconsin for another 10+ years before retiring again and spent his golden years in the sunny Carlsbad, California. The birth of his grandsons brought chaotic happiness in his life, he loved watching them growing up as a proud grandfather. Shenbei also became “the person” to go to for his two “grand-dogs”, they could always get endless amounts of treats from him. With family, Shenbei did lots of traveling all over the world. Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and of course China. He was a true believer in life lies in movement. Everyone in the neighborhood knows him because they see him taking his walk every day. Our family was able to care for him in home hospice setting during the last phase of his life. It was during this time, a hummingbird built her nest in their back yard and hatched two eggs. Shenbei would love to know that the young birds took their fledge and started a new life.

He will be deeply missed and forever in our heart. To celebrate Shenbei’s life, please share with us of your story or upload a photo of him.

张申碚先生于2026年2月16日在美国加州Carlsbad的家中安详辞世，享年88岁。张申碚在1937年11月25日出生于重庆北碚，是姚明女士和张宗汉先生的儿子。他身后留下了妻子徐琴钰、女儿张缨、女婿罗伯特·麦迪逊以及外孙托马斯和亚历克斯·麦迪逊（均居住于加州Carlsbad）。此外，他还留下了两位姐妹、一位弟弟以及众多侄子、侄女和其他在中国的亲属。

申碚在抗日战争期间长大，随家人频繁搬迁。战后，全家定居上海，父亲在华东师范大学任职。申碚毕业于同济中学，曾被多所大学(包括清华大学)录取, 但因患肺结核未能入学。康复后，他开始在中国科学院生物化学研究所做学徒。张申碚先生在中国科学院工作了四十余年，在多个研究所担任过各种职务。在这里，他完成了研究生学业，遇到了未来的妻子，建立了事业和家庭，结交了无数朋友。从科学院退休后，他与昔日的同事保持着密切联系，为他们取得的每一个里程碑和成就而欢呼雀跃。

人们常说人生从三十岁开始，但对申碚来说，他的人生却从五十多岁才真正开始。1994年，他来到美国与家人团聚，并在威斯康星州麦迪逊市的Promega公司担任市场专员十余年，之后再次退休，在阳光明媚的加州Carlsbad安享晚年。孙子的出生给他的生活带来了无尽的喜悦，他作为一位骄傲的祖父，乐于看着他们长大。申碚也成了家里的“狗狗保姆”，他女儿的两只爱犬总能从他那里得到数不尽的零食。申碚经常与家人一起环游世界，足迹遍布阿拉斯加、夏威夷、欧洲，当然还有中国。他坚信生命在于运动。街坊邻居都认识他，因为他们每天都能看到他散步。在他生命的最后阶段，我们都在家中为他提供临终关怀服务。就在这段时间，一只蜂鸟在他家后院筑巢，孵出了两枚蛋。申碚一定会很高兴知道，小鸟们已经羽翼丰满，开始了新的生活。

我们将永远怀念他，他将永远活在我们心中。为了纪念申碚，请与我们分享您与他的故事，或者上传一张他的照片。