Jamie 陈剑敏 Chen

Funeral Service for the Remembrance & Celebration of Jamie Chen will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2024 and will begin at 10:00 AM at El Camino Memorial - Lotus Chapel, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92124.

Jamie Chen, beloved husband, father, and esteemed engineer, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at the age of 64, surrounded by his loving family.

Jamie was a great man whose fearless positivity and drive to succeed was infectious to all that were fortunate to know him. Throughout his life, he relentlessly pursued his American Dream to create a life for him and his family that was always better than yesterday. He achieved this dream thanks to his love of technology, enthusiasm for investing, and Do-It-Yourself attitude.

Born on October 30, 1959 in Shanghai, China, Jamie was a gifted child who demonstrated exceptional intelligence and curiosity from a young age. He pursued his passion for problem-solving and engineering at the prestigious Shanghai Jiaotong University. He later graduated in 1982 where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering.

After graduating, he was quickly referred to Shanghai Machine Tool Works (SMTW), China’s largest manufacturer specializing in precision machining tools. There, he worked his first job out of university and helped usher SMTW into the age of computer-aided design. It was also during this time that Jamie met his future wife, Leslie. The two quickly became inseparable, learning English together and sharing a deep connection that led to their marriage on August 27, 1987, just one day before Jamie left for the United States with only a suitcase, $1000 in his pocket, and an F-1 Student Visa.

With Leslie’s help, the young couple went to her workplace at Shanghai Chemical Imports & Exports, where together they snuck in after hours to use the company’s Telefax machine to send Jamie’s applications to American universities. Thanks to this daring action and Jamie’s determination to seek greater opportunities, he was later accepted into the University of Arizona where he earned his Master’s Degree in Engineering Mechanics. His early years in America were marked by hard work, perseverance, and the unwavering support of his wife, who joined him in the U.S with an F-2 visa three months later. Together, they built a life filled with love, overcoming challenges and embracing new opportunities.

As a devoted father, Jamie’s greatest pride and joy were his two sons, Jason (born April 27, 1989) and Jesse (born October 19, 1995). Amidst every challenge his family faced, including his eldest son's decade-long battle with leukemia as a child, Jamie stood as an unwavering pillar of strength that his family could always lean on. Even now, he continues to serve as an amazing role model for his two sons who both recognize the monumental effort and determination he exerted to prioritize his family’s well-being.

Jamie’s professional career spanned several decades, during which he made many significant contributions to the field of engineering and technology. He worked at Pacific Numerix (1989), Metaflow Technologies (1994), Synopsys (1999), Magma Design Automation (2008), ICScape (2012), ANSYS (2019), and Cadence Design Systems (2022), leaving a lasting impact at each company.

In addition to his engineering career, Jamie was deeply interested in all things finance, from real estate and tax codes to foreign currency exchange and stocks. What started as a necessity to financially support his family quickly became a passion to maximize his finances. In addition to earning his California Realtor’s license in 2005, he accumulated a wealth of financial knowledge throughout his life that he happily shared with anyone interested in listening, even going as far as joining and giving lectures to a club of like-minded San Diegan investors.

In February 2023, Jamie was diagnosed with lymphoma. Even in the face of life-threatening illness, he remained unyieldingly optimistic, never letting on how serious it was and always brimming with confidence that he would one day return to his normal life.

Jamie will be remembered for his brilliant mind, his unwavering strength of will, and his deep love for his family. He is survived by his wife, Leslie; his sons, Jason and Jesse; and his parents, Yuantong and Yueqin. Jamie’s legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Jamie was a practical man and he would appreciate donating to a cause to fight cancers that affected both him and his eldest son. To donate, click the link below.

https://diy.lls.org/JamieChen