Shinin Zhu

Shinin was born on September 6, 1946, in Shenyang, China. He was bright and curious from a young age and excelled in school. He often helped his classmates with their studies and was loved by his family, appreciated by his teachers, and respected by his peers.

As a child, he dreamed of becoming a scientist. After he graduated from high school in 1965, the Cultural Revolution began, and because of his family background he was not allowed to attend college. He was assigned to work at the Shanghai Tractor Factory. When the national college entrance exam resumed in 1977, he worked tirelessly and earned admission to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, one of China’s top science and engineering schools. The admission rate that year was roughly one out of every hundred applicants. He completed his undergraduate degree in Physics and his master’s degree in Computer Engineering, and then joined the university as a faculty member.

In 1986, at nearly forty years old, he decided to pursue further education in the United States. He arrived with only two hundred dollars and supported himself by working while studying. He earned a master’s degree in Computer Science from Wayne State University and began working at Chrysler as a software engineer while pursuing his Ph.D. After nearly ten years of effort, in 1997, Shinin received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Wayne State, with a focus on artificial intelligence.

He continued his career at Chrysler, eventually becoming a Senior IT Analyst before retiring in 2008. In addition, he taught part-time at Oakland University, Macomb Community College, and Wayne County Community College.

Shinin was an honest and kind man. He studied diligently, worked hard, and never forgot those who helped him. Each year, he donated to the university that supported him during his studies as a gesture of gratitude.

Shinin is survived by his wife, Limei; his son, Zhenyu; his daughter-in-law, Lin; and his grandson, Jerry. He is also survived by his older sister, Xiepei; his younger sister, Xiehong; and his younger brother, Xieping. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.