Dr. Yu Min Chen

Dr. Yu Min Chen, 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones into the eternal presence of God on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in San Francisco, CA.

Yu Min Chen (陳裕民) was born on December 19, 1940, to Jing Fu Chen and Ying Bao Wang in Shanghai, China. The youngest of five children, he excelled in academics at Nanyang Model Middle and High School, graduating with top honors while enjoying sports as a versatile athlete, with some of his favorites including basketball, volleyball, and swimming. After high school, Yu Min was admitted to Chi-Lu Medical University.

In medical school, Yu Min met his wife Yun Hsu Hsieh while working on a school project with Yun Hsu’s older brother. While at her home, Yu Min instantly became captivated by Yun Hsu’s kindness and beauty. In January 1970, Yu Min married Yun Hsu in Shanghai. Together, they welcomed their daughter, Charlene, in 1971. Yu Min served as a physician and surgeon in China until his family immigrated to San Francisco, CA, in the late 1970s.

In the Sunset District, Yu Min became a one of the first clinical professors and directors at the San Francisco College of Acupuncture. For the many decades, Yu Min found true happiness improving the health of thousands of patients he treated seven days a week as an acupuncturist in his clinics, the Noriega and Oakland Acupuncture Centers. He brought hope to couples seeking to start families of their own as he understood the value of his. He dedicated everything he could to his patients with cancer diagnoses. For him, medicine was his authentic calling – for decades until his passing, he cared for patients as family, ensuring they received the best treatments and conversations.

A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Yu Min illuminated the lives of his family with his blend of unconditional love, radiant storytelling, and generosity in multitudes. While his daughter studied at UC Davis, he commuted hours weekly by car to deliver home cooked meals. He directly inspired Charlene to become a healthcare provider as a dentist and supported her dream of opening her own practice clinic. He valued his grandchildren, Tom, Jack, and Kate, as one of his top priorities and joys. For two decades, he always found the time to be there for them amidst his full schedule with patients — whether this meant early-morning school drop-offs, after-school frozen yogurt outings, or weekend trips to Costco and Barnes & Noble. Yu Min reminded his grandchildren on the importance of education, supporting them as they won school Knowledge Bowl tournaments to attending graduations as they headed off to top high schools and colleges. He never forgot to congratulate them after finishing a big test or reaching a major accomplishment in life.

Yu Min is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Yun Hsu; daughter Charlene and husband Nam; and grandchildren Tom, Jack, and Kate.

A funeral service for Dr. Chen will be held Sunday, August 31, 2025, from 9 AM to 1:45 PM in Chapel of the Roses at Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave, San Jose, CA 95125, followed by a committal service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.