Shirley S. Chu

Shirley S. Yu Chu passed away July 9, 2012. Shirley was born in Harbin, China on February 16, 1929. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the National Taiwan University, before immigrating to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1952 during the Communist Revolution. Shirley received her master’s degree in chemistry from Duquesne University in 1954 and following her marriage and the birth of her first two children, earned her doctorate in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 1961. Shirley was a member of the faculty in the School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University for twenty years, retiring as a full professor in 1988, where she was also a noted researcher in the field of materials science. During her distinguished career at SMU, Shirley was granted seventeen patents and authored over 150 scientific articles and one book. In 1971, she became the first woman to be chosen by students to receive the General Dynamics award for teaching excellence. Twice she was recognized as Best Professor at SMU and was also honored as a Distinguished Educator of America. Shirley was the first female to become a tenured full professor in the SMU School of Engineering. She also served as a professor in the School of Engineering at the University of South Florida between 1988 and 1991 and while there received the designation of Professor Emeritus. Shirley gave back to the institutions she served so that others could receive a quality education; there are currently endowed scholarships in her name and her husband’s name at both Southern Methodist University and Washington University. Shirley was a member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas for 44 years. Her hobbies included traveling internationally, cooking, needlepoint, and Pilates. Shirley is survived by her devoted husband of fifty-seven years, Ting L. Chu, children Dennis T. Chu, Dora T. Chu, and Daniel T. Chu, and grandchildren Kaitlin Elizabeth Chu, Zachary Daniel Chu, and Joshua Bradford Chu, all of Dallas, Texas. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 13 at 11:00 AM at the Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Baptist Church. On line condolences can be sent by going to www.sparkman-hillcrest.com