Shih - Cheng Chang

Dr. Chang received both his BA and LLB/LLM from National Cheng-Chi University majoring in Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy. Later on, in the Philippines, he received his Doctorate in International Foreign Relations from the University of Santo Thomas in Manila.

After a few stints as spot reporter and then editor for local papers in Taiwan, Dr. Chang started his diplomatic career by passing the National Elite Civil Service exam offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His score and essay during the exam was so outstanding that he was one of the few who were chosen to have a private meeting with then President Chiang Kai-Shek.

Dr. Chang’s first diplomatic assignment was in Manila, Philippines which was followed by another stint in Lima, Peru. In 1973, Dr. Chang was appointed as Deputy Consul General of the Consulate at New York for the Republic of China. He was then transferred to Seoul, Korea in 1978 to serve as its Consul General. He returned to Taiwan in 1983 to serve as Chief Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. There, he earned widespread respect and acclaim by helping younger career diplomats and peers selflessly in every way possible. One of the things he would do is to redline improprieties in the original report, discretely return it to the person who wrote it and ask it to be resubmitted in their own handwriting. While in Taiwan, he was asked to serve as adjunct professor at Fu-Ren University which he enjoyed tremendously especially interacting with those bright young college students. In 1987, he chose the post of Director-General of the Coordination Council of North American Affairs at Houston over an offer of Ambassadorship. As he put it to the Minister, it was far more important for him to be closer to his family than seeking a higher office. While he was in Houston, he was instrumental in re-establishing formal diplomatic relationship between Nicaragua and Republic of China by arranging a private meeting with then president-elect of Nicaragua who was visiting the Texas Medical Center on a personal trip. In 1990, after spending three joyful years in Houston where his younger son resides, he did finally accept a presidential appointment to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary to the Solomon Islands and the Republic of Nauru. In 1992, he became the Chief Representative of the Mission of the Republic of China to the Republic of Papua New Guinea. There, he accomplished the crowning achievement of his career by establishing formal diplomatic relationship between the two countries. He also lived through one of the most horrifying moments of his life while in Papua New Guinea, surviving a machine gun robbery by three terrorists at his office while protecting classified governmental records in its safe.

Dr. Chang retired in 1997 following a star-studded Foreign Service career of 37 years. He enjoyed golf, taichi, music, and was an avid follower of political events in Taiwan, China and United States. True to his diplomatic training, he loves to talk, to give speeches, telling humorous stories, and just being with people. He makes any party much more lively just with his mere presence. What is lesser known, as it came to light after his departure, is how generous and giving he’s been with high school and college classmates, colleagues, friends in addition to family and relatives. He will be missed, but his legacy shall live on.

He’s survived by his wife, Aichu Y. Chang, two sons and daughter-in-laws, Henry, Peter and their wives Mingder and Theresa. He has six grandchildren, Chris, Greg, Caroline and her husband Steven, Diana, Winston and Spencer, and one great grandson, Andrew Parker Katz, son of Drs. Caroline and Steven Katz.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00pm Friday December 23, 2011 in the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am Saturday December 24, 2011 in the Robert L. Waltrip Memorial Chapel 13001 Katy Freeway in Houston, Texas 77079.