Yaa-Yin Fong

Yaa-Yin Fong, age 61, passed away unexpectedly on November 28, 2018.

Yaa-Yin was born on July 29, 1957 in Taichung, Taiwan to Wen-Zheng Fong and Pian-Pian Wei. She is survived by her beloved husband, Peter Crouch, son Richard Meng, brother Chi-Chau Fong (Mei-Yen Lee), sister Ya-Fen Fong (Hsien-Ming Tsai), and brother Chi-Rong Fong (Bi-Ching Chung).

She grew up in Wufeng (Foggy Mountain), a suburb of Taichung, as the oldest of four siblings, who she helped to raise. One of her earliest memories is skipping through the rice paddies on her way to school. She spoke Taiwanese, Mandarin and English and could carry on a conversation in all three at once.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1979 from Feng Chia University, in Taiwan and immigrated to Arizona in 1980, to attend Arizona State University (ASU), earning her MBA in 1983. With her business savvy and dedication to academics, she quickly grew into a leadership role at ASU after starting her career there as an accountant. When she left ASU 23 years later, she was the Chief Operating Officer of the Biodesign Institute.

Yaa-Yin had a son, Richard, with her first husband, Chian-Lee Meng, in 1984. Her passion for education extended to her home life as well. She raised her son during her 26 years in Arizona, instilling in him strong values that continue to serve him well today. She volunteered for the Chinese Linguistic School of Phoenix, where she was a teacher and rising to principal. She loved sharing her culture and academic passions with her students.

On June 23, 2005 Yaa-Yin married her best friend and love, Peter Crouch, and they honeymooned in Hawaii, not knowing that they would be moving there just a year later. In 2006, Yaa-Yin became the Director of the Office of Research Services for the University of Hawaii, and she served in that position for ten years before she and Peter moved to Texas to work for the University of Texas, Arlington, where Yaa-Yin was the Assistant Vice President of Academic Resource Planning.

Yaa-Yin had a joyous and adventurous spirit. She was an unstoppable force of life and love. She loved exploring with her two favorite men, Peter and Richard. Some of her favorite trips included traveling to China and Europe with her son; St. Petersburg and Italy with her husband; a winter train ride through Canada; her many visits home to Taiwan to see her family, and holiday visits to Monterey and her second home with Peter in San Jose.

She was always moving forward and forever learning. Most recently, Peter and she were taking salsa and ballroom dance lessons to impress at her 60th birthday celebration. Her many interests included playing the piano, trying (and failing) at swimming, and remaining the undefeated champion at Chinese chess with Peter.

Most importantly, Yaa-Yin cared deeply for her family and fed them with love and lots of food. One of her most famous dishes was Chinese beef noodle soup, a favorite of Peter and Richard’s to warm their bodies and spirits. Yaa-Yin’s generous spirit and kindness radiated out to those she loved. She loved hosting her friends and family, opening her home and heart everywhere she lived.

She will be dearly missed, and in our hearts forever.