I used to say that Johnny met me against his will.  On the day we met, I barrelled into his and Janice's home for lunch, unannounced and uninvited.  I didn't know Janice well at the time, but they both welcomed me in and fed me dim sum.  Since that day, their home has always been open to me and my family, especially during difficult times.  Nowadays, you can often find my son lounging on their sofa with food he got from their fridge by himself (like father, like son).

Over the years, I've come to know of his academic and professional accomplishments.  He has many published papers, and he even worked on one recently during his illness.  However, these things don't make a good father or husband.  He showed it through his actions and being there for the kids.  He would beam when talking about Felix and Valerie.  In his final weeks and days, he would express his worry about Janice.  Despite his busy schedule and project timelines, he would make time to be at the pumpkin patch, pick blueberries, and support his kids' activities.  His kind and generous spirit can clearly be felt wherever he goes.  Reading through the condolence messages and seeing everyone in attendance is proof of that.

As a teacher at his children's school, I can proudly speak to Johnny's dedication and selflessness.  He has volunteered to teach dumplings to our Kindergarteners.  He spent countless hours planting and tending to flowers and vegetables at our school with Felix and Valerie.  Even now, we continue to enjoy seeing the tulips and hyacinths bloom beside the office and staffroom windows.  After his diagnosis, he was forced to reduce his gardening endeavours.  Can you imagine how our planters would look now if he could continue?

On behalf of the Chaffey-Burke community, I would lie to express my gratitude for making our school warmer and brighter.  Thank you, Johnny.

On behalf of my family, we are deeply grateful to have met you, and we will miss your greatly.

Dear Janice and Felix and your whole family,

Nothing can prepare you for this greatest loss you have had, but I am here for you. My heart breaks for you. You are strong and will get through this. It will take time and perseverance, but I believe in you. You have the will, you have support everywhere you turn. I send you my love and deepest sympathy,
Always,
Catherine Seminara
You are in my thoughts, you are in my prayers, you are in my heart.

Dear Shun and Janice,

My deep condolences. Shun was at AMPEL throughout my Master years. We met often at Squidbucks (which was then still in his lab). Shun was like a mature older brother: always calm, prudent, and look after younger students like myself then. 

Especially for the Chinese students and scholars who came to AMPEL/Canada alone, without friends and families around, Shun brought us together. We were all from different groups, but Shun always had this sense of mission to create a warm community for us. He connected us, organized get-togethers, invited us to his lovely home, and set up farewell parties those who were leaving.

Now it has come to the time to say farewell to the beloved Shun himself. I cannot express my sadness more. 

I still remember after one farewell party (which was also  shortly before Shun finally moved on from UBC), Shun took and shared the group photo and noted that we soon would all be going on our own ways and have our own life ahead (他感叹，今天一别，大家都会踏上各自的前程). Today, we are all around the world, but I believe everyone will remember his kindness, warmth and wisdom. 

I will remember that back at AMPEL, Shun was at the heart of us, and he will always be in the heart of us.

Again, my deep condolences. 

Xiruo

Dear Janice, Felix and Valerie,

it is with deep sadness that I am writing, and I am struggling to find words that describe my feelings and thoughts.
I have many fond memories of discussions with Shun during his visits in Stuttgart, at workshops in Vancouver and later via email. Shun was an exceptional scientist and person to work with.
I wish I would have found more time to visit Shun and you in Vancouver earlier.

With heartfelt sympathy,
Peter

Janice,

I am sorry for your loss of your husband. Please accept my deepest condolences to you and the family. 

I wish you courage to face with the days ahead and loving memories to hold in your heart forever.

Hui-na

First time we met Johnny was at his daughter's daycare pick up. Since our child and their children go to the same school, we saw the family at the school, birthday parties, playdates, and at parks. 

At a much later date, I learned how accomplished he was academically and professionally. But, to us, he was a regular loving father and a husband who deeply loved and cared about his family. 

Because we have seen Janice and Johnny fight the battle over the past few years with all they had, and because the kids are still so young, losing the battle against the illness seemed unimaginable despite the gravity of the situation. So, I was sad beyond words when I heard the news of Johnny's passing. 

Johnny was always gentle, soft-spoken, and humble. His kids are full of energies, but he had a way of handling them with a calm smile. We will miss him deeply.

My heart goes out to Janice and the family. May the love and memory of Johnny bring you comfort and healing.

Dear Shun (and Janice),

I am so sorry to have to communicate my thoughts in this way, and at such a difficult time for you. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you face this together. It was an honour for me to be around as your love grew into a beautiful marriage. It seems so unfair for it to be cut short in this way, but of course love lasts on, as does family. God's will if you think of things that way.

Shun, it was a great privilege to have you as one of my students, the very best of my career actually. My other great students all pointed to you as the most brilliant and inspiring one  amongst them. You helped lead the group to a level that was extraordinary, and you did so in a way that was humble (too humble really) and generous to everyone around you. Your impact on  a great many people will not be forgotten.

I headed into retirement recently, in part because I felt that I had already done the best that I would do in my career: the era of you, Brad, Natasha, and Graham will hold proud memories for me as each of you carved brilliant, unique, creative paths in research. I have retired to farming and working in my new community, knowing that I had a chance to work with such great students. I will always treasure the memory of working with you closely, seeing you emerge as a scholar, and as a truly fine gentleman.

I wish you peace and comfort and all the love imaginable.

 Doug Bonn

As Shun’s manager, I always smiled at the overwhelming outpouring of positive feedback others had for Shun – “he is very effective, intelligent, and hard-working; very reliable and dependable as a colleague; very kind, responsive, helpful.” I fully agree that he was all these things, and I am very sad to say farewell.

I was deeply saddened to hear the news. Shun was intelligent, always positive, and incredibly hard-working. I have fond memories of the time we worked together—his sense of humor made him a joy to be around. I remember talking with him about our kids —his kids and my kids are around the same age. He always spoke about his kids with such warmth and pride. I hope his children grow up knowing what a truly wonderful and admired father he was. Shun made a real impact on everyone around him and he will be dearly missed. 

-CY (Microsoft Colleague)

It was always a pleasure to talk to Shun, he brought a smile to every conversation. Shun will be remembered for his warmth, generosity and kindness. May his memory be a blessing to all the lives he has impacted. 

-ST (Microsoft Colleague)

Your warmth and kindness will never fade. We will always remember you with a big smile in our hearts. 

-EC (Microsoft Colleague)

I am sorry to hear of Shun's passing. When I think of the interactions I had with him, I always remember his kind nature and deep thoughtfulness. He always engaged, eager to listen and humbly sharing his knowledge with his colleagues. Shun had the ability to dig into hard topics and emerge with research, knowledge, and clarity in a way I deeply admired. My heart goes out to Shun's family in this time. I hope you are surrounded by good memories of him and know how many lives he touched. 

- CM (Microsoft Colleague)

I am sad that I never had the chance to meet Shun in person, but his calm and kind energy truly came through the screen from day one. Shun was incredibly intelligent, dedicated, and gentle with everyone he worked with. What I admired the most about him was his ability to share his wisdom so naturally, always with a deep and honest respect for others’ perspectives. I feel lucky to have crossed paths with him. He will be remembered with great admiration and affection. 

-AA (Microsoft Colleague)

Shun was a great person and colleague, always positive, hard-working and willing to help. He was very considerate of others and very kind. It was a pleasure working with him and I wish we had met in person too. He will be deeply missed.   

-AB (Microsoft Colleague)

I had the chance to work closely with Shun, and I wanted to share how much of a privilege that was. He was one of the kindest and most humble people I have met. Always patient, always willing to help, and a great listener. I remember his calm and wisdom that made everyone around him feel at ease. His smile, a little shy, had a spark that showed his sharp mind and subtle sense of humor. Working with him was not only a pleasure, but also an inspiring experience. He will be missed by all of us. 

-TG (Microsoft Colleague)

I feel fortunate to have known and collaborated with Shun. His dedication, keen attention to detail, deep expertise, and adaptability were qualities I deeply admired. 

Beyond his professional excellence, it was Shun’s calm, humble, and genuinely kind nature that left a lasting impression on me. Every interaction with him was a joy, and he brought warmth and positivity to those around him. He will be fondly remembered and truly missed. 

-VS (Microsoft Colleague)

Dear Shi family,  

I am deeply sorry for your loss. We were very sad at Microsoft to hear about Shun's passing. I met Shun as an intern on the team; I’ll always remember how eager he was to share his knowledge, how passionate he was about his work, and the thoughtful career advice he gave me. His kindness and positive spirit left a lasting impression on me. Please know that your family is in my thoughts during this difficult time. 

Sincerely,
   HG (Microsoft Colleague)

得知舜的离世，我深感悲痛。他不仅是一位值得信赖的同事，更是一位珍贵的朋友，是我可以依靠并分享生活点滴的人。

我将永远铭记他对工作的热情，以及他谈论研究时的那份投入与专注——他的敬业精神令人钦佩。而在工作之外，舜更是一个懂得欣赏生活的人。他谈起家人时的温暖与自豪让我印象深刻，特别是他对妻子和孩子的爱溢于言表，生活中的这些幸福时刻带给了他无尽的喜悦。

在漫长的治疗过程中，舜展现了非凡的勇气和坚韧，这些品质让我由衷钦佩。在面对艰难挑战时，他的坚强让人动容。

得知您和您的家人失去舜，我深感遗憾与悲痛。我衷心希望舜现在已经安息在一个没有痛苦的地方。他的善良、毅力和爱将继续激励着所有认识他的人。愿您和您的家人在这悲痛的时刻找到慰藉，我的心与您同在。

----

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Shun. He was not only a trusted colleague but also a cherished friend, someone I could always rely on and share life’s moments with.

I will always remember his genuine passion for his work and the enthusiasm with which he spoke about his research—it was inspiring to witness his dedication. Beyond his professional achievements, Shun had a remarkable way of appreciating the world around him, especially when talking about his family. The love and pride he felt for his wife and children were evident in every word he shared, and it was heartwarming to see how much joy they brought to his life.

Shun faced his long and difficult treatment with courage and resilience, qualities that I deeply admire. His strength during such a challenging time was truly remarkable.

I am profoundly sorry for your family’s loss. My hope is that Shun has found peace in a place free from pain and suffering. May his legacy of kindness, determination, and love continue to bring comfort to all who were fortunate enough to know him. My thoughts are with you and your family during this heartbreaking time.

April 2022 was the first time that my son and I had ever met Johnny (Shun Chi). We bumped into Janice and her family at Granville Island. It was a beautiful, sunny, but chilly day. 

My deepest condolences to Janice, her family and Johnny’s family. Sending lots of love and hugs to you all. ❤️

迟舜是一个很内敛的人。我只在非常少的时候，能了解到他的一点想法。

刚到浙大的时候，读着爱因斯坦和牛顿的传记长大的大家都是有些心高气傲的。当时浙大物理系的情况和浙大总体的排名相去甚远。大家多少有些压抑。我们夜聊的时候，说的最频繁的一个词可能就是“郁闷”了。然而当时还是觉得，能努力在物理学的大厦上添砖加瓦是一件很浪漫的事，毕竟物理学史经典物理的部分主要充斥的还是兴趣使然的贵族科研。当时的我们还没进过实验室，对于民工科研这个概念还是完全陌生的。大三学固体物理的时候接触到了黄昆方程，迟舜突然感叹到，要多高的天赋和多么不懈的努力才能在教科书上留下自己的一个名字啊。大四量子力学二，李有泉老师在最后一堂课上说，科学研究有三重境界：一流的科研开创新的领域，二流的科研在已有的领域开疆拓土，三流的科研人云亦云。迟舜很是受到鼓舞。我当时想，其实大部分科研工作者，能做到真诚的人云亦云也已经很是不容易了。

毕业之后，天各一方，联系就少了。最后一次和迟舜联系是疫情快结束的时候。当时他刚换了工作，我表示祝贺。他却很有点消沉，说了一些很消极的话，大意是一事无成、人生也就这样了之类。我举了张守晟的例子，说其实家庭幸福，工作稳定就非常好了。否则即使成就如张守晟，是否值得也很难说。他有些不置可否。

看到何同学发在追忆群里的当年大家军训的照片，我突然想到，当时大部分同学对于军训，不管是形式内容还是意义，其实都是很反感的。然而在照片里，我们笑得都很灿烂。

大约总是不如意事十八九，可与人言无二三。

5/18/2025
Modi

迟舜是一个很内敛的人。我只在非常少的时候，能了解到他的一点想法。

刚到浙大的时候，读着爱因斯坦和牛顿的传记长大的大家都是有些心高气傲的。当时浙大物理系的情况和浙大总体的排名相去甚远。大家多少有些压抑。我们夜聊的时候，说的最频繁的一个词可能就是“郁闷”了。然而当时还是觉得，能努力在物理学的大厦上添砖加瓦是一件很浪漫的事，毕竟物理学史经典物理的部分主要充斥的还是兴趣使然的贵族科研。当时的我们还没进过实验室，对于民工科研这个概念还是完全陌生的。大三学固体物理的时候接触到了黄昆方程，迟舜突然感叹到，要多高的天赋和多么不懈的努力才能在教科书上留下自己的一个名字啊。大四量子力学二，李有泉老师在最后一堂课上说，科学研究有三重境界：一流的科研开创新的领域，二流的科研在已有的领域开疆拓土，三流的科研人云亦云。迟舜很是受到鼓舞。我当时想，其实大部分科研工作者，能做到真诚的人云亦云也已经很是不容易了。

毕业之后，天各一方，联系就少了。最后一次和迟舜联系是疫情快结束的时候。当时他刚换了工作，我表示祝贺。他却很有点消沉，说了一些很消极的话，大意是一事无成、人生也就这样了之类。我举了张守晟的例子，说其实家庭幸福，工作稳定就非常好了。否则即使成就如张守晟，是否值得也很难说。他有些不置可否。

看到何同学发在追忆群里的当年大家军训的照片，我突然想到，当时大部分同学对于军训，不管是形式内容还是意义，其实都是很反感的。然而在照片里，我们笑得都很灿烂。

大约总是不如意事十八九，可与人言无二三。

5/18/2025
Modi Chen

迟舜是我的大学同学，好兄弟，好朋友，一个善良、温柔、勤奋的人。
我们一起在物理系学习，他很勤奋，成绩也很好。没有记错的话，他喜欢蹲在椅子上学习。那时候赵本山的小品很流行，他也喜欢教我们一些东北话，像“得瑟”这样的。
他觉得大石桥比铁岭还要繁荣，大石桥人穿得比铁岭时髦。
他在大学时很瘦弱，研究生的时候开始健身了，变得很强壮。
多么希望再和你一起聊聊物理、聊聊生活啊。我的好兄弟，谢谢你给我的帮助。希望你在另一个世界里永远幸福、快乐、满足。
李振乾 
2025.5.18

Chi Shun was my university classmate, my good brother, and a dear friend—a kind, gentle, and diligent person.

We studied together in the physics department. He was hardworking and excelled in his studies. If I remember correctly, he liked to squat on his chair while studying. At that time, Zhao Benshan’s comedy sketches were very popular, and he enjoyed teaching us some Northeastern slang, like "得瑟" (dè se).

He believed that Dashiqiao was even more prosperous than Tieling, and that people in Dashiqiao dressed more fashionably than those in Tieling.

During university, he was quite thin, but he started working out in graduate school and became very strong.

How I wish we could talk about physics and life together again. My dear brother, thank you for all your help. May you be forever happy, joyful, and at peace in the next world.

Li Zhenqian
May 18, 2025

Enjoying a very well-earned after-ski lunch with Sarah and Doug.

First time on cross-country skis! He fell repeatedly, but got back up every single time.

He was always up for a game. This was his first time playing Jungle Speed. Lots of laughs and a few bruised knuckles.

Shun started this retreat with some light physics reading!

I am incredibly saddened by Shun’s death.

Shun was one of my first friends at UBC, starting his PhD only six months after I began my postdoc. He was hard-working, careful, and diligent. In many ways, he did the work of two degrees—growing his crystals, measuring his samples, tackling the theory, and performing high-level calculations. He was a monster when it came to science.

For his PhD, Shun studied LiFeAs, a material that becomes superconducting at low temperatures, meaning it can carry electricity without resistance. Using a scanning tunnelling microscope, he examined how tiny defects affect electrons, finding strong evidence for how they pair up. This is a big deal! His work helped push forward our understanding of superconductivity.

We shared an office for his entire degree and got along fabulously. We talked a lot about physics and a bit about life. Beyond his scientific skill, Shun was a significant presence in the lab—fun, easygoing, always game to hang out. He joined our winter retreats, learned to cross-country ski with us, played games, and wasn’t shy about napping when he needed to.

My kids, Kieran and Zoe, were the ring bearer and flower girl at his wedding to Janice. Shun described her as “the best gift to me during my Ph.D. study. Her love and support have always been, and will always be, the driving force for me to proceed in study, research, and life.” After they started their family, we kept in touch and shared meals together. Felix and Valerie have lost an incredible father, but were lucky to have had him. Cancer never feels fair because it isn’t.

I’m grateful to Janice for letting me speak with Shun in his final days. I told him how much he influenced me—how he showed that we must push to find our limits. He lived that lesson, which I now pass on to my kids. I will miss him.

My heart is shattered after receiving this sad news. You are part of so many memories from my graduate study at UBC. I’ve always seen you as my younger brother. The dates and years we spent in the same building, on the same floor, in labs next to each other created a bond that time and distance could never break.

You were always humble, seeking my opinion on your research and sharing future thoughts. I treasured our conversations as we navigated life as “异乡求学子” (students far from home), adapting to life abroad, working hard to showcase our abilities and create our own life paths. You were truly “志同道合的好友” (a kindred spirit and rare friend)!

Our research fields were closely aligned. Your experimental results were always beautiful, perfectly demonstrating what a meticulous,  creative, and persevering scientist you were. Though I left Vancouver a decade ago, your work and life were always in my thoughts. Seeing your publications and career advancements brought me joy. I was proud of your successes. 

I vividly remember two times you received good job offers and called for my opinion. I was moved by your trust and saw the significant effort behind each step you took. These achievements were well-deserved—you were exceptionally hardworking and ambitious, producing beautiful work while remaining gentle and refined.

When I revisited Vancouver in February 2024 and met your family, learning of your illness broke my heart. I couldn’t bear such misfortune would happen to someone so kind. I believed you would recover. When you told me the chemotherapy was successful, I was happy and believed you would be alright. I kept thinking about inviting your family to visit me once you recovered. But I never imagined that when I drove away from your home last February, as you waved goodbye in the rain, that would be our final farewell. My heart is filled with unbearable pain.

May you rest in peace. Your memory lives on in all who knew you.

Your friend forever,
Zhihuai

It came as a shock—and then great sadness, pity, and regret—when I woke up and read Jiayan’s message about Shun’s passing, through his WeChat account. I had still been waiting for his reply to my Chinese New Year greetings. I should have kept in better touch with Shun, whom I deeply admired.

I had known Shun for almost ten years, since we met at a lunch organized by a mutual friend, shortly after I arrived in Vancouver and joined UBC as a postdoc. We often ran into each other in the lab building. For a couple of months, I even tried to teach him swimming on Fridays. Even after he moved on from academia, we kept in touch occasionally.

I considered him not only a good friend, but also a role model. Gentle, kind, and thoughtful—in Chinese, 温文尔雅—yet also intelligent, curious, and always thinking deeply. I learned much from him—not just knowledge, but his philosophy of life. He supported those around him with quiet strength, including me. He showed great support for his family, and went through the challenging career transition. When I was job hunting, he even connected me with his friends.

The last time I saw Shun was before I left Vancouver in 2023, on his birthday. He already had family plans but still met me and even brought a gift. I regret not preparing a proper gift for him in return. We talked about AI, LLM, tesla at the time, when chatGPT started to become a thing, and visited Beaty museum with his kids. I am not someone who stays in regular contact, but I always thought about how Shun was doing. I had even marked his birthday in my calendar, but never reached out. I wish I had talked to him more.

To his family, I can only imagine the pain and sorrow of this loss. Please accept my deepest condolences. I hope Shun rests in peace, and that his warmth, intelligence, and kindness will continue to live on through your memories and the lives he touched. He was truly one of a kind, and I will always remember him with deep respect and affection.

致舜：
惊闻噩耗，恍若晴空霹雳。人生如逆旅，你我皆行人，四十载春秋未满，不期你竟愕然长逝。此刻提笔，忆起与你一起在校园里说笑打闹，健身房挥汗如雨的时光，痛心疾首。 

回想我们的第一次见面，在UBC的校园里， 交谈中惊喜发现彼此竟是浙大本科同级的校友，来到异国他乡又能继续成了同学， 虽非同系但实验室在同栋同层楼的斜对面，缘分匪浅。 之后几年见证了你和家燕结为伴侣，在温哥华找到工作，落地生根， 真心为你高兴。 14年我回国后，虽不能常见面，但还一直保持联系。 那年你回国探亲， 我们在扬州的小聚，离别时拥抱彼此祝好的画面宛如昨日， 谁料那竟是我们最后一次见面。 

千言万语，无语凝噎， 惟愿彼岸再无风雨，只有阳光鲜花伴你前往天国， 兄弟一路走好！

梦晗
二零二五年五月十六日

I first came to know Chi Shun when he first moved to Canada as a graduate student and he lived in my upstairs when I was just starting grade 3 elementary school. As a young child the line between tenant, guest and family blurred as I would eagerly rush to Chi Shun’s room after school and play with him like an older brother. 

Chi Shun always thought about others first, he was naturally a selfless man. When he eventually moved out, he was one of the few of our old tenants who maintained contact with us, sending me science books in the mail, remembering my interests. We showed him very ordinary kindness yet I could tell how deeply grateful he was for all those that helped him and were close to him in life. Even as he became busy and successful in both career and family, he always kept in touch, keeping us updated with his life and adventures, our only tenant to do so. Whenever he made a decision, others were always the most important consideration for him.
Our later conversations reflected this fact. Even as he became very sick, the conversations we would have would often be about my own circumstances, as he showed deep concern for my career and wellbeing. And when he wasnt talking about me, he was concerned with his family, how his kids were gonna be growing up, he became interested in investing more as he tried to secure his family’s future finances. Even on his deathbed, when he could barely speak, everytime I visited he would make sure to ask me how I was doing, and thank me for visiting him.

When he wasnt thinking about how others were doing, Chi Shun was a deeply contemplative man. As a physics PHD, his brain wrestled with the fundamental nature of our world and humanity, and often we would chat about how the newest tech was gonna impact society. 
Chi Shun was one of the most intelligent, caring and deeply loving people I knew. I hope to carry on his spirit, living to grow and nurture not only myself, but everyone around me as well.

OBITUARY

Shun Chi

March 23, 1986 – May 11, 2025

Ocean View Funeral Home & Burial Park

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