Ming Chang Wang

Ming Chang Wang was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1938 to Chao-Ying Wang and Tsai Chen. He had two sisters, Li-Mei Wang and Fu-Mei Wang, and one brother, Chang Hung Wang. Ming graduated from Kaohsiung High School in 1957 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science from National Taiwan University in 1961. Upon graduation from college, Ming emigrated to Canada to further pursue his education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, receiving a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1969. During this time, he married Hsiu-Chine (“Beatrice”) Yeh in 1966 and his son, Earl, was born in 1967. His daughter, Lauren, was born in 1970.

After receiving his Ph.D., Ming moved to Buffalo, NY to begin his career as a cancer research scientist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the first cancer center established in the United States. During his time at Roswell Park, Ming was the lead scientist who headed the team that discovered prostate specific antigen. He pioneered the PSA blood test, and his contribution has saved countless numbers of lives worldwide since its inception. After 18 years at Roswell Park, Ming moved to the West Coast and retired in 1995.

After retirement, he and Beatrice traveled the world, enjoying the culture and scenery from every continent, making friends along the way. He gave numerous speeches on the discovery of PSA and was active in the Taiwanese community, attending demonstrations and raising political awareness for pro-Taiwan causes. Although a proud United States citizen since 1976, he loved his homeland and constantly strove to improve democracy in Taiwan.

He once said, “Many Taiwanese-Americans have gone back to Taiwan to live after decades of living in US, just like wild geese or salmon returning to their places of birth after going away to distant places for a period of time. My wife and I are not wild geese or salmon, we are like coconuts drifting in ocean to a distant shore, taking roots there, growing into trees, and helping that distant land more become more beautiful, interesting, and lively.”

Ming is survived by his wife, Beatrice, son and daughter, Earl and Lauren, daughter-in-law, Barbara, and his three grandchildren, Amelia, Austin and Aidan. He touched so many lives, and although he will be missed dearly, his memory will live on in all of us.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 12, 2012 at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar.

A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 12, 2012 at Shepherd of The Valley Presbyterian Church 1723 Park Lawn Rd in Hacienda Heights 91745 (626) 965-7056