David B. Chang

David B. Chang passed into glory on September 5, 2020, at the age of 85. David was born in Seattle, Washington, on June 27, 1935, to James Wing Chang and Bertha Moy Ling. He was the fourth of five siblings: Richard, Gladys, Walter, and Donald (who died in childhood). David was awarded the President’s Medal at the University of Washington, graduating at the top of his class with double majors in engineering and physics. He earned his PhD in theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology. Both his undergraduate and graduate studies were fully funded by scholarships and fellowships, enabling David to explore various research interests, including medicine. As a research scientist, he worked at UC San Diego at Scripps, General Atomics, Boeing Research Labs, University of Washington School of Medicine, Occidental Petroleum, and Hughes Aircraft. He was also privileged to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology at the U. S. Department of Commerce in the mid ‘70s. As a retiree, David continued consulting for several projects even into his final days.

David’s mom introduced him to the piano at an early age. She taught him scales and how to read music, preparing him for 2 years of private lessons. After his dad died suddenly, 12-year-old David continued studying the piano on his own. David’s eldest brother, Richard, was a member of the American Guild of Organists and sparked David’s interest in playing the organ. David passed on this love of music to each of his children. The house was filled with classical music playing on records or the radio. David was always practicing and sight-reading beloved classical piano works.

Because David and Sylvia were both a bit shy, their sisters conspired to get them together. David played the piano for the Chinese Baptist Church choir in which Sylvia sang. David’s sister-in-law was the choir director. Sylvia loved to just sit and listen to David practice the piano. They got married in 1959 in a church across from the Woodland Park Zoo.

Sylvia discovered that David had a beautiful, mellifluous singing voice. She remembers asking the choir to pray that David would accept choir director Hanan’s invitation to join the church choir. For the last 17 years of his life, David and Sylvia delighted in singing together in Trinity’s Chancel Choir. For years, they had faithfully attended their children’s many music activities. Now, their adult children were overjoyed to witness their parents’ choir performances.

David loved gardening. He was constantly trimming the olive trees and puttering around the backyard, a frequent Saturday morning family activity.

As a theoretical physicist, David was always tackling equations and mulling over problems. Some would consider this painful, but David enjoyed the process, even while soaking in the tub at the end of the day. Through the years, his calculations would show up on napkins, envelopes, and recital programs – anything he could get his hands on.

David lived out one of his favorite Bible verses, Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” It almost seemed like David believed science was a way to worship his God. He humbly felt that the laws of physics that make our universe possible reveal the hand of God. And as a father of four, David had to continually trust God in the best and worst of times. David was a wonderful example of God’s love to his children and all who knew him. Despite his wide-ranging achievements and talents, he consistently put others before himself.

David is survived by Sylvia, his beloved wife of 61 years; his four children, Debbie (Stan) Lum, Steve (Sylvia) Chang, Sharon Chang, and Susan (Pete) Maddocks; and his five grandkids, Noah Lum and Megan, Charlie, Maria, and Hollie Maddocks.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Aug. 21, 2021, at 3 pm at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana 92705. The service will be livestreamed at https://subsplash.com/trinityunitedpresbyteria/lb/mi/+tvsbp33.

Memorial donations may be made to:

Trinity Music Ministry

13922 Prospect Ave

Santa Ana, CA 92705

Attn: Hanan Yaqub.