Stephanie Shih-Yuen Cheng

Stephanie Cheng will be remembered most for her kindness, love of family and friends, fierce work ethic, and–maybe most of all–radiant smile that brightened so many people’s day. Born in Los Angeles in 1980, she remained a committed Californian for her whole life, even while establishing her family and career in the Washington DC area.

Her childhood home was in the Hollywood Hills, but hers was not a Hollywood life. She spent her time socializing and studying with school friends, at Chinese school developing a deep love for her family’s heritage and communing with her family–often over dumplings or her mom’s trademark short ribs. She also acquired a West Highland White Terrier named Mackie when she was 9, beginning a lifelong devotion to–some might say obsession with–the Westie breed. There are many family tales of Stephanie’s outgoing nature and willingness from a young age to strike up long conversations with strangers in public. She once told a new friend at a hotel pool the key information that “My daddy is bald.” This openness would aid her in developing deep and lasting friendships in her time at Pilgrim School and Marlborough School that she maintained for the rest of her life.

Stephanie entered Stanford University in 1997, where she deepened her appreciation for political science, international relations, and in particular France and its culture. She became fluent in French and lived in Paris as an exchange student and as an intern at the US Embassy. Stephanie developed a deep relationship with her Parisian host mom, whom she stayed in touch with and visited for many years. Stephanie graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in 2001 and completed her master’s degree in international relations in 2002.

With international relations jobs much scarcer on the West Coast than the East, Stephanie accepted a position as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency and moved to northern Virginia in 2002. With her strong writing, critical thinking, and language skills, Stephanie quickly settled into her work. After completing a four-month training class in intelligence and a six-month rotation in the ops center, Stephanie took up work as a political analyst in the Office of Russian and European Analysis. She excelled and quickly advanced through the ranks. She soon became a manager and was often given particularly challenging assignments, including managing a team of very senior analytic methodologists, leading a joint analytic and operational effort aimed at counterproliferation, and serving as a deputy chief of one of CIA’s largest regional analytic groups. Her last position at the Agency focused on developing new training initiatives to better prepare analysts for leadership roles.

Stephanie began dating Erik Huseby in 2004, and they married in January 2008. The couple bought a house in the Chevy Chase neighborhood of DC and spent the first years of their marriage focused on travel, friends, and–crucially–acquiring and caring for two Westie puppies named Charlie Brown and Lucy. Their life was further enriched by the birth of their first child, Claire, in 2011; she was followed by her brother, Gregory, in 2014. Stephanie approached parenting as she approached so much in her life: with intense preparation and research leavened by laughter, joy and an unfailing sense of love and devotion. She imparted many things to her children, including the importance of showing kindness to others, a love of mathematics, and an appreciation of their Chinese heritage. Stephanie was active in their school communities, including serving as room parent for both children, spending a year as “Cookie Mom” for Claire’s Girl Scouts troop, and taking a lead role in managing many of their outside activities.

Stephanie is survived by her husband Erik Huseby and children Claire (14) and Gregory (11), parents Alex Shang-Yih Cheng and Debbie Cheng, sister Stacie Cheng, brother-in-law Thomas Cole, niece Lila Cole, and many loving relatives and dear colleagues and friends.

A memorial service for Stephanie will be on Monday, October 13th, at 11:00 am. The funeral and subsequent reception will take place at Joseph Gawler's Sons, located at 5130 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20016. Parking is available. All are welcome and encouraged to wear their finest fascinators or Westie gear.

In Stephanie's honor and memory, memorial contributions can be sent to the National Brain Tumor Society, American Cancer Society, or Maryland Westie Rescue. Floral contributions can made directly through Lee's Flower and Card Shop: (202) 265-4965 – https://www.leesflowerandcard.com