Mendham Doctor Passes Away

Dr. Jo-yun Tung Chen died on Feb. 9 at her home in Mendham where she lived with her son George and his family.

Chen was born in Shanghai, China on June 24, 1920 and came to the United States after World War II to attend the University of Iowa where she received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry under Professor George Glockler. 

After post-doctoral fellowships at Ohio State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chen began her career as a research professor at New York University and then later as a research scientist at Schering Plough Corporation. 

Chen then joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a Group Leader in the Division of Contaminant Chemistry, Natural Product and Instrumentation Branch, Instrumentation & Biophysics Section in 1963 and worked there under Dr. E.O. Haenni for 28 years, retiring in 1991 to care for her husband.  Her sister Jo-fen Tung Kung and her husband Chi-ta Chen predeceased her.

Chen is survived by her son George and his wife Theresa and their daughter Katie. A memorial services will be held at Bailey Funeral Home on Feb. 24 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in her name may be sent to the University of Iowa Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244-4550.