Fu-Ren Frank Fan

Frank Fan was born in Pingtung, Taiwan as the fourth child of Fan Qing Ji and Kuo Shang. He spent his childhood in Gang Xi, Pingtung County. He graduated from Tainan Yizhong High School in 1964 and received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1968 from National Taiwan University in Taipei. He then completed his mandatory military service in Taiwan after which he briefly returned to National Taiwan University to work as a teaching assistant. He moved to the United States in 1971 to complete his master’s degree in chemistry at Kent State University in Ohio.

After obtaining his master’s degree, Frank continued his graduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he would ultimately receive his PhD in chemistry. While working towards his doctorate, he returned to Taiwan to marry Shu-O Sue Lee, his beloved wife. They welcomed their first child Lawrence in 1978, shortly before Frank received his PhD. The Fan family proceeded to move to Austin, Texas where Frank completed his postdoctoral research and accepted a research scientist position in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. Frank and Sue welcomed their second son James in 1981, as well as a surprise baby girl Jennifer in 1990.

Frank enjoyed a productive career of over 35 years at the University of Texas. During that time, he worked in the electrochemistry laboratory. His research touched many fields, including organic chemistry and chemical engineering. He is credited with nearly 100 scientific publications yielding numerous citations. His other achievements included patents for photoelectrochromic displays and scanning electrochemical microscopes. Due to his accomplishments, the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas recognized him multiple times for staff excellence.

In his free time, Frank enjoyed gardening and topiary, reading kung fu novels, fishing, taking neighborhood walks with his wife, and playing with his granddaughter Maya. His children fondly recall many memories of him taking them to parks all around the Texas Hill Country, as well as many longer road trips.

He is survived by his wife Sue of 49 years, his children Lawrence, James, and Jennifer, his granddaughter Maya, his brother Fan Bai, his nephew Ying Tsao, his daughter-in-law Thillai, his son-in-law Danny, and other family and friends.