Dr. Cheng-Yang Chang

Dr. Cheng-yang Chang passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at the age of 89 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Born in Shanghai, China, he grew up under Japanese occupation during WWII and at the age of 16, moved with his family to Taiwan to escape the communists. He took on an outsized role in his family starting at a young age because of his father’s poor health. He received his medical degree and completed a general surgery residency at National Defense Medical Center in Taiwan.

He was recruited to the University of Michigan in 1963 for urology residency training by Dr. Reed Nesbit, who had visited Taiwan several times to care for Republic of China President Chiang Kai-shek, and who wanted someone in Taiwan to eventually take over that care. After completing his urology training, Dr. Chang returned to Taiwan in 1968 to care for President Chiang and to start a urology training program.

Dr. Chang rejoined the University of Michigan Section of Urology in 1971 as a faculty member. He was known for his surgical skill and thoughtfulness and had a special interest in pediatric urology. He moved to Flint, Michigan in 1975 to join a private practice but continued as an adjunct clinical faculty at UM. While in Flint, he served as the chief of urology for many years at Hurley Medical Center in addition to working at McLaren and Genesee Hospitals. He retired in 2000 to Ann Arbor.

Dr. Chang had a deep appreciation for the arts, inspired by his father, Ku-nien Chang, an esteemed traditional Chinese painter and his mother, Su-chen Chang, a Chinese calligrapher. The Chang Lecture on Art and Medicine at the University of Michigan was an annual event from 2007 to 2018.

Dr. Chang married Shirley Hur in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1964, and they were blessed with two sons. Dr. Chang cherished his role as a loving husband, father, and dedicated son. He cared for both of his parents in his home in their later years.

He is survived by his sons, Ted (Mary) Chang of Delmar, New York, and Hamilton (Lilly) Chang of Wilmette, Illinois; sister Syau-chen (Ted) Baker; brother Chen-wen (Sabrina) Chang; six grandsons, Kevin (Taylor), Hunter, Alec, Eric, Cameron and Nicholas; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley Chang, in 2006 and two brothers who died in childhood.

Dr. and Mrs. Chang's commitment to education and philanthropy was reflected in generous gifts to the UM Medical School, UM Business School, and UM Museum of Art. The family’s Chang Foundation, established in 1987, also left a lasting impact on the art community in Taiwan, funding more than 100 scholarships for aspiring art students.

Friends and well-wishers are invited to pay their respects at visiting hours on Friday, August 11, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 S 4th Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104.

The funeral service will take place on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Muehlig Funeral Chapel. Following the service, a burial ceremony will occur at 11:30 AM at Arborcrest Memorial Park, 2521 Glazier Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

In lieu of flowers, and in memory of Dr. Chang, contributions can be made to the Chang Foundation (for arts, education and medicine at 33 Darnley Greene, Delmar, NY 12054) or a charity of your choice. The family would like to especially thank Margaret Chao, Xiao-zhou Chang, Teresa Chang, Zoll Kone, and Erin Nadelman for their compassion and great care of Dr. Chang.

Dr. Cheng-Yang Chang's remarkable legacy as a compassionate physician, an advocate for the arts, a philanthropist and a devoted family man will forever be remembered with admiration and respect by those whose lives he touched.