Dr. Andrew H. Chen

June 14, 1937 – March 7, 2025

Dr. Andrew H. Chen (“Andy”) passed away on March 7, 2025 at age 87. Born in Puli, Taiwan, he was the second—and oldest son—of eight children. Andy was a gifted student with a keen, creative mind and an insatiable love of learning. After graduating from National Taiwan University, he returned to his hometown and met Joyce McMillan, a Christian missionary from California. He assisted in her work with polio-stricken children, and she became a major influence on Andy and his personal faith. He then left to fulfill his military service with the Taiwanese Navy. Afterward, with Joyce’s support and guidance, Andy made a life-defining decision to come to America for graduate studies at UC Berkeley. There, he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. and also met Elaine, a fellow doctoral student and the love of his life. They married and together forged a rich life filled with achievement, love, laughter, and dear friendships.

Dr. Chen's career as a professor began at SUNY Buffalo, where his intellect and personal warmth quickly made an impact on his colleagues and students. After several years, he was recruited to Ohio State, where he made invaluable contributions as a researcher, teacher, colleague, and department chair. His scholarly research established him as a leading expert in valuation, derivatives, banking, and corporate finance. Later, he accepted an endowed chair position as Distinguished Professor of Finance at SMU’s Cox School of Business. Along with co-authoring and editing several books, he wrote more than 125 academic research articles and was the editor of several prominent finance journals. He was a board member for multiple financial institutions as well as an expert witness and a consultant for companies and government agencies. He also served the finance profession as vice-president and then president of the Financial Management Association. Dr. Chen's contributions to the field of finance are globally recognized, and he was often invited to be a visiting scholar at universities around the world.

His dynamic teaching and confidence in his students' potential helped to shape the careers of many academic and industry leaders in finance, economics, and business. A caring mentor, he left his mark on generations of students.

Beyond the classroom, Andy was known for his kindness, compassion, extraordinary generosity, unwavering optimism, and joyful sense of humor. His genuine smile and modest demeanor made others feel at ease. An avid football fan, he never tired of rooting for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Dallas Cowboys. He also relished traveling, exploring new cultures with family and friends, and enjoying gourmet food and fine wine. Andy himself was a skilled chef—he and Elaine hosted countless gatherings where family, friends, colleagues, Nobel laureates, and students found warmth and wisdom at their table. His Taiwanese noodle dish and Itzhak Perlman-inspired onion chicken remain cherished family recipes.

Andy is survived by his beloved wife Elaine, his children Mimi (and Sean), Mark (and Jenny), and Marjorie (and Bobby), and his grandchildren Lauren, Katherine, and Madeline. His presence in their lives is profoundly missed and will be remembered forever.

Please share your own fondest memories, stories, photos, and videos of Andy below.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/frisco-tx/dr-andrew-chen-12275903

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to celebrate Andy with a donation to a cause or charitable organization that honors his life and his spirit of generosity.