Ven-Shun Li

Ven-Shun Li was born in Shanghai, China on the 15th of August 1926. Her father Nien-Hong Wang was a well-known educator and funder of schools in China as well as a successful funder and publisher for education related text books and photographs in China. Her mother was Wan-Yueh Hsu.

Ven-Shun was the fourth of five children, all of whom were accomplished in their respective professions. She had a knack and passion for science. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in chemistry in China she won a scholarship to attend Florida State University in Tallahassee, where she earned her master’s degree in 1953. She pursed cancer research at University of Chicago where she met and married Hsiao-Jun Li, a PhD polymer chemist. They settled in Morristown, New Jersey and had three children: Albert, George, and Pauline.

Ven-Shun continued her studies and graduated with her PhD in Organic Chemistry from Rutgers University at age 50. She also continued her cancer research at Yeshiva University in New York City.

After the family relocated to Beaumont, Texas, to follow opportunities for Hsiao-Jun, Ven-Shun dedicated her next 20 years to cancer research at the University of Houston and achieved the rank of Research Professor. Ven-Shun was a meticulous scientist, a skilled practitioner in chemistry and biochemistry.

In her later years, Ven-Shun resided at Calder Woods Assisted Living in Beaumont, where she was often seen taking walks though the complex. Most recently, she resided at Garden Terrace of Houston, where she passed away from a cardiac event on Thursday, the 17th of May 2018.

Preceding her in death was her husband Hsiao-Jun Li (2015); and their oldest son, Albert (2016). She is survived by her son, George Li and his wife Katherine, of Sugar Land; daughter, Pauline Li and her husband David Cheney of Kendall Park, New Jersey; grandson, Brian of Sugar Land; and her younger sister, Wen-Shen Wang of Shanxi Province, China.

She dedicated her life to science and inspired her children, students and colleagues with her devotion to the pursuit of excellence.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.