Holliston-

Shujing Tian, a beloved mother, grandmother, and retired professor, peacefully passed away surrounded by family at the age of 92 on July 2nd, 2024, in Holliston, MA.

Shujing Tian was born on June 3rd, 1932, in Shanghai, China, to Peiye Tian, the chief engineer of a military airplane manufacturer and a professor of aerospace engineering, and Ruilan Wang, a homemaker, both of whom were from Linfen, Shanxi Province. Shujing Tian’s early life was shaped by her father’s role in the Chinese air force during World War II, moving from different locations as her father took on new responsibilities. Educated in missionary schools in wartime Chengdu, she began her academic journey at the Beijing Institute of Technology in 1950. There, she excelled and eventually became a professor of chemistry, dedicating 32 years to teaching until her retirement in 1987.

In addition to her teaching career, Shujing Tian served as a consultant to many institutions of research and manufacturing, enriching the scientific journeys of many students and colleagues through her passion and mentorship.

Beyond her academic life, Shujing Tian was a beloved wife to her late husband and college sweetheart, Dr. Qihuai Zhou, a cherished mother and grandmother to her children and grandchildren, and a caring daughter and elder sister to her parents and siblings.

After her husband’s death in 1984 following years of battling cancer, she single-handedly raised their three children, who were 22, 17, and 12 at the time. All three completed their undergraduate studies at prestigious universities in China and went on to earn doctorate and master’s degrees in Australia and the US.

After immigrating to the US in her 80s, Shujing Tian became a US citizen, fulfilling a wish left by her late father, who attended the University of Michigan in the 1920s. She was the beloved matriarch, extending warmth, comfort, and wisdom to her grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking meals for the family and seeing her grandchildren off to school. She also took pleasure in learning English, watching TV, playing sudoku, taking leisurely walks, and socializing with neighbors. Later in life, she cared tenderly for four cats and especially enjoyed taking naps on the sofa with her cat Maverick by her side.

Shujing Tian is survived by her daughter Dr. Sihui Zhou and husband James Dong of Sydney, Australia; daughter Siqun Zhou and husband Yi Luo of Cupertino, California; and son Siyu Zhou and wife Tong Han of Holliston, MA. She also left behind grandchildren Dr. Lilian Dong, William Dong, Audrey Luo, Hannah Zhou, and Nathan Zhou, as well as several sisters, a brother, nieces, and nephews.

Her family held a private event at Chesmore Funeral Home to celebrate her life. She will be laid to rest alongside her late husband, Dr. Qihuai Zhou, in Beijing.

田淑静, 1932年6月3日出生于中国上海。父亲留学密西根大学航空系，曾任国民政府航空制造厂总工程师。由于战争原因，她随家入四川，在四川成都完成了中小学学业。1950年入华北大学工学院（北京理工大学）化学系学习。1955年大学毕业后留校任教至退休。在大学毕业后，与班里的学霸结婚，育有两女一儿。田淑静在业务追求精益求精，在大学的教书生涯中，有着很好的口碑，她并曾兼任许多公司的高级化学技术顾问。四十年前，丈夫因病去世，田淑静一人担起了抚养教育孩子的责任，三个孩子都毕业于中国名牌大学，并且还分别深造至博士或硕士学位。儿女们深受田淑静严谨治学的影响，在他们各自的领域里都享有好的声誉。这个家庭的传承延续到下一代，孙儿们也人才辈出。