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Emeritus Professor Sheldon Shen's obituary

Sheldon Shen
Sheldon Shen

Sheldon Shih Ta Shen, professor emeritus in the Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, died on March 31. Shen was born Nov. 22, 1947, in Shanghai, China, to Tony Chung Yu Shen and Rosedo Shou Hui Chang. He moved to the United States at the age of 7.

Shen spent most of his childhood in St. Louis, Mo., with his father; stepmother, Colleen; and two brothers, Vincent and Anthony. He received a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Missouri. After receiving his graduate degree at the University of California-Berkeley, he had a successful tenure as a professor in the GDCB Department at Iowa State University.

Survivors include his wife, Martha; son, Christopher, and his wife, Christine; daughter, Molliarda and her husband, Ron; daughters: Camille, Natalie and Rachel; daughter, Abra, and her husband, Ryan; daughter, Elanni and her wife, Jen; and his brothers, Vincent and Anthony. His legacy will continue through his grandchildren: Jordan, Hannah, Rachel, Noah and Cody as well as Aria, Luke and Anna. He was remembered in a private memorial service.