Clara Kam Sun Yuen Ching Ph.D.'s Obituary
Clara Kam Sun Yuen Ching, Ph.D. 92 passed away on March 22, 2022. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Clara graduated from Sacred Hearts Academy in 1947. She attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated with a B.S. in Medical Microbiology in 1951. Clara also received her M.S. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin.
She taught courses in Medical Microbiology at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan. She brought her microbiology expertise back to Honolulu and worked at the Queen’s Medical Center where she set up a virology lab and isolated polio virus during a military outbreak in 1956.
After obtaining her Ph.D. in Virology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1964, Clara worked at the Yale School of Medicine in the Virology Department. Clara returned to Honolulu in 1969, where she became a faculty member in the Department of Tropical Medicine and Microbiology at the University of Hawaii. She set up the Tissue Culture Laboratory at Leahi Hospital.
After marrying the love of her life, Dr. Nathaniel Ching, together they moved to New York City where Clara worked as a Research Associate at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center studying the immunobiology of herpesvirus infections. She developed a test to study the ability of Natural Killer cells to destroy cancer and virus infected cells. Clara and her family returned to Honolulu where she was an Associate Researcher at the Cancer Center of Hawaii.
Her scientific career was dedicated to clinical research where she organized the Hawaii-Interferon Biological Response Modifiers Research laboratory as the Director of Immunobiology Research at St. Francis Medical Center. She performed research in collaboration with her husband, a general and thoracic surgeon.
Clara was highly regarded for her intelligence, curiosity, and vision as a scientific researcher. She promoted scientific research in Hawaii with the organization of the International Biosciences Symposium in 1985. Clara strove to improve the health of the people of Hawaii where she was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute to study natural immunity in families with breast cancer, realizing that Native Hawaiians had a high incidence of breast and lung cancer.
Throughout her biomedical research career, Clara provided meaningful opportunities for many high school students and undergraduates to work in her lab to learn about scientific research. Clara’s passion for teaching and mentoring extended to anyone who was interested in science. She was proud to see her former students succeed as the next generation of physicians and scientists.
In addition to her biomedical research, Clara was well regarded for her community involvement and leadership. As an active member of the Associated Chinese University Women (ACUW) Scholarship Committee, she encouraged the support of students during the yearly Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair. In 1992, Clara served as president of ACUW where the focus and theme for the organization was “Challenging our Lifestyle for a Healthier 21st Century”.
In 2006, the ACUW honored Clara for her professional and community contributions with the Distinguished Women Award at the society’s 75th Anniversary. In other pursuits, Clara was an active member of Hawaii Parliamentarians, serving as President from 1998-2001. Clara was also a Commissioner for the Manoa Neighborhood board and participated in various community events in Manoa Valley.
During her years on the mainland and Honolulu, Clara enjoyed entertaining family and friends at dinner parties and social events. She was an avid collector of Chinese antiques and spoons from her travels all over the world. A lifelong learner of keen intellect, Clara kept abreast of current events by reading daily newspapers, magazines, periodicals and enjoyed attending local symposiums. Together with her husband, Clara enjoyed helping to pick and prepare mango for making their specialty--delicious homemade mango sorbet. A tasty treat they shared with appreciative family and friends. Most importantly, Clara will be remembered for her love and support of her family, who will miss her very much.
Clara is predeceased by her husband Dr. Nathaniel Ching and parents Jack Tim Yuen and Kam Nee Fong Yuen. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Natascha Ching, son-in-law Joseph Del Rosario and grandson Jonah Del Rosario. Clara is survived by her sisters Betsy Lum (Bill), Marion Yuen, Brother Riley Yuen (Dolores), and predeceased by sisters Lois Lee (Francis) and Jennie Tyau (Reuben). She was a beloved aunty and great aunty to many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of life was held privately with family.
In lieu of flowers, donations to honor her life may be made to the
Nathaniel Pau Hen Ching, MD and Clara Yuen Ching, PhD Memorial Fund
Fund #129-8530-4
UH Foundation, John A. Burns School of Medicine
P.O. Box 11270, Honolulu, Hawaii 96828.
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