Obituary: Rev. Ching-fen Hsiao | Montclair Local News

Rev. Ching-fen Hsiao of Montclair, who had worked his whole life to build connections between East and West, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2021. He was 86 years old.

Rev. Hsiao was born in Tainan, Taiwan in 1935. He graduated from Tainan Theological College and served as assistant chaplain at Tunghai University before coming to the United States in 1963 to do his PhD at Princeton Theological Seminary.

After his return to Taiwan in 1967, he became professor and president of the Tainan Theological College and Seminary and was actively involved in theological education regionally in Asia and internationally. His knowledge of several languages ​​gave him many opportunities for oral and written translations and for a deep examination of different cultures in East and West.

During his many years of living and working in Taiwan, he witnessed the Japanese occupation, the Allied attacks on Taiwan during World War II, the martial law imposed by the Chinese nationalist government, and the growth of the democratic movement in Taiwan.

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Rev. Hsiao was an ardent advocate of human rights, democracy and freedom, and a loyal participant in the ecumenical church, after first being ordained as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

In 1986 he moved to New Jersey to work in New York City for the United Church of Christ as Area Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific of the United Church Board for World Ministries. After his official retirement, he continued as president of the Japan International Christian University Foundation, taught one semester at Yu-shan Seminary in Taiwan and served as pastor of the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church of Northern New Jersey in Livingston for 10 years.

Rev. Hsiao has served as a trustee or board member for numerous organizations including the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, Foundation for Theological Education in South East Asia, World Student Christian Federation, Special Ministry to Japanese in the Greater New York City, and LEX USA , Inc. (language research and exchange).

His life was fulfilling and remarkable in his role as an educator, administrator and pastor and as a bridge between East and West, connecting countries, cultures, families, churches and other groups.

Rev. Hsiao leaves behind his 52-year-old wife, Peggy; three children, Bi-khim, Samuel (Amanda) and Bi-sek Jeannette (Donald); three grandchildren, Madeline, Paloma, and Austin; two brothers and two sisters and one sister in his adoptive family. He also leaves many nieces and nephews with whom he developed close relationships, welcomed them into his home, and often traveled to important family events.

In his biological family he had already died of two sisters and three brothers.

On Tuesday, December 28th at 2:00 p.m. at Union Congregational Church, Cooper Ave. 176, Montclair, a service was held to celebrate the life of Rev. Hsiao.

The arrangements were made by Compassionate Cremation Services of Clifton.

Obituary: Rev. Ching-fen Hsiao