Chi-Bin Chien, husband, father, son, brother, professor, and friend died December 2, 2011, his battle with cancer over. Invariably courageous through more than twelve years of treatments and procedures, and despite increasing immobility and dependence, Chi-Bin maintained an indomitable optimism, his singular sweetness, and the kindest and brightest of smiles. He resolutely resisted any limitation of his disease, holding to a worldview that included the future, even as he knew he was dying. Chi-Bin’s personal strength impressed every person he encountered.
Chi-Bin was born in New Haven, CT, the first child of Chih-Yung Chien and Chun-Wuei Su and the first grandchild in his father’s family. Chi-Bin was extraordinarily gifted academically, by 3rd grade so impressing his teachers and principals that he was advanced to 8th grade work. Soon after, his family moved to Palo Alto, CA, where he attended 9th grade, took courses at Stanford University, and applied to college. Chi-Bin entered Johns Hopkins University at 12 years old, graduating three years later. He spent a fellowship year in Cambridge, England, completing graduate studies in physics at Churchill College, then enrolled at the California Institute of Technology, obtaining a Ph.D. in biophysics. He undertook postdoctoral training in neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego, and then joined Friedrich Bonhoeffer’s group at the Max Planck Institute in Tübingen, Germany, to become part of a burgeoning new research field---use of the zebrafish to study the genetic control of vertebrate development and physiology. In 1998, Chi-Bin joined the faculty of the School of Medicine at the University of Utah, becoming a professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy. His research focused on how the precise wiring of the nervous system is established.
Though prodigiously accomplished, one never felt outclassed in Chi-Bin’s presence, only appreciated by him. His demeanor was humble, his nature inclusive, his point-of-view invariably positive, his heart attentive and caring. Chi-Bin himself said that, even given his many successes, the last ten years of his life were the ones that really mattered. In Salt Lake City, he met the woman with whom he would share his life, Nicola Hack, and fell in love. Chi-Bin and Niki developed their bonds over garage sales and shared breakfasts. Within nine months, they were engaged; within 18 months, married. Between the two, at 33 years of age, he received his diagnosis of advanced stage cancer.
Chi-Bin built his home with Niki, experienced the birth of his daughter, Molly, and saw her grow. When his cancer recurred after five cancer-free years, his deepest goal was to be there as Molly left for kindergarten. He ultimately saw her enter third grade. Chi-Bin and Molly had many special connections, but a particular bond between them was through books. This past summer, they finished the last of the Harry Potter series, books and movies, hand-in-hand. Chi-Bin passed on to Molly his unflagging optimism, his curiosity, and his excitement about the world.
Chi-Bin got along with all kinds of people and appreciated a wide variety of pleasures. While a post-doc in Tübingen, he traveled Europe as part of an ultimate Frisbee team; he sought out friends to see action movies and to eat the sushi he loved (passions his wife did not share); and he enthusiastically indulged in all things Apple. He could roll wrappers for Chinese dumplings with speed and precision; he taught his daughter’s primary school classmates to make them, too. For us, as friends, Chi-Bin was a fountain of information, the go-to guy for questions on almost any topic. We could always tell our questioning children, “Chi-Bin will know.”
Outside his family, what animated Chi-Bin most was his passion for science, his laboratory, and his experiments. Chi-Bin’s work centered on how the eye and the brain become precisely connected to permit the processing of information. Among his latest and most interesting findings was that the biological system responsible for the pattern of nervous system connections is also important to the design of the circulatory system.
Chi-Bin envisioned himself as a member of a community and made sure, even as his disease progressed, to be an active contributor. Within the zebrafish field, Chi-Bin was known for inventing new tools that could accelerate the work of many researchers, and then distributing those tools freely to all. Within the University of Utah, he generously invested his expertise, intellect, and time in collaborations with a large number of colleagues from disparate disciplines, including computer science, pediatrics, cardiology, and human genetics. He led efforts to establish shared equipment and communal facilities for the benefit of university researchers at large.
To the members of his laboratory, Chi-Bin was a giving mentor and the strongest of supporters. He helped his students and postdocs to refine their thinking, supported their progress, and relished their successes after their training in Utah concluded. Many came to visit him, called, and wrote in his last months; these tributes deeply touched him.
Internationally, Chi-Bin was recognized as a teacher. He, Niki, and Molly spent part of each summer at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, where Chi-Bin shared his knowledge and skills with young scientists from all over the world as director of the Zebrafish Neural Development and Genetics Course. Now, at his passing, the international zebrafish scientific community has established a fund to create The Chi-Bin Chien Award. This honor will be managed by the Genetics Society of America and given to a select student or post-doctoral researcher to recognize achievement leading to advancement of the entire field and a spirit of generosity and openness, qualities that characterized and motivated Chi-Bin.
Though his disease molded the time Niki and Chi-Bin had together, it did not define it. She meticulously cared for his needs, capably negotiating the many medications and interventions. She routinely impressed the physicians and staff with her insights, spirit, and skill. In the last days, Niki’s face shone with the love she knew for her Chi-Bin, a smile that lit all of us, calmed him, and buoyed the spirits of their daughter as time became short. Chi-Bin’s own smile, sweetest to Niki, but extended to us all, was a constant reward of being at his side. He accepted us near him, despite his pain, and enjoyed the time we could spend in conversation. Even at the end, there was always recognition and a soft “hello”. It is the twinkle of his eyes that we will always remember.
There is a quiet poetry in the Chien-Hack home, an interplay of gentleness, humor, and taste, underlain by the shining, rich love that is shared between those three, Chi-Bin, Niki, and Molly. The rest of us were lucky, as they extended their love to warmly envelop family and friends as well. Chi-Bin clearly had the best of relatives, a selfless and caring mother and father who set as their goal to shepherd Chi-Bin to a fulfilling life. They helped him to cultivate his gifts, ensured that he always had intellectual challenges, and nurtured in him the patience and thoughtfulness that were signature characteristics of his personality. The love and compassionate attention of Chi-Bin’s brother, Chi-Kai, and sister, Chi-An, shown throughout his illness and especially during the last months of Chi-Bin’s life, was essential to his well-being and that of his family; it will never be forgotten. Both Chi-Bin’s father’s and mother’s families are large and close knit; at the time of his death, Chi-Bin had more than 30 first cousins and many, many extended relatives, all who deeply mourn his passing. Chi-Bin and Niki were blessed by a wide group of devoted friends, many loyal colleagues from his laboratory team and university, and a strong group of coworkers from the schools where Niki taught middle school science. Collectively, these supporters provided invaluable help during the course of his illness. The family is deeply grateful for their unwavering friendship.
Chi-Bin deeply loved his family, from whom he drew much joy and fulfillment. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Nicola Hack, and his daughter, Molly Chang-Ling Chien; father, Chih-Yung; brother Chi-Kai and his wife, Setsuko, and their children, Tomoki and Masaki; sister Chi-An and her husband, Keith, and their children, Theodore and Miranda; father-in-law, Kenneth Hack; sister-in-law, Pip Hack and her daughter, Avelene; and brother-in-law, Roger, his wife Jenny and their children, Thomas and Joshua. Chi-Bin is preceded in death by his mother, Chun-Wuei, and mother-in-law, Lee Hack, both victims of cancer.
The family extends their deepest thanks to Saundra Buys, MD, and to all of the doctors, nurses, and staff of Huntsman Cancer Hospital. The sensitivity and compassion exhibited by all those who cared for Chi-Bin is treasured by his family. Niki, Chi-Bin, and Molly found shelter there, understanding, and the highest quality of care.
A memorial service for Chi-Bin will be held at the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, 569 S. 1300 E. on Friday, December 9, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow the service. Online condolences may be left at www.legacy.com.
