Shin-Kien "Jimmy" Chow
Shin-Kien "Jimmy" Chow Obituary
Shin-Kien Chow died peacefully in his sleep on March 29, 2024 at the age of 88. The cause was congestive heart failure from old age.
Shin-Kien “Jimmy” Chow was born June 12, 1935 in Hunan Province China. Growing up during the Sino Japanese conflict of World War II, he entertained Allied Chinese Nationalist troops as a very young boy. Eventually his family had to flee the Japanese invasion, temporarily settling in Shanghai. School was a luxury and privilege during wartime, but because his family valued education, he was sent to boarding school during junior high in Nanjing, an arduous 3 hour train journey away from family. In the chaos of the Communist takeover of China, Jimmy and his family fled to Taiwan, where he attended high school and then National Taiwan University, majoring in agricultural engineering.
Under the Chinese quota system of the 1950 and 1960’s, he was selected among the brightest students to pursue advanced education in the United States. He immigrated in 1959 and obtained his US citizenship in 1972. Jimmy truly lived the American dream, and was proud to be the parent of a US Naval Academy graduate (Edward) and grandfather to a US Air Force Academy graduate (Helen).
He received a scholarship to attend California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and received a Masters in Civil Engineering. Jimmy received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa. He worked for Westinghouse Research and Development in Churchill, PA for 18 years. Jimmy worked on many US Navy projects, including the Poseidon submarine -launched missile launching system, Mark 48 torpedo propulsion system, and nuclear reactor designs used in Navy surface combatants and submarines. Jimmy worked a further 12 years at Westinghouse Nuclear Energy Center in Monroeville PA and worked on the Westinghouse AP600 reactor. Jimmy rose to the level of Advisory Engineer while mentoring and sharing credit with aspiring young, talented engineers on various research papers. Notably, some of his publications are still used in training today.
He states that the best thing he accomplished in life was to marry Agnes Chien Min Chow (Pang). They were married in 1965, and raised their family in Monroeville, PA where they lived for almost 59 years.
Along with numerous friends and relatives, Jimmy is survived by his wife Agnes and three children: Shirley Chow, Edward Chow and wife Jane (Wang), and Michelle Chow and Mark Agee (predeceased), and grandchildren Claire Agee, Helen Agee, and Alexander Chow.
Per Jimmy’s wishes, there will be no funeral services. The family requests that friends and family write a note or share your thoughts on his online page at www.jobefuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Bridges Hospice at www.bridgeshospice.org
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