LifeTimeline

Fay Hoh Yin

    • MAR 10

      Born in Beijing

    1932

    • Refuge from War

    1940

    • Family Moves to Taiwan

    1949

    • College in U.S.

    1952
    • JAN 20

      Marries Ted Yin

    1959
    • JUL

      Son Duncan is Born

    1960
    • AUG

      Daughter Monona is Born

    1962

    • Begins Work as Virologist at DuPont

    1966
    • JAN 22

      Husband Ted Dies at 39

    1970

    • Retires from DuPont

    1991

    • Death of Two Mothers

    1997
    • SEP

      Monona Marries Steve Fahrer

    1998
    • AUG

      Birth of Granddaughter Maya Yin Fahrer

    2001
    • JAN

      Duncan Marries Amanda Boyd

    2007
    • FEB

      Birth of Granddaughter Allison Fay Morley Yin

    2009
    • AUG

      Diagnosed with Lymphoma

    2014
    • MAY

      Publishes Memoirs

    2017
    • JUL 20

      Dies at Home with Family

    2020

  • 1932

    MAR 10

    Born in Beijing

    Beijing
    China
    Pictured here are Fay's parents (on the right) on a visit to her mother's family in Nantong. Her mother Dorothy is visibly pregnant. To her left is Dorothy's younger sister, Fay's Ah Yee, and to the left of them are the Kao parents and their five brothers.
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  • 1940

    Refuge from War

    Qingmuguan
    China
    Eight-year-old Fay moves with her extended family to a rural valley in Sichuan Province after surviving three years of Japanese bombing in Chongqing. The front row is Fay, her father Gunsun Hoh, mother Dorothy Kao, and brother Hsiang. Back row are three of Fay's Kao cousins flanking her Ah Yee, Dorothy's younger sister Elizabeth.
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  • 1949

    Family Moves to Taiwan

    Hsinchu
    Taiwan
    The family escapes via Shanghai as the Communists take control of the mainland. Dorothy becomes principal of faltering Hsinchu Elementary School and transforms it into the top elementary school in Taiwan through physical education (see Chapter 12 in Riding with the Wind).
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  • 1952

    College in U.S.

    Madison, Wisconsin
    After a year at Western College for Women in Ohio, Fay transfers to University of Wisconsin, her mother's alma mater. There she completes her BS and PhD in biochemistry. She is pictured here in 1955 touring California with UW best friend Dolores Ravins.
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  • 1959

    JAN 20
    2

    Marries Ted Yin

    Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
    At the request of Fay's father, his best friend from college, Harry Engleman and wife Erla, stand in as parents of the bride.The entire Engleman extended family pitches in to throw the wedding and reception.
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  • 1960

    JUL
    2

    Son Duncan is Born

    Madison, Wisconsin
    Fay and Ted have their first child while in the final stages of completing their PhDs. Their professors Dr. Robert Bock and Dr. John D. Ferry go on to become lifelong friends and mentors.
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  • 1962

    AUG
    3

    Daughter Monona is Born

    Wilmington, Delaware
    Daughter Monona is born in Wilmington, where Fay will live until her illness. Mother-in-law Florence arrives from Hong Kong to care for the children so Fay can return to the lab.
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  • 1966

    Begins Work as Virologist at DuPont

    Wilmington, Delaware
    Pictured is DuPont's Experimental Station on the Brandywine River, one of the largest industrial research laboratories in the world. Ted was already a rising star in the Elastomers Department.
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  • 1970

    JAN 22

    Husband Ted Dies at 39

    Taipei
    Taiwan
    The family moves to Taiwan for six months so that Fay's parents can spend time with the family. Ted is a visiting professor at National Taiwan University but dies in a tragic accident. Fay and Florence return to Delaware to begin their unconventional partnership for the next 37 years. This is the last photo of Ted and the children, on a friend's boat in Hong Kong harbor.
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  • 1991
    3

    Retires from DuPont

    Wilmington, Delaware
    Fay is 59 when she takes early retirement and devotes herself to dancing, writing and spending time with friends.
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  • 1997

    Death of Two Mothers

    Mother-in-law Florence Che-Sun Yin (b. 1906 on left) and Dorothy Kao Hoh (b. 1901) both sustained Fay with their love and support. Florence died at home in Wilmington with Fay, Duncan and Monona at her side. Dorothy died three months later in Taiwan.
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  • 1998

    SEP
    2

    Monona Marries Steve Fahrer

    Brooklyn, New York
    Monona and Steve marry in the Picnic House, Prospect Park, just a short walk from their home in Brooklyn. Fay leads a Hungarian wedding dance that she has taught to Monona's women friends.
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  • 2001

    AUG
    7

    Birth of Granddaughter Maya Yin Fahrer

    New York, New York
    Pictured here are Fay, Monona and Maya with Sarabeth Walker MD, the pediatrician who cared for Monona and Duncan and was a dear friend of the family.
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  • 2007

    JAN

    Duncan Marries Amanda Boyd

    Brooklyn, New York
    Duncan and Amanda marry at the Palm House, Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
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  • 2009

    FEB
    3

    Birth of Granddaughter Allison Fay Morley Yin

    Stamford, Connecticut
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  • 2014

    AUG

    Diagnosed with Lymphoma

    Wilmington, Delaware
    Undergoes chemotherapy for four months, leading to hair loss and five years of remission.
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  • 2017

    MAY

    Publishes Memoirs

    Brooklyn, New York
    Fay publishes memoirs, Riding with the Wind: Three Generations of My Family in China.
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  • 2020

    JUL 20

    Dies at Home with Family

    Brooklyn, New York
    After a six-year battle with lymphoma, Fay dies peacefully at home, cared for by children Duncan and Monona, granddaughter Maya, and son-in-law Steve Fahrer.
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    Mini Liu
    At our building's holiday party last December. I'm so glad I got to know Fay better while she was living with Monona. She reached so many people with her openness, curiosity, and enthusiasm.

    Jul 31, 2020

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    Marilyn Higgins
    Ride with the Wind, my sweet friend.

    Jul 30, 2020

    Monona Yin

    Dec 8, 2020

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    Marilyn Higgins
    Fond memories of us having dinner just a short walk from the house. Such a beautiful woman. Wish I could have spent more time with her. ❤

    Jul 30, 2020

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