Joseph O. Chan

Joseph O. Chan, Ph.D., age 73, of Burr Ridge, Illinois, passed away on March 9, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. A devoted husband, father, brother, and educator, Joe lived a life defined by an unshakable moral compass, quiet strength, and an unwavering commitment to those he loved. With wisdom, compassion, humor, and an abiding sense of integrity, he left a profound and lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Born in Hong Kong, Joe was raised by his resilient grandmother after losing his father at a young age. Despite humble beginnings, his childhood was rich with school, sports, music, and service. He played soccer and table tennis, sang in the choir, served as an altar boy, and mentored younger children in the Don Bosco Boys Club. His early dedication to judo sparked a lifelong passion for martial arts that would later become a cornerstone of his character and family life.

At eighteen, Joe left Hong Kong for the United States with only two suitcases and a carry-on bag, determined to pursue greater educational opportunities. After a year at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, he transferred to Haverford College in Pennsylvania, where he discovered a deep love for mathematics and changed his major. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois Chicago, settling in Oak Park. There he met his wife, Christina, known as Krysia, a fellow mathematics graduate student. Their shared office, conversations over lunch, and common values quickly drew them together. Joe proposed to her at a stoplight while driving home from school, and they married before a judge on a cold February day in 1980. They built a beautiful life together, welcoming three children: Christopher, Oliver, and Natalie.

Joe balanced the demands of fatherhood and doctoral studies by teaching part-time at multiple Chicago-area universities. After earning his Ph.D., he joined DePaul University as an instructor and later assistant professor, teaching computer science and authoring a book on discrete mathematics. His career later took him into the corporate world at Oracle Corporation, where he rose to Vice President of Core Technology Services and e-Business Solutions, leading large teams and earning the Practice Development Award in 1994. For more than fifteen years he held executive roles in technology firms and became a respected consultant and author of influential reports. In 2002, he returned to academia at Roosevelt University, serving as Professor of Information Systems, Department Chair, Interim Dean, and Dean of the Heller College of Business. He received numerous honors for his research and teaching and remained a passionate mentor to students until his retirement in 2023.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Joe was a poetic writer, voracious reader, and gifted musician who loved cooking Chinese cuisine while enjoying opera or classical music. He approached every endeavor with unmatched work ethic and taught his children to take pride in their efforts and always do their best. A seventh-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, he was both master and lifelong student of martial arts, proudly sharing this discipline with his children and grandchildren while instilling its five tenets: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. Joe faced every challenge—including his courageous battle with cancer—with resilience, positivity, and grace.

He often reflected that the three defining choices of his life were coming to America, marrying Krysia, and having their three children. These choices shaped a life of purpose, love, and quiet triumph over long odds. He is survived by his wife Christina, their children Christopher, Oliver, and Natalie, and his beloved grandchildren.