I-Kuen Yen

Dr. I-Kuen ("Ike") Yen, 91, born on May 29, 1930, in Singapore, passed away on February 5, 2022 after a long period of ill health. He was a longtime resident of Claremont, California at the time of his passing, having lived there for over 50 years.

After a childhood disrupted by Japanese occupation during World War II, Dr. Yen emigrated to the United States in 1955 to study chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning his PhD. He became a devoted citizen of the United States in 1965. An expert in oil and gas technology, Dr. Yen spent a significant portion of his career at Occidental Petroleum. After that, Dr. Yen founded the firm Ike Yen Associates, which provided engineering consulting services. A member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, and the New York Academy of Sciences, Dr. Yen also taught courses at the University of Southern California and Harvey Mudd College.

In his spare time, Dr. Yen was a fan of classical music (particularly Beethoven), opera, and reading. He spent countless hours devoted to his family, finding special joy in family gatherings that gave him the opportunity to enjoy conversation over a good meal. Those closest to him will long remember breakfast buffets in Hawaii and his incredible recall of history.

Dr. Yen's survivors include his wife Dr. Chen-wan Yen, his son and daughter-in-law Alfred and Karin Yen, his son and daughter-in-law Albert and Sara Yen, and his grandchildren and their partners Julie Yen and Felix Wu, Stephen Yen and Sophie Carroll, and Natalie Yen. A private service will be held at Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, California.