Dr. Debbie Fu-Tai Tuan

Dr. Debbie Fu-Tai Tuan, 92, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2022 at Kendal at Oberlin Nursing Facility.

She was born on February 2, 1930 in Beijing, China to Shiau Gien Tuan and Chen Lee Tuan. Being in a military family, Dr. Tuan moved around quite often while growing up. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Chemistry from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She came to the U.S. to pursue advanced studies in 1958, attended Yale University where she earned her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees in Chemistry. After receiving her Ph.D., Dr. Tuan did research at University of Wisconsin’s Theoretical Chemistry Institute, then began her teaching and research career at Kent State University, in 1965, specializing in physical chemistry. Throughout her career, she served as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International), Cornell University, and The Ohio State University. Dr. Tuan also showed enormous generosity, establishing scholarship funds for graduate students in physical chemistry, and for undergraduate students in the Honors College at Kent State University. She retired from Kent State University in 1996.

In addition to being enthusiastic in education and research, Dr. Tuan was a connoisseur of fine arts and classical music. She was also interested in Chinese classic literature and history, and enjoyed travelling.

Dr. Tuan was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. John Waller Reed. She is survived by brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and stepchildren, who all loved her dearly. A private burial took place in Standing Rock Cemetery, Kent, Ohio.

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