Samuel Sum Yee Fan, 56, of Peoria, died Friday, July 23, 2010 after a rigorous battle with cancer.
He was born May 29, 1954 in Hong Kong to Fan Hai Yin and the late Grace Kwong Nam Chu Fan. He married Lori Winters on July 10, 2004 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. She survives.
He is also survived by his father of Hong Kong; two sisters, Felicia (Jeffrey) Campbell of New York City and their daughter, Gwyneth Campbell and Julia (Bruce) Chik of Valencia, California and their children Jennifer and Teddy Chik; nieces and nephews, Cory Winters of Springdale, Arkansas, Kaleb and Kylee Winters of Lenexa, Kansas; Lori’s parents, Neil and Pat Winters of Branson, Missouri; Lori’s sisters, Lanee Winters of Branson, Missouri and Kari Winters of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Sam earned his undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, followed by his M.S. in microbiology and Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Illinois. He did postdoctoral research at Duke University from 1985-1992.
Dr. Fan was a passionate and accomplished educator. He joined the Bradley University Biology Department in 1992, specializing in microbiology. He touched the lives of hundreds of students who now are successful doctors, veterinarians, nurses, researchers and more. He was a proud and active participant in the life of the University. He served for 15 years on University Senate including two years as president. He completed two sabbaticals at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland in cell biology. Sam loved to teach students of all ages, serving as clinical assistant professor in pathology for the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine in Peoria, teaching short courses for Bradley’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and speaking at service clubs.
Wherever Sam was in the world, his cello accompanied him. He was a member of both the Durham, NC and Peoria Symphony Orchestras (PSO), and rarely declined an invitation to “gig” for weddings and special events. He boasted about playing with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, but the best times he had included informal “play dates” at the homes of beloved quartet members and friends, and his annual trips to Bennington, VT for the Chamber Music Conference. Sam served as the players’ representative to the PSO from 1998-2002, and proudly served on the PSO music director selection committee in 2009-2010.
Sam enjoyed the networking and outreach activities of Rotary Club of Peoria-North since 2003. He loved to travel, had a passion for good wine at a great price, was an excellent cook, and an avid runner. He loved to dance. His unique brand of humor, quiet authority, brilliant mind, and generous spirit will be missed.
Cremation has been accorded. A celebration of Sam’s life will be held on Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Dingeldine Music Center on the campus of Bradley University. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Bradley University or the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.