Dr. Shyr-te Ju

Dr. Shyr-te Ju

Dr. Shyr-te Ju, age 65, of Charlottesville, Virginia, departed this life on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, in his home, surrounded by his family.

He was born on February 9, 1947, in China, a son of the late Fang-Tang Ju and Shiu-Jen Tsao.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Shyr-yu Ju.

He moved to Taiwan in 1949. He obtained his bachelor's degree of science and master's degree of science from the National Taiwan University. In 1977, he was awarded a PhD degree from the University of Illinois. He was a Fellow and later an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Harvard Medical School. He moved to the Department of Medicine in Boston University School of Medicine, taking up a post as an Associate Professor and later promoted to Professor.

In 2002, he moved to the University of Virginia, as a tenured Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology. He held the latter post until his passing.

Dr. Ju has made numerous contributions in both cellular and molecular immunology. Especially, his work is highly relevant to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. He had 140 publications in well-respected scientific journals. He was a beloved mentor in that he conveyed his enthusiasm in science to his trainees and peers. His emphasis on scientific accuracy and significance were well known. He was a generous person and will be missed by his friends and colleagues. For his contributions, he was awarded an Excellence in Research Award by the Department of Medicine. A Shyr-te Ju Research Award for Excellence in Immunological Research was established and is given to the best immunology abstract in the Department's Annual Research Day. One of his publications was cited more than 1200 times. For that he was recognized as an inaugural member of the University of Virginia School of Medicine MilliPub Club. He belonged to several scientific organizations and was a member of both federal and non-federal review panels. In addition, he was on several editorial boards.

Dr. Ju was a devoted and caring husband, father and grandfather. He was full of zest. In addition to science, he was interested in sports and politics.

Dr. Ju is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Chiao-Ying Angela Ju of 40 years; a son, Peter Ju and his wife, Miki, of San Mateo, California; a daughter, Mindy Ju and her husband Andrew Whitehead; and a grandson, Jack Whitehead, all of Mountain View, California. He is also survived by a brother, Semmy Ju of New Orleans, Louisiana; and two sisters, Ching-cko Chen and Jean Ju, both of Taipei Taiwan; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate Dr. Ju's life is being planned.

Angie and her family wish to thank Dr. Geoffrey Weiss and colleagues of the University of Virginia Emily Couric Cancer Center for his outstanding and compassionate care over the past seven years.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Shyr-te Ju Immunology Research Award Fund in the Department of Medicine, care of UVA Nephrology/CIIR, P.O. Box 800133, Charlottesville VA 22908-0133 or to the UVA Emily Couric Cancer Center in honor of Dr. Weiss, care of UVA Health System Development, P.O. Box 800773, Charlottesville VA 22908-0773.

Funeral arrangements for a private service were made through the Teague Funeral Home, Charlottesville Virginia.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.