Tao Cheng

Tao Cheng (December 1, 1923-February 25, 2022)

On February 25, 2022, Tao Cheng passed away in his sleep at Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Tao was born in Qianshan, China in 1923. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he was separated from his family and bravely forged an independent path to became a scholar and student leader/activist. In 1946, he graduated from National Southwestern Associated University (a wartime merger of Peking University, Tsinghua University and Nankai University). From 1946 to 1948, he was a graduate teaching assistant at Peking University. When the Chinese government awarded Tao a scholarship to study abroad, he almost went to Switzerland to study international law in German; due to financing issues, however, he came to the US. In 1951, he earned a Master's Degree in International Organizations at Temple University. When the Communist party took over the Chinese government and ended Tao's scholarship, he needed to work in order to finance his graduate studies. In 1961, Tao earned a PhD in Political Science with a concentration in World Politics, Foreign Policy, and International Law at Columbia University.

Tao taught political science at Florida Memorial University, Lock Haven University, and Pennsylvania State University before beginning a 26-year professorship position at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) in 1967. During his lengthy tenure, he instructed courses in the US federal government, comparative government studies, the Russian government, the Chinese Communist political system, international law, and international organizations. He also served as Chairman of the Political Science Department for six years. Tao was always engaged in scholarly work. He wrote "The Sino-Japanese Dispute over the Diao-yu-tai (Senkaku) Islands and the Law of Territorial Acquisition" (Virginia Journal of International Law, University of Virginia Law School, 1974) and "The Dispute Over the South China Sea Islands" (Texas International Law Journal, The University of Texas School of Law, 1975). His most recent political article, "Confronting the Dispute Over the Sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands," was published in 2019 by the Hong Kong-based journal, Master Insight Media Limited.

In 1963, he married Catherine Beh and they raised two daughters, Margaret and Helen, in Lawrenceville, NJ. They also helped found the Central Jersey Chinese-American Association, where he served as president and sang bass in its chorus, the Chin-Yun Chorus. Tao also enjoyed gardening, ballroom dancing, practicing tai chi, jogging/speed walking, cooking for his family, listening to opera as well as reading and writing about news and international politics. He also served as principal of the Princeton Chinese Language School, a Trustee on the Mercer County Community College Board of Trustees, and an election poll volunteer.

Tao is predeceased by his wife Catherine. He is survived by his brother Cheng Wen Tao; daughters Margie Go (Loewe) and Helen Mao (David); sister-in-law Katherine Beh; sister-in-law Corinna Beh; and grandchildren Madeline, Leo, and Miranda Go, and Alexandra and Elizabeth Mao. Tao is predeceased by his parents Cheng Zu Fen and Xia Xiu Rong, his three sisters (Cheng Hui Lan, Cheng Yu Lan, Cheng Gai Zhen), and his brother Cheng Xue Xian; half sisters-in-law Jun-Yan, Chao-Xuan, and Chao-Chun Beh; sister-in-law Janet Chang; and brothers-in-law Charles Beh and James Beh.

Per Tao's request, he was cremated and will be celebrated in a private memorial ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tao honor to The Yu Beh, Pai-Chih and Catherine Beh Cheng Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Winthrop University at www.winthrop.edu/advancement/make-a-gift.aspx. For Gift Designation, choose "Other" and then enter the scholarship name. Under Tribute Gift Option, check "This gift is in honor of" and type "Tao Cheng."