Amy Paayfen Chang

1964 - 2018

Amy Paayfen Chang
Feb. 25, 1964 - July 21, 2018
Saratoga, California
Amy Paayfen Chang, of Saratoga California, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Stanford University Hospital on July 21, 2018 from complications related to cancer.
Amy was a beloved mother, sister, daughter and friend to many, and despite leaving this Earth much too early, still managed to leave her mark for generations to come.
Born in Tainan, Taiwan on February 25, 1964; Amy belonged to a matriarchal family, one with a strong, independent and entrepreneurial spirit. Her mother and father, Jean and Richard Chang, moved to the United States in 1969 to pursue his engineering education. Their family stops included South Dakota, Utah and Anaheim before settling in San Carlos, California.
Amy grew up to be a brilliant student, graduating as valedictorian from San Carlos High and majoring in Public Policy at Brown University, and finally graduating from UC-Hastings Law School. Amy started her legal career as a corporate attorney at McCutcheon Doyle, and then shifted her focus first to raising her family and then helping run the family business.
As a citizen-activist, also Amy had a soft heart, spearheading educational school choice for Chinese American students in the landmark case Ho vs SFUSD in San Francisco and then tirelessly promoted economic development in Oakland as an urban planner for the City of Oakland.
She later in life developed a love of faith in God as an active church member of Saratoga Federated Church. She loved her family, friends, Taiwan, redwood trees, her grand piano, soybean milk, independent movies, international travel, great conversation. Taiwanese and Thai food. As a compassionate soul, Amy always rooted for the underdog.
Her memorial was held at Darling Fischer Memorial Chapel on August 25, 2018 and was lovingly attended by hundreds of friends and family. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Harrison Chow; 3 sons, Darwin, Adam and Theodore (Teddy) Chow; her sisters Carol and Lisa Chang and her Aunt Jui-Gui Gong.
Amy is interred at Los Gatos Memorial Cemetery and Park. Redwood trees in her honor have been planted in Cupertino and Saratoga, may they grow tall and old. She will be loved and missed by all those she has touched on Earth.
Bruce Wood, Darling-Fischer Campbell Memorial Chapel


View the online memorial for Amy Paayfen Chang