Yu Zhou

Yu "Joe" Zhou (60) tragically passed away on the night of January 29, 2025 after a US Army helicopter collided mid-air with their airplane (AA Flight 5342), mere seconds before they were about to land at the Reagan National Airport. He and his wife, Kaiyan Mao, were accompanying their son, Edward Zhou, on the return flight from the 2025 US Figure Skating Championships held in Wichita, KS, where Edward was training with fellow elite skaters. Yu, Kaiyan, and Edward were all killed by the devastating collision.
Yu was born on October 20, 1964 in Anqing, China. He graduated from Tongji University in Shanghai with a degree in architectural design in 1988. As a requirement for this prestigious degree, he studied German for 5 years as his second language. After graduation, he worked as an architect at the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1995, he moved to Singapore where he met his future wife, Kaiyan Mao, while ice skating– little did they know that ice skating would continue to be an integral part of their family. The two fell in love and got married in 1998 – they have since been married for nearly 27 years.
Aspiring to further their education and start their new life together, Yu and Kaiyan moved to the US in 1999. Having worked as an architect for over 10 years in China and Singapore, Yu found himself in an entirely new environment. In order to make it in the US, he not only put in countless hours learning English as his third language, but also made a significant career pivot from architecture, obtaining a Master's degree in computer science. Yu was a true believer that where there's a will, there's a way. He worked as a software engineer in both Virginia and Indiana while his wife was pursuing her MBA at the University of Indiana, before they finally settled in Fairfax, VA in 2007. Here he worked in several companies with his final position being at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
In 2008, Yu and Kaiyan had a baby boy, Edward Zhou, bringing endless energy and joy to their lives. Yu and his wife were incredibly supportive of their son's figure skating, musical, and martial arts endeavors, always with him every step along the way, quite literally until the very end.
Although Yu was a successful software engineer, he never gave up his original passion in architectural design – together with his friend from college, he designed and built his dream house in 2010 and never stopped interior redesigning and redecorating, and landscaping the yard around the house. There are tools scattered across their dining table, waiting for his return to complete yet another project.
Yu was not only a great father and loving husband, but also a great brother, uncle, and friend. His generosity, loyalty, and caring personality allowed him to befriend everyone he had a chance to meet. His friends and extended family recount festive potluck and hot pot parties at their house during holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations. Yu was also adventurous and always tried new things, from skiing and boating to cooking new dishes with herbs and recreating foods from his childhood memories. He was also well known for his good sense of humor, often sharing quips that would light up the room with laughter. His jokes have even been known to diffuse the occasional tense situation.
Yu was also a spiritual explorer. From ancient Taoist and Buddhist teachings to modern meditation practices, he frequently shared and promoted his discoveries with friends and family.
Yu is survived by Jin Zhou (brother) and Wen Zhou (sister), as well as countless numbers of extended family members and friends, who are all heartbroken by the new gaping void in their lives.
A private funeral service will be held for Yu along with his wife and son at the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home.