Thomas Chi Lien

1959 - 2025

Thomas Chi Lien
Thomas (Tom) Chi Lien, age 65, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, October 4, 2025, after an extended illness. His husband, Eric Castongia, was at his side holding his hand when he passed.
Born in Hong Kong, Tom immigrated to the United States with his family as a teenager. Despite not knowing English when he arrived, he quickly taught himself through movies, television, and books-a love of reading that stayed with him throughout his life.
Tom earned a degree in Clinical Science from San Francisco State University and built a long and respected career at UCSF, most recently in the Immunology Department, before retiring.
As the eldest child, Tom embraced his role with care and dedication, helping to raise his younger siblings and later supporting his mother and aunt in their later years. He is survived by his husband, Eric Castongia; his mother, Sau Ying Lien; his siblings Howard (Stephanie) and Eva (Allen), and many loving friends and colleagues who will remember his warmth, humor, and steadfast friendship.
Tom's kindness, intelligence, and curiosity were evident to everyone who knew him. He had a great sense of humor, an insatiable love of books, and a remarkable memory. He was known for thoughtful gestures-if you mentioned liking a book, movie, or TV show, he would likely surprise you with a copy the next time you met. After retiring, he often read over 100 books a year, happily immersing himself in new worlds and ideas.
When faced with his cancer diagnosis, Tom approached it with courage and grace. He refused to let it define him, choosing instead to focus on living fully and enjoying time with his loved ones.
Friends are invited to a visitation on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 4:00–7:00p.m. at Duggan's Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Avenue, Daly City, CA. Eulogies will be shared at 6:00p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's memory may be made to the Peninsula Humane Society (phs-spca.org/donate) or the South San Francisco Public Library (ssf.net/librarydonation).