Josephine Chen

CHEN JOSEPHINE Y. CHEN (Age 76) Josephine Y. Chen, 76, who grew up in Washington, D.C., passed away on March 17, 2008. She was a long-time resident of Kissimmee, Florida and most recently Fort Myers, Florida. She was born Josephine Chung in Suzhou, China, the oldest of 10 children. Five siblings died as infants. At the age of 14 (1945), she came to the United States with her parents and surviving sisters. The Chung family settled in Washington, D.C. and called it home. She was a dynamic leader in and outside the family. As a young teenager, she helped her parents manage the transition to American life, quickly learning to speak English fluently. After only a short time in America, she received the top scholastic award when she graduated from junior high school which set the stage for subsequent achievements as an adult. With her extraordinary husband, Bill, Josephine raised three wonderful daughters, passing along to them her strength, intelligence, honesty and humor. When her youngest daughter left for college, Josephine went back to college at age 52, receiving her B.A. degree at the University of Central Florida. In Florida, where the Chen family moved, she had an impressive and successful career as a community leader, educator, businesswoman and elected official. In 1984-92 she was overwhelmingly elected to the Osceola County School Board for two terms. She served as Board Chairman her final year, before retiring. She founded the first Chinese School in Osceola, serving as its first principal for three years. She co-founded the Osceola American Chinese Center and served on the Board of Goodwill Industries in Central Florida. Her extensive volunteer efforts earned her respect and admiration, resulting in numerous awards, including the 1995 Humanitarian Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews of Central Florida, appointment to the Florida State Multicultural Review Task Force and nominee for the Florida Governor's Women Hall of Fame. Josephine was direct, decisive and determined. She had a sardonic and dry wit. At their 50th wedding anniversary, she said, "I made all the small decisions and Bill made all the big decisions. Fact is, there were NO big decisions." Bill now says, "This is the first family crisis and Josephine was not here to solve it." Josephine is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, William; her children, Nina Langenmayr (Eric) of Bryn Mawr, PA, Joanna of Culver City, CA, Stacey Cannington (Mike) of Fort Myers, FL; grandchildren, Brian and David Langenmayr and Sarah Cannington; sisters, Charlotte Chang (Ming), June Fugh (John), Maimie Barron; Connie Chung Povich (Maury); numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Josephine Chen's Life will be held 9 to 11a.m,, Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Kissimmee, Florida. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in her name to the Josephine Chen Family Scholarship, Valencia Foundation, 190 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801. Josephine's aim was to help women (25 or older) return to school.