Dr. Tao Yu Funeral Fund

Dr. Tao Yu, an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Dakota (UND), passed away unexpectedly and suddenly on June 13, 2021.

Tao was single, having no family in the U.S. He is the only child of his parents. His parents would like to come to the U.S. to honor their son and to see the body of their only child for one last time. They have retired and are living on social security in China. Tao's mom is currently fighting cancer and is at the late stages of her disease. Various treatments have brought financial challenges to the family that Tao was helping to alleviate. Given Mrs. Yu's current health condition, a 24-hour international flight will be a significant physical challenge, and thus, business class flight tickets are needed quickly (which also increases the cost to the family). Tao's parents would like him to be buried in Grand Forks based on his love of North Dakota and the many dreams he shared with them regarding this region and the warm people he cared for here. The funeral, cemetery, and travel costs will be an additional financial burden well beyond the emotional heartbreak that Tao's parents are currently experiencing.

There are no words of comfort that we could offer to Tao's parents. But we would like to provide some financial assistance. The Chinese Students and Scholar Association at UND is calling for donations in support of Tao's family during this painful and challenging time.

A little more information about Dr. Tao Yu:

Tao Yu was born and raised in China. Upon graduating from Fudan University, he continued pursuing a Ph.D. degree at the University of Minnesota. Before joining UND, he was a postdoctoral research associate at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an assistant professor at Tennessee Tech University. Tao was a talented chemist. Most people around him remember him as a kind-hearted and generous person who was always willing to help others. He was an inspirational figure and always acted as a big brother to new students and scholars. "The conversation with him always made me feel warm," as one friend described him. His thoughtful generosity toward others, his willingness to listen without judgment, and his quiet humor have positively touched many. He will be greatly missed.