Mrs. Hwei-Chih Cheng Sun was born on July 16, 1931, in Dalai County, Nenjiang Province of northeast China. Her father, Mr. Ming Chun Cheng, was the mayor of Dalai County. When he attended Qiqihar High School in Heilongjiang Province, his classmates were Cardinal Yu Pin; Zhao Ming Wang, the former legislator of the Republic of China; and Huan Zhang Wu, the former national congressional representative. These three gentlemen later became Mrs. Sun’s lifelong mentors and friends.
During Mrs. Sun’s youth, she experienced the tumultuous period of Chinese modern history and overcame extreme hardship. At 16, she single-handedly took her younger brother De Ling Cheng, who was 12 at the time, and escaped from their hometown to join their father in Changchun City. Together, they all moved to Taiwan to unite with her elder brother. Two weeks after she arrived in Taiwan in July 1948, Mrs. Sun was accepted into the Taipei Women’s Normal College. Since then, she dedicated her entire life to education.
During her three years in college, Mrs. Sun met the love of her life, Mr. Pi-Lin Sun. He was born in 1931 in Shandong Province. His hometown was Yuhang County in Zhejiang Province. They fell in love, and then got married on Feb. 10, 1952. They spent 47 happily married years together. They raised two sons and a daughter. Their eldest son is Dr. Richard Sun, their second son is Dr. George Sun, and their daughter is Dr. Christina Sun. Mr. Pi-Lin Sun, unfortunately, passed away in 1999. Their three children all received advanced degrees, achieved outstanding accomplishments and have successful careers. Richard started his dental practice in Southern California and volunteered in various civic and charitable organizations. He was elected as city councilman of San Marino in 2009 and served as the mayor of San Marino in 2012 and 2017. Their second son, George, who previously taught at USC, is a prominent plastic surgeon and an anti-aging medical specialist in Southern California. Their daughter, Christina, has a doctoral degree in behavioral psychology; following her mother’s footsteps, she is also committed to education. She currently serves as the superintendent of Lih-Jen International Private Elementary and Middle School. Ivy, their first daughter-in-law, encouraged by her mother-in-law, has been actively engaged in education for more than 30 years. Zehra, their second daughter-in-law, has been passionately involved in many charitable organizations and community service activities. In total, Mrs. Sun has 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Lih-Jen International Private Elementary and Middle School, founded and developed by Mr. and Mrs. Sun, is one of the most renowned private schools in Taipei, Taiwan. For decades, the school has cultivated countless talents for the community and the country.
In addition to her lifelong contributions to education, Mrs. Sun was active in serving the public. She was a member of the First City Council after the Taipei City Council reformed in 1968. Her excellent, sincere and honest performance on City Council won the respect of her colleagues and the general public.
Mrs. Sun was passionate about public welfare and the work of civic organizations in which she always actively participated and assumed leadership positions. These organizations include the Cardinal Yu Pin Memorial Foundation, International Children’s Education Association, Taipei Youth Basketball League, Girl Scout Association of Taiwan-Taipei Branch and Zonta International Taipei Branch II. Her kindness, leadership and conscientious attitude won everyone’s respect and support.
Her contributions to education and public welfare have been well recognized. Mrs. Sun was personally greeted and praised by five presidents of the Republic of China (ROC): Mr. Ching-Kuo Chiang, Mr. Chia-Kan Yan, Mr. Teng-Hui Lee, Mr. Shui-Bian Chen and Mr. Ying-Jiou Ma. She won countless awards, including the Top Ten Outstanding Education Professionals awarded by the ROC; Private School Education Association’s Hong Dao Award, the highest honor of private school education; the honorary doctor of humanities degree from Toko University; and honorary doctor of philosophy degree from Fu Jen Catholic University. In the United States, she won the Excellence in Education award from the Chinese American Museum and the Presidential Volunteer Service Award from the International Leadership Foundation. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI presented her with an honor in recognition of her long-standing care and contributions to education, public welfare and disadvantaged groups.
In addition to a successful career and beautiful family, Mrs. Sun is surrounded by many precious friends who have always appreciated her compassion and support. The special qualities of her distinctive personality attracted many people. She was strict and disciplined, yet fondly admired by students and staff as Principal Cheng. In her friends’ hearts, she will always be remembered and loved as the cheerful, sunny, and warm “Mama Sun.”
Hwei-Chih Cheng Sun
