Lucinda “Cindy” T Yeh

April 15, 1971 - October 5, 2017

Lucinda “Cindy” Tai-Ming Yeh, of Albany, California, passed away peacefully in San Francisco on October 5, 2017, alongside her husband Mark and sons Max and Kyle, and with her parents, sister, brother, and other relatives close by. Cindy fought with courage, grace, and resilience against an aggressive recurrence of cancer. The way she lived her life exemplified love and selflessness.

Cindy was born on April 15, 1971 in West Chester, Pennsylvania to Daniel and Sherida Yeh. She was married to Mark Chien for nearly 15 years, and they had two sons: Maxwell and Kyle. Raising her sons together with Mark was the joy of Cindy’s life. She loved reading with them, camping and hiking in the Bay Area, planning birthday parties, and always encouraging them to learn new things. She taught them to face all of life’s challenges, no matter how daunting, with empathy, engagement, and optimism. She loved to laugh, and her sense of humor, enhanced by her quick mind, sharp eye and keen memory for details, brightened so many lives. Cindy drew people together wherever she went, and always cared about others above herself.

Cindy graduated from Henderson High School and received a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University, followed by a law degree from the University of Virginia. She completed a federal judicial clerkship with the Honorable Stanley S. Harris in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia. In 2001, she joined the law firm Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) as an associate in the International Trade and Investment Practice Area, using her proficiency in English, Chinese, and Taiwanese to handle immigration and trade cases for international clients.

Cindy spent much of her time giving back to her community. She helped found the Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association (ITASA), a group dedicated to exploring Taiwanese American heritage. She volunteered for the nonprofit Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) in Washington, D.C., where she worked to improve the lives of domestic abuse survivors, and received the D.C. Mayor’s Outstanding Community Service Award in 2003. In recent years, she could often be found volunteering at Ocean View Elementary School in Albany, California, and at numerous sports and scouting events for her sons.

Cindy is survived by her husband, Mark Chien, her 12-year-old son, Maxwell Chien, her 9-year-old son, Kyle Chien; her father Daniel Yeh, her mother Sherida Yeh, her sister Sabrina Yeh, brother Brian Yeh and many close in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her generous spirit will remain in our hearts. She will be missed tremendously by all who knew and loved her.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 4 at Sunset View Mortuary Chapel in El Cerrito, California, followed by a reception at Sunset View.

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Very belated condolences from North Carolina. I met Cindy in DC when she was clerking in the same courthouse with my husband. She was very involved with the Domestic Violence Resource Center & we had a lot of mutual friends. We ran Race for the Cure together in 2000. Cindy was a wonderful person. I remember she made brownies for my courthouse wedding. I moved away & later heard she had cancer, so we exchanged a few emails a while back. She was optimistic and said she was still working. I am sorry to hear of her passing through the internet & offer my deepest condolences to the family.

I miss you dearly, Cindy. You are so loved and many of us think about you. The boys are growing and thriving, and I know that they’ll continue to make you proud.

My heart goes out to the Yeh Family. So very sorry for your loss. Cindy was an excellent student in my French class at Henderson High School. I will never forget her warm and gentle personality.

Our world is more vacant today through the loss of Cindy Yeh. Her intertwined empathy, insight, and merriment brought fresh joy to the people fortunate enough to have shared this earth with her. Mingled smiles and tears remain. I send my deep condolences to her friends and family. Linda Banks - Henderson English teacher and literary magazine advisor

Thank you, Mrs. Shaw.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Thank you so very much, Mrs. Banks, for these lovely and thoughtful words.

My heart goes out to the Yeh family. I found out today about this sad loss. I wasn't a close friend of Cindy's in law school, but I still remember her well, and seeing her picture, I was reminded instantly of the impression her kind presence and personality made on me during my time at U.Va. I posted this today on my Facebook page. Thanks for letting me share. -Jason Grant: I learned today that one of my law school classmates, the gracious Cindy Yeh, died recently from cancer. She was just 46. A graduate of Yale and then UVA Law, I remember her as always being so warm, friendly and smiling. God bless her and her family. Lucinda "Cindy" T Yeh - View Obituary & Service Information Share Memories and Support the Family. SUNSETVIEWCEMETERY.COM

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.