Susanna Ka Yan Chau
October 28, 1975 – October 6, 2024
Age 48, Pleasanton, CA, USA
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Susanna Ka Yan Chau, who left us on October 6, 2024, at the age of 48.
Born on October 28, 1975, in Hong Kong, Susanna was the cherished daughter of Dorothy Mak Sau Chun Chau and David Wang Hau Chau. In 1978, Susanna and her family immigrated to the United States, settling in Rodeo, California. As a child, Susanna enjoyed playing with dolls, reading, and watching sitcoms with her younger sister, Stella. She was a devoted big sister who took on many roles—daily caregiver, tutor, and enthusiastic partner in living room badminton and family game nights.
During her time at Castro Valley High School, Susanna’s passion for community service flourished. She dedicated herself to volunteering in clubs that promoted visibility for the Asian American community and provided support to those in need. After graduating, she pursued higher education at UC Berkeley, where she earned a degree in plant biotechnology along with a minor in business from the Haas School of Business.
Susanna went on to build a remarkable 25-year career in biotechnology research and biopharmaceutical investor relations, working with notable Bay Area companies, including Atara Biotherapeutics, Compugen, Coherus Biosciences, Astex Pharmaceuticals, Affymetrix, Exelixis, and Mendel Biotechnology. She was also an active member of the Bay Area National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), contributing to event programming, membership activities, and NIRI conference planning.
Outside of her professional achievements, Susanna was passionate about political activism. She devoted countless hours to Organizing for America, where she phone-banked and canvassed for causes such as healthcare reform and the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. In her personal life, she found joy in attending performances, exploring art museums, dancing at concerts, practicing yoga, trying new restaurants, and visiting wineries across Northern California.
In 2020, Susanna’s life was forever enriched by the arrival of her nephew, Conner. As a proud aunt, she cherished spending time with him, creating precious memories during family BBQs, beach trips, and school plays. She never missed a moment with him and delighted in their time together.
Sadly, in March of 2024, Susanna was diagnosed with stage 4 bile duct cancer. Despite her strength and determination throughout several rounds of chemotherapy, complications arose from a severe immune response, and she passed away on October 6, 2024.
Susanna is preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Chau, and is survived by her father, David Chau; her sister, Stella Chau; her brother-in-law, Gabe Roberts; and her beloved nephew, Conner Roberts.
A celebration of Susanna’s life will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Marines’ Memorial Club and Hotel in San Francisco. We invite you to join us in sharing memories, enjoying music, and celebrating her vibrant spirit with munchies and mimosas. In honor of Susanna’s colorful personality, we encourage guests to wear their favorite colors. Please RSVP at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/susannas-celebration-of-life-tickets-1041747804727
In lieu of flowers, donations to support Susanna’s celebration of life can be made here: https://gofund.me/ea025614
A private family interment will take place at Sunset View Cemetery in El Cerrito at a later date.
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