Man-Sheung Chan

Man-Sheung “MS” Chan (陳敏湘), age 80, of Chapel Hill, passed away peacefully in hospice on 22 January 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

He was born on September 18, 1945, the fifth of 11 children in a small village near Fushan, Guangdong Province, China (廣東省南海縣佛山市張槎鎮). Though his family had been prosperous, they lost everything during political turmoil post-WWII; his father left the young family to go to Hong Kong to earn a living while his mother and siblings remained in China struggling to survive, and MS grew up understanding both responsibility and resilience from a young age. When the family gradually moved to Hong Kong seeking a better life, MS worked tirelessly to help out in the family’s restaurant business, often before and after school—yet he never let go of his hunger to learn and excel. His determination and curiosity carried him further than anyone around him could have imagined.

As the first in his family to graduate from college (Chinese University of Hong Kong, ’68), MS earned a full scholarship to go abroad to Washington University in the US, where he completed his PhD in Chemistry (’74). He then continued with post-doctoral work at the University of Chicago, where he met the love of his life, Grace Chiu (趙恩賜). He later obtained his M.S. in Chemical Engineering (’78) before beginning his 28-year career with DuPont in Philadelphia.

At DuPont, he was initially challenged with solving complex engineering emergencies in manufacturing plants, but later transitioned into research and development—a role that brought him and his family from Philadelphia to North Carolina. Among his 8 patents, he was especially proud of one that enabled insulin to be measured through the skin without needing blood, a quiet testament to his desire to make life better for others.

After retiring in 2007, MS faced the difficult diagnosis of multiple myeloma in 2011. For more than 14 years, he met every treatment—chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, remission and relapse, and many health obstacles in between—with perseverance and strength. He refused to let illness narrow his world; he continued to explore, read, ask questions, and delight in discovery, particularly regarding multiple myeloma. Whether it was learning about a new place while traveling or diving into a topic just because it sparked his interest, his curiosity in life remained one of his defining qualities.

To his family, MS was a steady source of love, humility, and quiet strength. He taught by example—through the way he treated others, through his calm integrity, and through his belief that hard work could build a better future. He never asked for praise or complained; instead, he focused on lifting the people around him. A gentleman in the truest sense—loving father, doting KungKung (grandfather), caring son, compassionate brother, and devoted husband—we were blessed and bettered by having him in our lives.

MS is survived and missed by his wife of 50 years, Grace Chiu; his daughters Jennifer Chan-Huang (William Huang) and Christie Worthen (Nathan Worthen); and his four grandchildren—Isaac and Caleb Huang, and Ethan and Natalie Worthen—who brought him immeasurable joy. He is also survived by three brothers, Chan Man-Wo (陳敏和), Chan Man-Cho (陳敏操), and Chan Man-Che (陳敏操); two sisters, Chan Yuk-Mui (陳玉梅)and Chan Yuk-Bing (陳玉冰); and many nieces and nephews.

His legacy of perseverance, integrity, curiosity, and love will live on in all of us.

In accordance with his wishes, there will not be a memorial or funeral service at this time. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Duke Hospice Hock Family Pavilion or the Duke Cancer Center, whose compassionate care supported MS through his journey.