IN LOVING MEMORY OF Yen-Tsai Feng

Yen-Tsai

Feng

d. Sep 6, 2019

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Yen-Tsai Feng's Obituary

Yen-Tsai FENG, LIBRARIAN

of Lexington, formerly of Chestnut Hill, passed away peacefully on

September 6 at Lahey Hospital, Burlington after a brief illness. She

was the widow of Philip J. McNiff of Chestnut Hill.

She is survived by her brother Paul Y. Feng and wife Marie of

Kenilworth, IL, son Brian S. McNiff and wife Mary of Melrose, grandson

P. T. McNiff of Los Angeles, CA, and nieces and nephews. Elder brother

Yen-Hua Feng of Beijing predeceased her.

Y.T. was born in Beijing, China on January 17, 1923, daughter of

Chih-Chung and Pao-Ru Feng. Educated at the University of Shanghai,

she came to the United States in 1946, and received a master's degree

from Colorado State University and a doctorate in international

relations from University of Denver. She is also the recipient of

several honorary degrees.

After receiving a library science degree from Columbia University,

Y.T. joined the Harvard Library. In 1967, she became assistant

director for library service at the Boston Public Library and in 1977

became librarian of Wellesley College.

In 1980, she returned to Harvard, becoming the first Roy E. Larsen

Librarian of Harvard College. Long active in the American Library

Association, she co-founded the Asian American Librarian Caucus in

1975.

Y.T.served as trustee or board member several area academic and

cultural institutions, including Boston College, Regis College, and

Lesley College. She served on the board of Polaroid Corp.

Donations in Y.T.'s memory may be mad to the Yen-Tsai Fund Endowment

Fund at Harvard College Library or the Yen-Tsai Book Fund at Boston

College Library.

Interment will be private. A memorial and celebration of Y.T.'s life

will be held at Brookhaven, 1010 Waltham St., Lexington at 2 p.m.,

October 5.

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