Josef Tsau

Dr. Josef Tsau, a distinguished scientist, devoted father, and cherished grandfather, passed away at the age of 89. His life followed a remarkable path from the turmoil of 20th-century mainland China, to coming of age in Taiwan, to building a distinguished career and a devoted family in North America.

Born Liao Yan-ko (廖延科) in Fushun, China, Josef was the youngest of five siblings and affectionately known to his family as 毛儿 (Mao’er, little one). He was the son of Commander Liao Ding-gao (廖鼎高) and Zhou Guo-ying (周帼英). Following his father’s early death and the tumultuous years of the Chinese Civil War, his mother married Tsau Hong (曹洪). In honor of his stepfather’s nurturing, Josef’s name was changed to 曹恒科 (Tsau Heng-ko). He moved with family and troops through Sichuan and Nanjing before ultimately settling in Luzhou, Taiwan, at about 12 years of age.

In Taiwan’s challenging postwar environment, Josef woke at 4:00am daily to help his parents run a soy milk and youtiao business. He also worked as a comic book lender to support his family, which eventually grew to include four more siblings whom Josef helped to raise. Josef graduated from Taiwan Normal University, where he studied Chemistry and met the love of his life, Gertrude (陳文惠). The two wed in secret before moving to Montreal, Canada, to pursue graduate studies. Josef earned his PhD in Chemistry from McGill University, and it was in Montreal that they welcomed their son, John.

The family later moved to Florida, where Josef completed his post-doctoral fellowship in Chemistry and Pharmaceuticals at the University of Florida. He then began a long and distinguished career in the pharmaceutical and food science industries, starting with Wyeth in New Jersey, where he and Gertrude welcomed their daughter, Grace.

A prolific innovator, Josef held 14 U.S. patents, many of which were instrumental in the development of NutraSweet (aspartame), along with numerous international patents. His intellectual curiosity extended into his retirement, during which he authored several scientific books and research publications on the fundamental nature of science.

Above all, Josef was a man who loved his family deeply. To his grandchildren, he was their beloved Agong. He is survived by his children, John (Kris) Tsau and Grace Tsau; his two cherished grandchildren, Ryan and Anika; and his wife, Xiaoping Li, whom he married in 2017. Josef was preceded in death by his beloved Gertrude and several siblings, nieces, and nephews in China, Taiwan, and New York. He joins his loving mother who passed away 51 years earlier, also on December 28.