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.

曹恒科博士（廖延科）1936年7月27日–2025年12月28日

約瑟夫·曹博士，是一位傑出的科學家、敬愛的父親和慈祥的祖父，享壽89歲。他的一生經歷了一段非凡的道路，從20世紀中國大陸戰亂的動盪歲月，遷徙至臺灣成長茁壯，而後在北美開創了傑出的事業與忠誠的家庭。

約瑟夫出生於中國撫順，原名廖延科，是五個兄弟姐妹中最小，家人親切地稱他爲"毛兒"（最小的寶貝）。 他是指揮官廖鼎高和周幗英的兒子。父親早逝，為國捐軀；中國內戰動盪時期，母親改嫁曹洪先生。爲感念繼父的養育之恩，他延用其姓，改名"曹恒科"。 隨後，他隨家人和軍隊穿越四川和南京，最終在12歲時定居在臺灣的蘆洲。

在戰後臺灣艱難的環境中，約瑟夫每天凌晨4點起床幫助父母經營豆漿油條生意。 並透過出租漫畫書分擔家計，後來家庭再添四位弟妹，約瑟夫也肩負起照顧與教養之責。 約瑟夫畢業於國立臺灣師範大學化學系，並遇到了他一生的摯愛格特魯德（陳文惠）。 隨後他們搬到加拿大蒙特利爾攻讀研究所之前已祕密結婚。 約瑟夫從麥吉爾大學獲得了化學博士學位，他們在蒙特利爾迎來了他們的兒子約翰。

此後，舉家遷居到美國佛羅里達州，約瑟夫在佛羅里達大學完成了化學和藥學的博士研究。 他隨後在製藥和食品科學行業展開了漫長而傑出的職業生涯，初任於新澤西的懷斯公司，期間他和陳文惠迎來了他們的女兒格蕾絲。

作爲一名高產的創新者，約瑟夫持有14項美國專利，其中許多對阿斯巴甜的開發貢獻卓越，亦獲有多項國際專利。 他的求知精神延續至退休後，晚年仍撰寫了數本關於科學自然基本的書籍。

最重要的是，約瑟夫是一個珍愛着家庭的男人。 對他孫子孫女來說，是他們心愛的阿公。 他留下了子女約翰和格蕾絲、媳婦Kris、兩個心愛的孫子孫女瑞安和阿尼卡以及他於2017年結縭的妻子李曉平。 約瑟夫先於他心愛的陳文惠以及在中國、臺灣和紐約的幾個兄弟姐妹、侄女和侄子去世。 他與51年前去世的慈愛母親團聚，母親也在12月28日離世。