Dr. Fat Duen Ho, 88, beloved father, brother, grandfather, and mentor, passed away on January 10, 2025. Born on September 10, 1936 in Swatow, China, he was devoted to his family and students, and led a life of intellectual curiosity.
Dr. Ho’s first career was as a person of letters in Hong Kong. He had a gift with languages, and translated numerous works of English literature and nonfiction into Chinese — from Wuthering Heights to science books. He was also editor-in-chief of the Chinese Student Weekly newspaper and a renowned published poet.
He studied both material sciences and literature as an undergraduate, and met his wife Gip Lan Leung at university in Hong Kong. He moved to the United States to attend journalism school but switched tracks to study physics and engineering at Southern Illinois University, where he earned his PhD.
Dr. Ho began teaching at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then moved to Huntsville in 1980 to start his 44-year tenure as a professor of electrical engineering at UAH. His work focused on microelectronic devices, circuits, and materials. His recent research centered on device modeling for IC design, metal ferroelectric semiconductor field effect transistors, and modeling RF circuits for wireless communication systems.
He authored 70+ journal publications in his areas of expertise, supervised over 30 master’s and doctoral dissertations, and most recently served as principal investigator for a NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center grant for Optimization of Ferroelectric Ultra-Capacitor for Energy Storage. A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Dr. Ho loved teaching, and earned recognition as an Outstanding Educator from the IEEE, Huntsville Section.
An avid reader, he loved Russian and German literature, and English poetry. He’ll be remembered for his kindness and resilience, hearty spirit, and wonderful smile.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Lan, his parents, and his older brothers and sisters. He is survived by his daughters Tai Yin and Tai Yee, granddaughter Lana, son-in-law Tom, brothers Cho Duen, Ket Duen, and Sar Duen, sister Sui Ying, sisters- and brother-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
