Zengjian Zhang

Professor Zengjian Zhang, age 80, a resident of Leawood Kansas, passed away peacefully on January 24, 2019 at Shawnee Mission Hospital, after a one year courageous battle against colon cancer. Services will be held privately for the family.

Professor Zhang was born on Jan 30, 1938 in Shanghai, China. He graduated with Degree in English Language & Literature from Fudan University where he later taught English for over 30 years. He also served as a visiting scholar at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Rockhurst University in Kansas City. During his successful tenure as professor, he touched many lives and helped many students with his teaching, coaching and advice. He not only wrote text books on a regular basis, which are widely used by many Chinese Universities today, but also was well known for his translation of many world famous English novels into Chinese language, including “Gone with the Wind”, “Of Human Bondage” and “The Moneychangers”. To be noted is that his work on translation of novel “Moneychangers” was the best seller and recognized nationally. He retired from his teaching career in the late 1990s and remained active in compiling college English textbooks and literature translation. Most recently, he was given the award of most distinguished College English textbook writer in China.

Professor Zhang was married to his wife, De, for over 50 years who was his college classmate. They were also colleagues for many years at the University. He enjoyed reading, listening to classical music and chatting with family and friends. He was a devoted father who supported his children in their pursuit of   life and career. He had three grandchildren gifted to him that he lovingly supported in their athletic and musical activities. He not only joined his grandsons on road trips of soccer, basketball and fencing tournaments, but also coached them on piano performances. He enjoyed many trips to Las Vegas with his family and played a few hands of table games while he was there.

Professor Zhang was survived by his wife, daughters, son in law, grandchildren in the US and sisters in China. As a loving husband, devoted father and caring grandfather, he will always be remembered by his family.