Obituary of Jane Ya-Chieh Ma

Jane Ya-Chieh Ma, 77, of Morgantown, West Virginia, passed away on June 28, 2024. She was born on December 15, 1946, to Yu-Chang and Pei-Jen (Ying) Lee in Shanghai, China. Jane graduated with distinction from Taipei First Girl High School in 1964 and Fu-Jen Catholic University in 1968 in Taiwan, Republic of China. She came to the United States of America in July 1968, pursued graduate studies at Duquesne University, and earned her Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry. Dr. Ma devoted her entire career to scientific research at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Her work involved biochemical studies of coal, silica and diesel particle-induced lung diseases and the search for therapeutic agents to treat these lung diseases. She retired from scientific work in 2016. During her tenure, Dr. Ma has discovered and authored over 100 published scientific works. She received national and international recognitions for her work on the toxicity of silica, diesel, and cerine oxide nanoparticles on lung diseases, and was the first to establish cerine oxide nanoparticles as a toxic agent for pulmonary fibrosis. Dr. Ma also established the beneficial effects of the drug tetrandrine to treat pulmonary fibrosis. Among many honors, Dr. Ma provided consultation and invited lectures to scientific institutes in China, South Africa, and Taiwan, and was a recipient of a distinguished service award for her 35-year service for the people of the United States of America, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US Department of Health and Human Services. A woman of many passions, Jane has left a legacy of kindness, generosity, creative expressiveness, and fun-loving energy. She was loved by friends and coworkers. An avid lover of nature along with her husband, Joseph Ma, she visited some 400 national parks, monuments, and natural and historical sites. She left her footprints all over America and around the world. Jane was a passionate gardener and spent many hours cultivating a beautiful garden oasis at their home. She also enjoyed practicing yoga, tai-chi, the occasional Zumba class, and spending time with her family, friends, and grandchildren. She expressed herself through her creative and artistic works, some of which are being shared with friends, including paintings, stained glass, and volumes of pottery creations. Jane is survived by her devoted husband, Joseph, who was her loving partner in all aspects of life, in work, scientific research, parenthood, travel, and their daily adventures; her two children, Katherine Lee Ma with husband Timothy Alan Carder of Alexandria, VA, and Kevin Jay Ma with wife Mary Elizabeth McCormick of Groton, MA; and her three grandchildren, Ellen Josephine, Theodore Patrick, and Janie Marie (named after her grandmother), of Kevin and Mary. From her maiden family, Jane was predeceased by both parents and by sister Dora Lee. She is survived by brother Spencer Lee with wife Linda, sister Jenny with husband Hong, sister Ling with husband Fu, and their families. Jane will be profoundly missed, but the legacy of her devotion to work and kindness in helping friends and others will continue to inspire those who knew her. Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown on Tuesday, July 9, from 3:30PM until the time of the funeral service at 5:30PM, with Rev. Msgr. Anthony Cincinnati, S.T.D. officiating. Her husband and children will honor her request for cremation, with arrangements entrusted to Hastings Funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in her honor to the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.