Shu Tan

July 20, 1933 - August 15, 2012

Shu Tan Wu, 79, died Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, at home in Corvallis. Shu Tan was born in China and raised in Hawaii, graduating from Roosevelt High School. He attended Oregon State College, where he met and married Hawaii-born Grace Cadiente. They settled in Corvallis, where Shu Tan worked for Southern Pacific Railroad and Grace held numerous positions at Oregon State University. He and Grace provided a home-away-from-home for many OSU Hawaiian students from the 1950s to the present, as well as being involved advisors for OSU’s Hui o Hawaii. One could always count on laughter, good kitchen smells, and live or recorded Hawaiian music when visiting the Wu house. Shu Tan will be remembered for his vast number of talents, generosity, uncensored approach toward life, life wisdom for all who were ready for it, his and Grace’s generous open-door policy to their home, and his green army jacket and “rubbah slippahs.” Shu Tan was preceded in death by Grace in 1981, and is survived by his brother; three children, Jocelyn, Tani and Lehua; one daughter-in-law; one son-in-law; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis.