Obituary of Shucheng Scott Liu

Dr. Shucheng Scott Liu of Chapel Hill, NC died at Duke Hospital, surrounded by his family in the early hours of November 21, 2022 at the age of 65 years old.

Shucheng is survived by his wife, Dr. Jingsheng Jeannette Song; his two children, Peter and Daphne Liu; his daughter-in-law, Ivy Yao; and his siblings Shumin (older brother), Shurong (younger sister), and Shumao (younger brother) Liu and their spouses.

Shucheng was born on April 24, 1957 in a small village in Gaoliu, Jiangsu, China to Yushan Liu and Fangcai Hu. From a young age, he was studious and intellectually curious, always looking for more to learn. He graduated at the top of his high school, and in 1978, after college admissions restarted following the end of the Cultural Revolution, he entered the prestigious Nanjing University to study mathematics. In 1982, he began studying for his master’s degree in operations research at the Institute of Applied Mathematics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. After graduation, he worked at the same institute as a researcher and participated in the feasibility study of the Three Gorges Dam project. While at the academy, he met his classmate and future wife, Jingsheng Song. She was smitten by his intellect and humor, and he was attracted by her authenticity and warmth. The two married in 1985 in Beijing, then moved the following year to the United States to begin PhD programs. In 1991, the two graduated from their respective PhD programs.

Shucheng obtained a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Columbia University in New York City. After graduating, he began his lifelong career in investment risk and return analysis in the Research and Development Division at MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International, Inc.), specializing in portfolio optimization and rising to the title of Executive Director. He also held a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certificate. He retired in October 2021 due to his illness.

In addition to his illustrious career, Shucheng was renowned for his broad interests and encyclopedic knowledge about everything from poetry to tax law. He was an avid card player and generous gardener, sharing his yearly bountiful harvest with neighbors and friends. He loved maps and travel (but hated walking), and drove the family across the United States twice. During his life, he visited 43 US states and 21 countries.

Shucheng passed away peacefully after a long battle with ALS. He will be remembered as a loving husband and dependable father, someone who always had a proverb to relate to any situation and a smile on his face and a joke to tell whatever the circumstance.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 PM, Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, NC. Flowers and condolences can be sent to Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill, 120 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516, Phone: (919) 942-3861.

Chinese Translation:

美籍华人刘树成博士于2022年11月21日美东时间上午4点30分（北京时间下午5点30分）在美国北卡罗来纳州杜克医院，在家人的陪伴下病世，享年65岁。

树成1957年4月24日生于中华人民共和国江苏省徐卅市新沂县高流镇三岔村三岔淹庄；父亲刘玉山，母亲胡方才；兄妹四人，排行老二。 树成自幼聪慧，勤奋刻苦求学。在恢复高考后， 于1978年考入南京大学数学系，1982年考入中国科学院应用数学研究所攻读硕士，1985年毕业后留所工作，从事运筹学理论与应用研究，参与三峡工程的可行性论证。在研究生期间，结识了未来的妻子/同窗, 宋京生女士；她被他的睿智与幽默所吸引，他被她的单纯和善良所打动，二人于1985年在京结婚并于来年一同赴美攻读博士学位。

树成于1991年获取哥伦比亚大学工业工程与运筹学博士学位，之后开启了他近三十年投资风险与回报分析软件系统以及指数（index）研究与开发的职业生涯，主攻投资组合优化，持有美国特许金融分析师证书（CFA），曾任美国摩根士丹利资本国际 (MSCI) 研究开发部执行董事，于2021年10 月因病退休。

除了他丰厚的数学功底和杰出的职业生涯，树成兴趣广泛，知识渊博，上知天文，下知地理，无论是中外历史、古诗词，还是税务法，他是朋友和家人的百科全书。他喜爱打牌，也热衷于种蔬菜，每年都把收获的各类蔬菜慷慨地送给邻居和朋友。他也对地图情有独钟，热爱旅游但是不喜欢走路。他带领全家开车横穿美国两次，一生中在美国的43个州和21个国家留下足迹。

树成在与渐冻症长期搏斗后安详地与世长辞。他生前是一个体贴和可信赖的好丈夫，一个慈爱和可依赖的好父亲，也是一个积极乐观，笑脸常开，满口成语，有幽默感的长辈和朋友。我们会永远怀念他。

特此讣告

妻子宋京生博士携儿子刘红博，女儿刘红晓，儿媳妇姚莹 泣告。

纪念仪式将于12月3日美东时间下午2时在北卡州教堂山Walker’s Funeral Home 举行。鲜花和慰问请寄到

Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill, 120 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516, Phone: (919) 942-3861.