The Joanna Shyong Scholarship Fund

Joanna’s children established The Joanna Shyong Scholarship Fund in order to continue her commitment to teaching. This merit-based scholarship will be given yearly to a deserving student from Bergen County who is college bound. Donations to this fund will help to continue Joanna’s legacy of giving back.

Joanna dedicated more than 20 years of her life to teaching and shaping young minds at St. Mary’s School, and then at Demarest Middle School. She valued hard work and was known to be a “tough” teacher, but the number of people who came back years later to thank her for preparing them for high school, underscores how great of a teacher she was and how much of a positive impression she made on her students.

Family was also very important to Joanna and when she retired from teaching, she took joy in spending time with her grandchildren and travelling with her family. She also loved to cook and bake and had fun wrapping dumplings with her grandchildren and dropping off her freshly made irish soda bread to her friends.

Joanna was taken from us too soon after a battle with an aggressive appendiceal cancer. She remained optimistic throughout her treatment and always showed such great internal strength. Her family and friends take solace knowing she is at peace now and watching over all of us.

Joanna is survived by her sister, Stella Liu, her brother, Steven Yin, her husband Joseph Shyong, D.D.S, her three children, Eileen (Shawn) Trokhan, M.D., Andrew (Erin) Shyong, D.D.S, Michael (Joanne) Shyong, D.D.S. and her five grandchildren, Alexandra Trokhan, Abigail Trokhan, Harrison Trokhan, Aquinnah Shyong and Preston Shyong.