Obituary of Simon C.W. Chang

Simon C.W. Chang passed away suddenly on Wednesday morning, June 11, 2025, at his North Caldwell, NJ, home. He was 90.

Born into the Sino-Japanese war in Guangzhou, China, Simon was one of 8 children in his family.  His father was the first Chinese Chief Engineer of Westinghouse in China. 

To survive both World War II and the Chinese Civil Communist War, Simon’s family fled back and forth between Shanghai and Hong Kong until finally settling in Hong Kong.  They left behind their ancestral home, considerable property consisting of nearly half of their village, and all of their belongings.  Enduring crippling hardship and poverty, Simon decided to leave school at the age of 11 to work and provide financial support for his parents and siblings.  Around the age of 19, without adequate education and fending off recruitment from local Hong Kong gangs, Simon left for Australia in search of new opportunity.  With one eye on the back door and another on the front door, he took on many jobs in Australia, including laboring at a sugar cane plantation and working as a taxi driver in the city of Sydney.  Almost every dollar he earned was sent back home to Hong Kong.  

After Australia, Simon continued to the U.S.  Though he lacked even a middle school education and struggled to learn English, Simon represented Hong Kong in being awarded the single scholarship offered by the World Rehabilitation Fund to attend New York University.  In 1966, Simon earned a bachelor’s degree from NYU in Prosthetics and Orthotics.  Because he passed the certification exam with one of the top scores in the country, he was recruited by the Board of Examiners to serve as an examiner for other students.  

Upon returning to Hong Kong, Simon became the first certified Prosthetist and Orthotist in his home country and helped to teach and lead the next generation of practitioners. During this time, he fell deeply in love with his beloved wife Teresa and started a family, having two children, Jefferson and Brenda Chang.

In 1972, Simon emigrated to the United States.  Initially landing in New York City, he and Dr. Samuel Leung became fast friends.  Changing the course of his life, Priest Leung invited Simon to the New Apostolic Church.  

In 1975, Teresa, Jefferson, and Brenda finally joined him in the U.S.   Initially staying at his sister’s home in Union City, they soon moved to West Orange and ultimately settled in North Caldwell in 1987. 

Simon’s career flourished.  He was appointed Director of Prosthetics at the Kim Institute in East Orange, N.J., and then the Director of Prosthetics and Orthotics at the JFK Medical Center in Edison.  Years later, with the encouragement and support of his dear lifelong friend, Dr. William Oppenheim, Simon opened his own practice, the Jefferson Prosthetic and Orthotic Company in South Orange.  Dr. Oppenheim and Simon worked together for decades.  Still hard at work at the age of 90, Simon went to the office every day right up to the time of his passing. 

Simon became a devout New Apostolic Christian, attending church services three times a week in Chinatown and midtown. Eventually becoming a minister, Priest Chang and his wife Teresa were among the few to lead missionary work that established the very first NAC Chinese congregation in New Jersey. Before finding a home in the basement of the Irvington Chinese Congregation, Priest Chang and Teresa hosted weekly services and opened their home to countless fellowships over the years. In service to the Lord’s work, he preached forgiveness, love, and family - a legacy that endures in all whom he touched.  Their missionary work paved the way for the New Apostolic Congregation of Parsippany.  

Simon is survived by his cherished wife, Teresa V.L. Chang (nee Lui); two loving children, Jefferson S.H. Chang of Montville; and Brenda Wai Ming Chang of Weehawken, two beloved grandsons, Matthew and Peter; a dear sister, Cecelia O'Meara of Raritan; Patrick Chang who was a son to him, Patrick’s wife, Dottie, and their children Carina, Grace, and Wilson.  Simon was preceded in death by 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Visitation on Saturday, June 14, 2024, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at the New Apostolic Church, 819 Edwards Road, Parsippany, NJ. The Funeral Service will be celebrated at 1:00 pm at the church.  Interment will be on Monday, June 16, 2025, 1:00 pm at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Caldwell, NJ.  

Flowers will be graciously accepted.  For those so desiring, memorial gifts can be made to the New Apostolic Church in Simon's memory.