La Sierra mourns loss of Denny Lin, beloved professor

Ping-Herng ‘Denny’ Lin, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Senior Programmer Analyst, passed away at Loma Linda University Medical Center following a long battle with cancer. He was 49 years old.

“This is so very sad, and our hearts and prayers are with Denny’s family,” said La Sierra University President Randal Wisbey. “Denny was a dedicated professor and a valued member of our La Sierra family. He was so valiant throughout this ordeal, an inspiration and example to all of us.”

“Denny has fought a good fight. His courage and unfailing faith in God till the very end has truly inspired us,” stated Enoch Hwang, chair of the Department of Computer Science in a message to the campus.

Natan Vigna, La Sierra’s marketing director recalled his first interactions with Denny as a student worker in 1996 in La Sierra’s Micro-computer Lab, or MICOL.

“I was lucky to have Denny as my very first boss at La Sierra,” Vigna said. “He was a great boss and an amazing teacher of life. He taught me many things about computers, networks, and Macs, but most importantly, he taught me to have strong work ethics and be passionate about the things I do. To be curious about life and how things work and to explore new topics and hobbies. How to smile in the face of adversity and have faith to the bitter end.

“We lost an amazing person, a great role model, a person who exemplified what it means to be a Christian. My heart aches for Eunice, Fiona and Gared, but finds comfort in the promise that one day we’ll meet each other again in the morning.”

Denny was born on November 22, 1966 in Taipei, Taiwan where his father taught arts and Bible at San-Yu Adventist College. He began studying piano at age 8, and at age 13 served as a church organist in La Paz, Bolivia following his family’s move to that country. He and his sister, Debbie, learned fluent Spanish, and while attending Instituto Adventista "Los Andes" Denny served as pianist and assistant director of the school’s award-winning choir. While living in Bolivia, Denny also operated a small electronics repair business out of his parents’ Chinese restaurant, fixing radios and small appliances. The work funded his experiments and building of an electronics lab.

He attended college at the La Sierra campus of Loma Linda University between 1987-1991, double majoring in computer science and music. During this time Denny lived with Daniel and Shirley Lee and worked hard to pay for his college tuition. In his online autobiography, Denny credits the “caring intervention of faculty and staff” at La Sierra who arranged for campus work, scholarships and donations to keep him enrolled.

As a student, his work included serving as a system operator running the PDP-11/44 and VAX 3900 mini-computers, tutoring computer programming and music theory classes, and working as an electronics technician in the physics department.

He attended the Loma Linda Chinese Church, leading out in the sanctuary choir and playing the organ, then transferred to the Loma Linda University Church where he joined the choir.

Two months after graduating from La Sierra in 1991, Denny began work in the university’s Micro-computer Lab with Hwang as his first boss. During his years there he designed and implemented a $134,000 computer upgrade proposal and plan, which equipped the lab with state of the art computers and software. He began teaching computer science classes in Sept. 2001, and became assistant professor in 2008. He completed a master’s degree in computer science at California State University, Fullerton in 2002.

During a 1997 trip to Taiwan, Denny became re-acquainted with his future wife, Eunice, whom he had first met at age 6. The couple was married on Aug. 8, 1999 in Taipei, Taiwan.

While pursuing his career in computer science and teaching, Denny enjoyed a hobby in auto mechanics and maintained his love of music by writing and producing musicals together with like-minded friends. These included “A Captive’s Christmas” and “A Christmas Controversy.” He also worked on an opera over the course of many years, based on the story of Esther. As of last July, he had created about 20 pieces for the project. A selection, “Esther’s Prayer,” was performed in a West Coast premiere by soprano Melissa Totton and pianist Kimo Smith on Feb. 21, 2015 at the Loma Linda University Church.

Denny’s faith was an integral component of his life. In a statement about his beliefs he wrote, “The greatest thing about God is that despite our sinful nature, He has chosen you and me. Many have looked and searched for God, but God took the initiative, and has given us the gift of His love. …We have also received the freedom to wrestle, question and doubt God's actions, so we have a dynamic relationship with God. I look forward to living in eternity with the God I love, and others who have elected God's love.”

Denny leaves behind his wife, daughter Fiona, age 13, son Gared, age 8, parents and sister.

A viewing is scheduled for Sun., Jan. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Montecito Memorial Park's Cypress Chapel, 3520 E. Washington St., Colton. A private family burial will follow. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 30, at Loma Linda University Church.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to a fund established by the family at https://www.gofundme.com/wyke6bk.