We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Josephine Riss Fang at home in Belmont peacefully in her sleep, at the age of 100.
Her long and remarkable life could fill a book.
Josephine Riss was born on April 3, 1922 in Saalfelden, a town in the mountains of central Austria, where her father was the district judge. By her own account, she had an idyllic childhood which came to an abrupt end when Hitler invaded Austria in 1938. Her father lost his judicial position and was disbarred because he refused to join the Nazi Party. After graduating from high school – the only girl in her class -Josephine went on to earn an English degree at the University of Vienna. But she was unable to obtain her teaching certificate because she too would not join the Nazi Party. The war was raging, and she recalled frequently scrambling to the cellar to avoid the American bombs, all the while praying they would bring an end to the Nazi regime. It may be this experience that led to the remarkable inner peace and calm that drew people to her. “I vowed then that I would never complain about anything in life if I only get out alive,” she wrote about that time. “I have kept this promise throughout my life.”
To escape the Russians nearing Vienna, she returned to Saalfelden where the Americans were fast approaching from the west, and because of her background in English, Josephine was hired to work as a typist and interpreter for the American forces. She then became Executive Secretary and Stenographer for the Commanding Officer of the (American) Military Government of Salzburg, Austria from 1945-47.
After has assignment ended, Josephine resumed her studies, earning her Ph.D. in English in 1948. She applied for a fellowship in library science in the U.S. and in 1950 travelled to Catholic University in Washington D.C. where she met Pao-Hsien Fang, a student from China. They married within six months and the first of ten children was born a year later. The Riss-Fang family grew quickly, and the couple’s professional lives flourished. By 1964, they had ten children, Josephine had become an associate professor of Library Science, and her husband had earned his Ph.D. in Physics.
Her work was important to her, but people always came first, and her family was paramount. In 1968, the Fangs’ eldest daughter was accepted for admission to Boston College, and the family moved to Boston and settled in Belmont. Dr. Fang went to work first at the Boston College libraries and then joined the faculty at Simmons University.
In her retirement, Josephine enjoyed travel, reading, sipping sweet wine, eating Viennese pastries that reminded her of home, and spending time in the company of her entire devoted family, including her husband and his Chinese family and friends.
Everyone adored her whether they knew her as “Josephine”, “Sefi” or “Oma” and felt honored to be part of her wonderful family. She kept up with many colleagues, students, and friends through her work, and continued to make friends throughout her life.
Josephine was a treasured active member of the Austro-American Association of Boston for many wonderful years. Our members always enjoyed seeing her smile and remarkably interesting conversations with her as well as her delightful charm. It was always a pleasure to see her at our Heurigen, Stammtisch, Staatsfeiertag and Christmas events.
At her 90th birthday celebration in 2012, Josephine wrote:
“Life itself is a great gift, it is beautiful,
be grateful for family and friends and count your blessings;
above all, don’t lose your sense of humor!”
Josephine leaves her ten children: Paula, David, Maria, Anna, Peter, John, Joseph, Frank, Christopher, Teresa and their spouses; 18 grandchildren and their spouses and partners; and 2 great grandchildren. Her husband Pao-Hsien with whom she shared 60 years of marriage predeceased her in 2011.