Josephine Maria (Riss) Fang

Professor Josephine Riss Fang 1922-2023

A generation of librarians in Boston and many throughout the world are familiar with the name Josephine R. Fang. For over two decades, from 1969-1995, Dr. Fang taught library science at the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, becoming the school’s first female full professor. In addition to teaching, she published many academic articles and books. Dr. Fang died at home in Belmont peacefully in her sleep, on January 30, 2023, 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.” 

When the Russians arrived in Vienna in 1945, mother and daughter fled back to Saalfelden, where the Americans were fast approaching from the west. Because of her background in English, Josephine was hired to work as a typist and interpreter for E “Easy” Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. She then became Executive Secretary and Stenographer for the Commanding Officer of the (American) Military Government of Salzburg, Austria from 1945-47.

After this posting, 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.

Remarkably, it took an act of Congress (United States of America Private Law 546-An Act for the Relief of Josephine Maria Riss Fang, July 9, 1954) to enable her to have permanent resident status in the U.S. Pao-Hsien Fang was granted refugee permanent resident status in the U.S. when China became the People’s Republic of China.

Her work was important to her, but people always came first, and her family was primary. 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. In addition to her teaching and research, Dr. Fang was active in many professional organizations, including the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), the Women’s National Book Association, the Chinese American Library Association, and the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. She travelled to many countries in the service of IFLA and was witness to the attempted coup against Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow in August of 1991.  

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 devoted family, including her husband and his Chinese family and friends; her children and their families and friends; several au pairs; her grandchildren and their spouses and partners; her great grandchildren; and her Austrian nephews and their families. 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, continued to make friends throughout her life, and enjoyed participating in several Austrian, Swiss and German “Stammtisch” groups. 

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!”

In April of 2022, Josephine celebrated her 100th birthday. When she learned that due to Covid the party had to be limited to 45 people—her immediate family—she planned a second party in June so her friends could attend. A crowd of 70 people, young and old, came to celebrate her. Josephine cherished good company and a good laugh. Her life was overflowing with both.

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.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Church, 130 Common St. in Belmont, Mass. The family will be at the church at 9 a.m. to greet all as they arrive. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Belmont Library Foundation, 405 Concord Avenue, PO Box 381, Belmont, MA 02478 or the Josephine Riss Fang Endowed Scholarship at Simmons University, POB 200099, Mission Hill, MA 02120-9998 (please make checks payable to Simmons University and specify her scholarship on the memo line).

The family respectfully asks those who attend the mass to test beforehand.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Josephine Maria (Riss) Fang, please visit our floral store.