11/09/2026
It’s with a heavy heart that I share this sad news. Diane was well known throughout our community in academia, tennis, and her work. Always caring and sincere, Diane would ask how things were going in your life, as you always came first. She will be a loss to all those who knew her and to the community as a whole. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family!
Diane Sheng, 73, of Holmdel, New Jersey, passed away Oct. 29, 2026, at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank after a six-year battle with ovarian cancer.
Diane was born Jan. 26, 1953, in San Francisco to Augustine “Gus” and Frances Sheng. Her parents came to the United States from China in the late 1940s. She grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, where she excelled in both school and sports.
Diane attended Stanford University, where in just six years she earned her B.S. in Mathematical Sciences, M.S. in Statistics, and Ph.D. in Operations Research. After her studies, she built a successful career in telecommunications while working as a director and department head at AT&T, and in the Operations Research Center at AT&T Bell Laboratories in New Jersey.
Diane brought the same drive and skill to her life outside of work. She was an avid tennis player, golfer, skier, and traveler. She played competitive tennis for many years and took part in national USTA tournaments. She loved hiking through national parks, skiing with friends, and exploring the world with her family and friends. Her travels took her from China to Patagonia to Machu Picchu, and many places in between.
Diane also gave much of her time to others. In retirement, she served on her local school board, tutored students in math, and supported families in need through local charities. She believed in hard work, fairness, and helping others. Her favorite advice to her children summed up her outlook: “Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
Loved ones revered Diane for her sharp mind, unwavering dedication, and generous heart. She held herself and others to high standards, and she was always ready to lend a hand. She formed close friendships that lasted for decades, from her Stanford years to her time at Bell Labs and her tennis community in New Jersey.
Above all, Diane took pride in her family. She often said that raising her children, Stacy and Aaron, into kind and caring adults was her greatest achievement. She loved spending time with them and their families. She also took great joy in being “Nai Nai” to her grandchildren, Naijah and Alia.
Diane faced her illness with strength, courage, and hope. She stayed close to her family and friends and kept her love of life throughout her treatment.
Diane was predeceased by her parents, Gus and Frances Sheng, and her younger sister, Suzanne Sheng. She is survived by her daughter, Stacy Tarver, and son-in-law, Corey Patterson; her son, Aaron Tarver, and daughter-in-law, Lesley de Dios; her grandchildren, Naijah and Alia Tarver; her beloved nephew and niece, Andrew and Alexandra Herzer. She was the eldest and fearless leader of sixteen cousins, and leaves behind fourteen, in addition to many dear friends.
The family thanks the doctors, nurses, and staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Riverview Medical Center for their care and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Diane’s memory to Interfaith Neighbors, God’s Love We Deliver, Riverview Medical Center, or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
