Dr. Pei-Lin Tien

Dr. Pei-lin Tien, a respected minerologist known for his careful fieldwork, thoughtful mentorship and lifelong curiosity about the Earth’s hidden structures, died peacefully in his sleep, at the Ohman Family Living at Holly, in Newbury Township, Ohio on July 1, 2026.

He was born in Jinan, Shandong, China, the son of Legislative Yuan member Yi-ming Tien and National Assembly member Chao-yen Tsui of the Republic of China. Together they fled to Taiwan during the Communist revolution to establish the foundations for modern Taiwan.

As a teenager, growing up in Taiwan, he developed a love of the outdoors and helped form a Hiking club where he formed lifelong friends.  It was this love of the mountains which led him to study Geology at the National Taiwan University where he obtained his BS and MS degrees. He left Taiwan to attend the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, KS, where he worked for the Kansas State Geological Survey while completing his PhD in Clay Minerology.  Dr. Tien took a teaching and research position at the Department of Geology at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. He then moved to Albuquerque, NM and worked as a Geotechnical Consultant with SAIC.  Dr. Tien went back to Taiwan as a Visiting Professor first at the National Oceanographic University and later to his beloved National Taiwan University.  After retirement back to Albuquerque, NM, he served as a buyer to establish the mineral collection for the National Taiwan Museum for Geosciences in Taichung, Taiwan and the caregiver for his wife who suffered from choleric dystonia.

Dr. Tien is remembered for the discovery and characterization of Swinefordite, a Li-rich dioctahedral-trioctahedral smectite-group mineral from Kings Mountain, NC, invention of a device to prepare clay minerals for x-ray diffraction, and Vivianite research and nomenclature classification. He introduced a gem identification and polishing class as well as a ceramics class for graduate students to show practical and fun aspects of geology. He collected over 1000 teapots and had other widespread collections.

He is preceded in death by his devoted wife of 54 year, Dr. Hsia-fen Jen Tien. He is survived by his sister Hsiao-Li Tien, his son Albert (wife Suz-Chung Ko), their children Sean and Ryan, his beloved daughter Dr. Bertha Tien M.D. (husband Mario Binder) and their children Alexandria and Kai.

Dr. Tien, upon his wishes will be cremated and united with his wife.

Family and friends will be received from 9-10 AM, Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 at Best Funeral Home, 15809 Madison Rd., Middlefield, OH. A Memorial Service will follow at 10 AM with Joyce Benesh officiating.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations can be made to:

Chinese American History Museum, Los Angeles

Dementia Society of America

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