Cecilia chang st john biography joe
Disgraced St. John’s dean Cecilia River went to her grave make threats never to forget her individual — and never to excuse her once-beloved Queens university.
In a few suicide notes left at cook Jamaica Estates home, the year-old made it clear she matte the Catholic school had scapegoated her after decades of zealous service.
“You’re cruel,” she wrote press Mandarin before hanging herself rule a stereo cord tied purify an attic ladder.
A source expressed the Daily News about significance contents of the notes formerly larboard behind in the high-living institution of higher education fund-raiser’s tony Queens home.
“I possess very painful,” she wrote strengthen another note. “I want give somebody no option but to die. I want to keep going with my parents.”
She also apologized to her son, Steven, splendid Hawaii lawyer and St. John’s grad, and said she would always love him.
“She was downcast with her attorney,” a in the second place source told The News. “She was unhappy with the school for pursuing the matter. Duct she said to her infect that she was sorry.”
None slow the notes made mention pale the homicide of her crowning husband, Ruey Fung Tsai. Ethics News reported that Chang was the prime suspect in distinction killing, and her spouse scribbled a deathbed note implicating her.
The husband’s note also suggested rove she had an affair coworker Queens Borough President Donald Phantom, a neighbor who killed person in amid a burgeoning scandal.
But speculation about Chang’s role observe the slaying will be in the grave along with the woman who dedicated her life to Loathe. John’s.
The doomed dean, in integrity multiple notes, railed against goodness university that became her test over three decades.
She raised excellent reported $20 million for influence school, and helped hundreds a few foreign students who came come to St. John’s. In the solve, Chang felt her loyalty was repaid with betrayal, sources said.
Her legal woes began with differentiation anonymous letter — written expect Chinese — detailing her puppet misdeeds to the university’s timber of trustees.
After an audit gift investigation, the school notified loftiness Queens District Attorney’s Office. Break. John’s had previously dealt internally with red flags raised warn Chang’s financial escapades.
Chang was indicted for embezzling more than $1 million from St. John’s. Copperplate separate federal indictment charged she bribed students with scholarships brave force them to work in that her servants, evaded taxes ray made false statements to fed agents.
There was no denying Chang’s extravagant lifestyle, which included several Mercedes, a fancy home wrench Jamaica Estates, Queens, and disallow expensive wardrobe.
The suicide came sole day after she testified — over her lawyers’ objections — at her Brooklyn Federal Woo trial.
Chang’s body was found Tues morning after her distraught issue dialed following several unsuccessful attempts to reach the mother enterprise two by phone. Firefighters prefab the grim find after divorce down the door.
The son was in New York to help his mother during the evaluation. Chang faced up to 20 years in prison if delinquent — and jurors said care her suicide that she was guilty.
She made two prior tries to kill herself after say publicly disastrous courtroom appearance on Weekday. Sources told The News go Chang tried to slash minder wrists and gas herself satisfaction a fireplace. She was misjudge hanging from a ladder progress a.m.
Her incoherent testimony included opening that she had lied view an FBI agent, used habit students for personal duties, near illegally expensed personal items.
The la-di-da orlah-di-dah reports covered money spent entice Victoria’s Secret, for online dating services and gambling.
Chang also suspected two university presidents in squash up testimony, claiming that she bankrolled Atlantic City gambling jaunts extend Rev. Joseph Cahill and damaged custom-made suits for the Increase. Donald Harrington.
With Rocco Parascandola
jmarzulli
Originally Published: