Denalyn Hamburger Chern ’83

Dena died Nov. 16, 2004, of inflammatory breast cancer.

Dena was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and attended Yeshiva of Flatbush High School. She majored in history at Princeton and joined Stevenson Hall dining facility.

After Princeton, Dena studied at ISrael's Bravender Women's Seminary, the start of her lifelong passion for ISrael. After five years, Dena returned to the U.S. and worked for a software company and several Wall Street brokerage firms. In 1993 Dena married Ilya Chern. They moved to North Miami Beach, Fla., and had four children, Mordechai in 1994; twin girls Rachel and Bracha in 1996; and Simcha in 1998.

In 1999 Dena was diagnosed with breast cancer. For the next five years she was on almost-continuous chemotherapy. Her incredible courage, spirit, and will to live astounded everyone, and she survived far beyond any treating physician's expectations. During this time she continued to direct her family, taking immense pride in the achievements of her children. She was especially focused on positive character traits and values ("middos" in Hebrew). In recognition of her focus and conduct, the annual middos fair at her children's school was named the Dena Chern Memorial Middos Fair.

To her devoted husband, Ilya, their children, and her family and friends, the class extends its heartfelt sympathy.

The Class of 1983