Su was scheduled to start Harvard Law School (HLS) this fall and to graduate with a double degree in 2006.

A mere 4’11’’, Su was “like a bear when it came to leadership,” according to her sister, who recalled that she once declared that “everybody should have a cause.” Hers was helping inner city children.

Su was one of two executive producers of CityStep during her junior year at the College, but decided during her senior year to go into the classroom and perform with her students instead.

Taylor said that Su and he both served on the CityStep graduate board, and that they had been pushing to expand the program.

Chen said that his fiancée was very passionate about helping others in innovative ways. He said that she dreamed of creating a book room in the D.C. area to offer inner city kids an after-school alternative to the streets.

Su will be remembered for this passion, according to family and friends.

She “just want[ed] to live her life in such a way that [she could] die any day and be satisfied,” Jean Su recalled.

“She lived 25 years and two days,” Taylor said, “and in such a short time she motivated so many people that few of us can hope to match.”

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Memorial Church at 11 a.m. Chen said the event will be open to the public. It will be followed by a reception at the Williams room at HBS.

Su’s family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent in her name to the Anna Su Memorial Fund, c/o Irene Su, 106 Ava Court, Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462.

—Staff writer Yailett Fernandez can be reached at yfernand@fas.harvard.edu.