Francis Mankei Tam

1938-2025, M.S. 1967

Francis Mankei Tam, 86, of Frostburg, Maryland, passed away on June 21, 2025 peacefully at home. Francis was born on December 7, 1938, in Portuguese Macau, China, to the late Agatha (Yeung) and Anthony Wai Chiu Tam.

Francis was a 1959 graduate of the University of Hong Kong. In 1960, Francis came to the United States to continue his education at the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated in 1963 with a degree in physics. He then moved to the University of Minnesota where he earned his masters degree in physics. In 1967, Francis began his 41-year tenure teaching in the physics department at Frostburg State University, which sponsored his US citizenship that he was granted in 1971. During Francis’ time at FSU, he proudly invested in the education of university students, but also the community at large. He was well known for performing his ‘science demos’ for local groups and schools where he would famously have concrete bricks smashed on his stomach while lying on a bed of nails. He was approved to the rank of Professor in 2004, and later gained Emeritus status.

In addition, Francis was the project director of the ITQ/TOPPS (Improving Teacher Quality Through Training Opportunities in Physics and Physical Science) program. He also served as the secretary and treasurer for the Appalachian section of the AAPT (American Association of Physics Teachers). In 1991, he earned an AAPT Distinguished Service Award, and in 2016 he was named an AAPT Fellow, a career highlight.

Francis was an avid Albert Einstein fan. He researched and published an insightful article about the scientist's visit to Western Maryland. Given his education background in meteorology, he particularly enjoyed thunderstorm electrification, snowrollers, and the prediction of storms and weather patterns impacting our Maryland mountains. Francis was also an enthusiastic keyboard player at Keyboard World and a longtime member of Divine Mercy Parish at St. Michael’s.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Margaret (McGann); one daughter, Dr. Mary Tam and husband, Dr. Brent Cunningham of Harrisonburg, VA; son, Dr. Peter Tam of Richmond, VA; son, Matthew Tam and partner, Ruth Carden, of Portland, OR; four grandchildren, Vincent and Isaac Cunningham and Noah and Kylie Tam; and daughter-in-law, Kristin Tam. He is also survived by two sisters, Sr. Eucharista Tam, of Hong Kong and Margaret (Alan) Wong, of Canada; and one brother, Dr. Simon Tam (Elizabeth), of Yonkers, NY.