Xin Dong

Xin Dong, 53, of Hopkinton passed away peacefully Nov. 26 with his loving wife and son by his side. Known for his warm smile and unwavering determination, Xin left a permanent mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Despite a sudden brain aneurysm burst, Xin fought a lengthy and courageous battle to the end.

Xin was a hard worker and a relentless pursuer of the American dream. He lived a remarkable life that started from humble beginnings — a journey marked by resilience and determination. Born in the quiet city of ShiHeZi, Xin scored first in math in his home state of XinJiang, China, securing a spot in the best university in Shanghai, Fudan University. There, Xin earned a bachelor’s in mathematics. He then worked for Shanghai Pudong Software Park, where he met his life companion, Liehua Shi. Together, they soon welcomed a son, Yiwen Dong. Yet, Xin’s ambitions knew no bounds. In 2003, he obtained a master’s in computer science at JiaoTong University. In 2012, he attained a Ph.D. in computer science at Northeastern University, acquiring the title of Dr. Dong. His quest for knowledge spanned the globe, with stints in Munich, Singapore, Geneva and more. After graduation, Xin established roots in Hopkinton and worked as a software engineer at EMC and later at Riverbed, earning multiple patents along the way. In honor of his outstanding achievements, extraordinary ability and internationally recognized excellence in computer science, the U.S. government granted him and his wife permanent residence in 2019. Xin lived by the unwavering conviction that knowledge and hard work naturally lead to success.

A service will be held at the Chesmore Funeral Home in Hopkinton at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. Let us come together not only to mourn the loss of a remarkable individual but also to celebrate a life that exemplifies hard work, dedication and the relentless pursuit of dreams.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.