Taichi Bogucki Chen

On October 18, 2026, after 70 vibrant years filled with humor, travel, music, love, and friendship, Taichi Chen of New Hope, Minnesota, took his final bow, surrounded by his loving family.

Born into a musical family in Tainan, Taiwan, Taichi was the youngest of 4 children. At the age of six, he began taking violin lessons and six months later, he won the Tainan City Children's Music Competition. From that point forward, his life revolved around perfecting his skills as a violinist. This led to him winning several more country wide competitions during his childhood and becoming a sensation by the time he turned 14 - enough that his parents sent him to Japan to study violin at the preparatory program and then the high school division of Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo.

As high school graduation approached in 1975, Taichi auditioned to study with Professor Roman Totenberg at Boston University. Following his acceptance, Taichi traveled to the United States shortly after turning 19, to attend Boston University. For the second time in his young life, he started over in a new country and learned to speak yet another language. Over the course of his lifetime he became fluent in Taiwanese, Mandarin, Japanese, and English, though he would always modestly claim that he didn't speak any of them "well."

While attending the Kneisel Hall Summer Chamber Music School in Blue Hill, ME, he met a young violinist named Robin Bogucki. A romantic relationship blossomed between the two during the summer, and Taichi turned his interest toward attending Northern Illinois University where Robin was attending. A successful audition with Robin's violin teacher, Shmuel Askenasi, brought Taichi to the Midwest the following year to continue his studies. Taichi and Robin got married in late summer of 1980 in her home town of Racine, WI.

Taichi and Robin welcomed their first child, Katie, into the world four years later. Later that year, Taichi graduated with his bachelor's degree in violin performance. Within a short time, Taichi also received his violin performance master's degree and won his audition with the Minnesota Orchestra. The young family moved to Minneapolis where Taichi and Robin had two more children, Davie, and Emi. There they made a comfortable life for themselves in a close-knit community. Taichi had a fulfilling career with the Minnesota orchestra for 37 years. Throughout that time, and well beyond, he dedicated himself to teaching and sharing his craft with young musicians.

Taichi always felt a responsibility to give back to the community and the people around him. He volunteered at North Memorial Hospital for many years as a discharge assistant. He and Robin frequently performed duets in the oncology department for patients. They also played at the bedsides of church members in hospice with the hope that they could help them find peace and comfort in their transition from life. His kindness and generosity was expressed in so many different ways and touched innumerable lives. 

Taichi liked to stay busy, living his life with purpose. He enjoyed working on the picturesque farmland he and Robin purchased in northern Minnesota; growing sweet corn, using his rototiller, and coming up with new ways to scare off the local racoons. At home, he liked to propagate plant cuttings, creating a verdant indoor haven to brighten the cold winters.

Taichi and Robin enjoyed tapping their maple trees and cooking down the syrup in their basement fireplace (fueled by every single fallen branch in the yard) to make the most delicious maple syrup. Good food was near and dear to Taichi's heart. He loved to cook, and much of what he cooked were dishes that his father had taught him to make.

Whether he was walking in the woods at Westwood Hills Nature Center, or hiking in Glacier National Park, Taichi had a deep appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. He had an affinity for finding the most beautiful and smooth rocks. He appreciated the bounty of tangible gifts that nature generously offered him. During his life, he curated a spectacular collection of rocks.

Taichi will be fondly remembered for his bright smile and mischievous sense of humor. Whether he was waiting behind a door to startle an unsuspecting family member or trickling a glass of cold water onto your head from the other side of the shower curtain, he could never resist a good prank, or a good joke.

Anyone fortunate enough to call Taichi their friend can attest to his unwavering warmth and integrity. He never passed up the opportunity to play a game of chess or share a plate (or two) of sushi. His absence will echo with tender violin melodies and his playful laughter for many years to come. He will be terribly missed by everyone who knew him.

The family would like to acknowledge the amazing team at Mayo Clinic that cared for Taichi during the seven and a half years following his cancer diagnosis. Without them, he would not have had such an abundance of "bonus time," as Taichi liked to call it.

Taichi is survived by his wife, Robin Bogucki-Chen; his children, Katie Chen, Davie Chen, and Emi Chen (Josh Kautz); and one grandchild on the way. He is also survived by his siblings, Li-Shiang Chen and Minzi Chen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tang-Fa Chen and Keiyo Lu; his brother, Tenichi Chen; and his parents-in-law, Edwin and Shirley Bogucki.

A Celebration of Life for Taichi will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, December 4, 2026, at Valley Community Presbyterian Church (3100 Lilac Drive N, Golden Valley, MN 55422). A reception will follow where refreshments will be served. The service will be live streamed and can be viewed at: https://valleychurch.net/worship/.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials in honor of Taichi be given to Liberty 21st Century Academy. This can be done by clicking the link and selecting "Taichi Chen Memorial" from the dropdown menu: https://valleycommunitypresbyterianchurch.breezechms.com/give/online

If you would like to join Taichi's Caring Bridge community, please visit https://url.caringbridge.org/DAA9vi, the family would love to hear from you.