Boris Wei-Yao Chen

NORTH SMITHFIELD - Boris Wei-Yao Chen, 79, died June 19, 2015 in Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket. He was the husband of Mary Chun-Meei (Lee) Chen to whom he was married for fifty years.
Born in Taiwan, Mr. Chen came to the United States in 1962 and earned his Master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Connecticut. He worked at IBM, ITT and then Amperex in N. Smithfield. Later, he taught electrical engineering at CCRI. He also developed Heritage Hills Estates in N. Smithfield. After working in a venture capital firm in Taiwan, he officially retired in 1998. Mr. Chen was a long time member of Slatersville Congregational Church, where he sang tenor in the choir.
Since a child, Mr. Chen was an accomplished singer and self-taught musician. In college, he toured Taiwan with the China Broadcast Radio musicians. He was a member of the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and the Hsinchu City Chorale, which represented Taiwan in an international choral competition in Vancouver, BC. Always spontaneously breaking into song in multiple languages, he passed this love of music to his children and grandchildren.
Besides his wife, he is also survived by their children, Sandy Chen of Balcombe, England, Alice Chen of Oakland, CA, Eunice Chen of Hanover, NH and Janice Chen of Port Washington, NY, as well as six grandchildren: Karl and Annika Keck, Kai and Lewis Jarvest-Chen, and Aine and Aisling Hassett.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 27, 2015 at 11 AM at Slatersville Congregational Church, 25 Greene St., Slatersville. Calling hours will be held on Friday from 6 - 8 PM at the Holt Funeral Home, 510 So. Main St., Woonsocket. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Slatersville Congregational Church, P.O. Box 808, Slatersville, RI 02876. www.holtfuneralhome.com