Johnson Chen, 82, of Audubon, PA, passed away peacefully at home on March 2nd after a valiant battle with stomach cancer.

Johnson was born on 8th of November 1943 to Wen-Siu Chen and San Wang Chen in Ma-Tou, Tainan, Taiwan. After graduating from Tung-Hai University in Taichung, Taiwan in 1966 with his major in chemistry, came to the states and completed his doctorate degree in chemistry at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 1974.

Johnson met Sarah Liu in 1968 in Taiwan. They married in 1969 in New York City. They have children Alvin Chen and Phyllis Chen.

After graduation and three years of research chemist assignments in Brazil, he began to focus on chemical process improvements for industrial applications with Pennwalt Corporation in King of Prussia PA in 1978.

He co-founded HECTRIO Inc in 1990 based on his novel, environmentally friendly chemistries for producing specialty chemicals for electro plating industries. Six years later he founded InnoChem Inc to focus on integrated customer solutions and further expand product lines. Innochem prospered under Johnson’s leadership through 2019 when he retired and sold the company.

As immigrants, Johnson and Sarah believe in the power of education. They cofounded the Perpetual Journey Initiatives in 2013 to support the education and leadership development of disadvantaged youth. He established Perpetual Journey Charitable Fund with the proceeds from the sale of InnoChem in 2019.

In his retirement, he directed his efforts toward supporting early childhood development, encouraging youth education and leadership development, and granting college scholarships for future leaders. He enjoyed family time and fellowship time with his friends.

Johnson was predeceased by his parents, Wen-Siu Chen and San Wang Chen, and his brother, Dr. Cheng-Jen Chen. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Chen; his uncle, Reverend Andrew Tek-Liat Kuo with his wife Jin-Sek; his brother, Dr. Cheng-Chong Chen with his wife Li-Ching; his sisters, Mei-Jong with her husband Sing-Yang Chen, Mei-Li with her husband Chang-Tong Cheng, Dr. Cheng-Jen Chen’s wife Sheng-Fu Chen, Mei-Tsin with her husband Chu-Chong Lin, and Mei-Chu with her husband Jen-Che Yao; his children, Alvin Chen with his wife Kristi Chen, and Phyllis Simon with her husband Jasper Simon; and his grandchildren, Breanna Desguin Chen, Catalina Simon, Oliver Chen, Eli Chen, Emmett Chen, Huxley Simon, and Rainier Simon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Johnson’s legacy of creating opportunities for disadvantaged youth by contributing to programs such as the Music Transforms Program in the Southwest Philadelphia community.  Music Transforms (Founded by violinist/violist Joseph Kauffman and cellist Yoni Draiblate in 2013) is making a difference in the Southwest Philadelphia community. Johnson and Sarah believe that when a child knows the music, he/she will find his/her life and purpose.

Checks can be made out to Wayne Presbyterian Church and write “Music Transforms” on the memo line. Contributions can be mailed to Wayne Presbyterian Church, Attn: Johnson Chen Memorial Fund, 125 E. Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA 19087, or copy and paste this link tr.ee\gY5zaO to make your contribution directly to Wayne Presbyterian Church Music Transforms.

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