Judy Riediger and I are deeply saddened, Taki was a dear, dear man.

Taki was my dear friend in the SLSO in the 70's and I taught the Oboe to Cynthia. He wrote a lovely piece in India Ink which was played  at his wedding reception.
I still have it, and he titled it"By anonymous"! That's how I remember Taki, modest but dignified and often very funny!
His playing was thoughtful and cultivated and I enjoy seeing all the pictures and  letters from friends and  am touched by the many friendships he had! I 'm sorry I lost touch  with Taki and his  family in recent years.
 My wife Kiyoko, who was Taki's 
2nd cousin, and I send our deepest condolences and warmest wishes to all of his wonderful friends and  family.
I could say Taki was a one in a million guy but that wouldn't come close  to covering him!
    Richard Woodhams
   Kiyoko Takeuti


I am sorry that I will be out of town on November 1st.

Taki and I attended the Curtis Institute of Music together and then on the the St Louis Symphony.   

I loved his view of life!



Words fall short of writing what I want to say about Taki. Taki was from a long line of Shinto priests. “Many define the Shinto religion as a religion of ritual and tradition. The practices are carried out to connect Japan’s present with its rich traditions of the ancient past. It is a religion of shrines devoted to the worship of many different gods. It incorporates the rituals involved in non-religious remembrance, including war memorials and harvest festivals. Some see the religion as a worship of the ancestors, though it is more the desire to honor those who have gone before and to preserve their memory and traditions.” https://www.econdolence.com/learning-center/religion-and-culture/shinto/understanding-shinto/
Thanks to his former wife, Cynthia Spencer, who was my best friend during high school,  I got to know Taki by playing chaperone and going on some of their pre-nuptial dates, attending his concerts and visiting Taki in his bachelor pad off of Hampton Avenue, when he would make us sumptuous sukiyaki. 
The news of his passing brought back many wonderful memories of this time around the  time Cynthia bore his children. I played cello, nanny, babysitter, and even introduced chickens into the backyard of their house on Princeton Avenue! Together we spent many a long summer night listening to Schubert and the Busch Quartet on Taki’s beloved phonograph player, which he later gave me when he got a new model. Taki enriched my life and cultivated my love of chamber music so that I myself could become a chamber musician. 
An example of Taki’s peacemaking skills is illustrated in this story: my stepfather served in the Korean War. Taki befriended him and my father thanked him for helping him over his fear and hatred of Japanese people. That was Taki. 
For these times, Taki’s  peacemaking spirit and for my friendship with his only wife, children, (especially Takatoshi “Nick”), I will be forever grateful. 
Thank you, Taki, for touching us and enriching our lives! 

What a hole Taki's passing has left in our lives. We met him more than twenty years ago when we randomly sat next to him at a sushi bar. The friendship clearly was meant to be.  Taki was my phone buddy when Jack was doing other things and he was always so entertaining. There is an old saying that our memories allow us to have roses in December and we always will  have memories of Taki.

Barbara LIberman  and I Daniel are  deeply saddened by the loss of Takaoki. (Taki) We remember with great fondness our first meeting and dinner with Taki at our home and first first encounter with saki as we watched Taki consume vast amounts of his favorite drink! It was a special night which brought all of closer as dear friends..We will forever remember Taki as a wonderful friend and devotee.

Taki was always so kind to me and I was sad to hear of his passing.
I shared a stand with him in the Gateway orchestra and before that I met him when I substituted  with the SLSO.
He wrote a beautiful lullaby for  my son, Aidan when he was born.
Taki was such a kind hearted person and a great violinist. He will be missed!
Sending my condolences to his family.

Ann Hirschl 

We will miss our incredibly talented and kind neighbor. Sending prayers and condolences to the entire family. 

I’ve shared a wonderful symphonic career with Taki as well have enjoyed playing through much of the string quartet literature together with him.  His wonderful disposition, kindness, and extraordinary musicianship have been an inspiration.  I will miss him both as a colleague and a friend.   My sincere heartfelt sympathy to his family.

When Taki first came to the St. Louis Symphony, my father, Henry Loew invited him to our home.   He was always so happy and smiling.   When I went to concerts, I always made sure I said hello to Taki.   The last time I saw him, he was the soloist with the Gateway Festival Orchestra at the Quadrangle at Washington University.
R.I.P. Taki and may your memory always be for a blessing.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Takaoki Sugitani

31 juillet 1939 – 11 septembre 2021

Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary

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