Sayonara

Sayonara

YOSHITAKA SAJI (FF ’76–11) passed away at home on December 19, 2020 following a battle with cancer. He had turned 74 years a few days prior on December 15. Saji-san, as he was known on campus, worked at ASIJ for 35 years taking care of students’ and teacher’s AV needs in the library. He was also known for his passion for photography and his work was often featured in school publications.

Born in 1946 in Tahara city in Aichi Prefecture, Saji-san graduated from the Kuwasawa Design School in 1968 with a major in photography. The first showing of his work took place the following year, when he participated in a group exhibition at the Ginza Nikon Salon.

Saji-san continued to pursue photography and design and later started his own design studio, GALAXY, with his former classmate from the Kuwasawa Design School and renowned photographer Shigeo Gocho. The pair worked together for five years until Gocho’s untimely death in 1983 as a result of his long battle with Pott’s disease and its side effects. At the time of their collaboration, Saji-san had already started work at ASIJ, where he had joined the audio-visual department in 1976.

Former librarian Vick Downs (FF ’59–99) fondly remembers interviewing Saji-san for that job in the AV room: ”His intelligence, integrity and reliability seemed to shout out to me from this otherwise quiet man. He learned English in what felt like two weeks, and soon was the “go to” person

Saji-san with elementary teacher Kathleen Nelson (FF ’89–11)

for anything to do with photography. Looking through back issues of The Ambassador shows what a debt we owe him: some issues would look empty without his pictures.”

Throughout his time at ASIJ, Saji-san continued to exhibit his work with regular shows at galleries throughout Tokyo. In addition to capturing Japanese subjects, Sajisan created a body of work focused on life in Bali, a place he was drawn to. Following on from his 2004 exhibition Balinese Meditation at the Contemporary Photo Gallery in 2004, Saji-san published the photo book Melting Point — Bali in 2010 and held an exhibition of the same work at the Tambourin Gallery in 2010. His final exhibition of his Balinese work at the ESPACE BIBLIO Gallery came in 2019 and was accompanied by the publication of East of Bali, Beyond the Mirror.

Saji-san is survived by his two daughters and their families and his two brothers and their families.

HARRIET BERKIN (FF

’60–64) passed away on December 5, 2020 in Ashburn, VA. She taught in the Elementary School while her son Jeffrey Berkin and ’74 daughter Terrie McConnell ’75 were enrolled at ASIJ. After leaving Tokyo, Harriet resided for two years in Hyattsville, MD, and for seven years in Geneva, Switzerland, before returning to the United States and eventually retiring after 20 years as an elementary school teacher in Fairfax County, VA. She is survived by her husband, Gerald Berkin, her two children, and three grandchildren.

JOAN BRIDGE (FF ’55–56) passed away on December 19, 2020, at the age of 86. After graduating from Buffalo State Teachers College in 1955, she traveled to Japan to marry her husband Pat. While in Tokyo, Joan taught third grade at ASIJ before returning to the USA in 1956. Thereafter she taught school in Washington DC, and Arlington County, VA. Buffalo, NY. She retired following a 40-year career in education.

DANIEL CARNEY (FF

’73–75) passed away on December 3, 2020 after being hospitalized with pneumonia and COVID-19. Dan worked in ASIJ’s math resource center while his siblings Colleen ’73 and Bill ’80 attended the school.

RUBEN M. STO.

DOMINGO ’62 passed away on February 9, 2021 in Antipolo, Rizal in the Philippines at the age of 74. He attended ASIJ from 1959–62 along with his brother Reynaldo ’67. After his graduation, he lived in the Philippines and stayed briefly in California. He is survived by his wife, five children, and six grandchildren.

DANIEL DREYFUS ’49 passed away on January 30, 2021. Daniel was born in Brooklyn, NY, and attended ASIJ while his father Major General James Dreyfus participated in the post-war reconstruction of Japan. Daniel received his bachelor’s in civil engineering from George Washington University in 1957 followed by a master’s in engineering administration from in 1965. He later received a PhD from The American University in 1975. Daniel served in the Army’s 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War and was awarded the Order of the Bayonet for faithful and honorable service and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge. In 1957, he was directly commissioned as a second lieutenant, and was assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers. He also served as a company commander in the Eskimo Scout Battalions of the Alaska National Guard. In 1968, Daniel was appointed as a professional staff member to the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, beginning his time in the United States Senate. In 1979, he was appointed as the Staff Director for the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He retired from the Senate in 1981, but not before contributing to several major legislative efforts including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 which established the Department of Energy. Daniel next took on a role at the Gas Research Institute, as the Director of Policy Analysis in a position of Deputy to the Vice President of the company and continued his presence on Capitol Hill in a slightly different capacity. Daniel retired from GRI to return to public service in 1993, through the nomination of the Senate and appointment by then President Clinton, to serve as the Director for the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Energy. While awaiting the formal appointment, he worked as a special assistant to secretary Hazel O’Leary of the Department of Energy. After retiring from federal service, Daniel was able to combine his love of history with his professional life. He joined the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History as Associate Director for Operations, where he fulfilled roles as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer from 1997 to 1999. In his spare time, Daniel enjoyed exploring his favorite hobbies: gardening, talking to nature, gunsmithing for black powder shooting, and woodworking. In retirement, he delighted in caring for his six grandchildren.

ELRIA EWING (AP ’78–81, FS

’80–81) passed away on April 15, 2021. After moving from place to place for many years, she and her husband David settled in Portsmouth, NH, where she passed away at the age of 80 from complications of dementia. Elria worked briefly in the high school library, where she enjoyed getting to know high school students. She is survived by her husband, four children Jeff ’81, Dino ’83, Valentia Leonard ’85 and Nathaniel ’86, 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

GALI ESHKOL HEFFER ’93

passed away on March 22, 2021, after a 17-month battle with cancer. She was 45 years old. Gali was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to father Nahum Eshkol, an Israeli diplomat, and mother Esther (Kamen) Eshkol, an Israeli-American audiologist. Gali’s twin sister Kinneret ’93 was born twenty minutes earlier. Their brother Ishai (aka Jesse) ’95 joined the family in 1977. The family moved around the world, from Cyprus to Singapore and later Japan, where her father served as the Israeli Ambassador. Upon graduation, Gali returned to Israel and was immediately drafted to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). After completing basic training with Kinneret, Gali was selected to serve as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the IDF’s International Cooperation Unit. She spent most of her service in the Gaza Strip, where she met her future husband Chen Heffer. The two were inseparable for the next 26 years and married in 2000. Gali was honorably discharged from the IDF in 1995 after attaining the rank of sergeant. After earning a BA in English literature from Tel Aviv University in 2001, she embarked on a ten-year career at Teva Pharmaceuticals. In 2011 she joined Chen, a cybersecurity professional, as his company’s office manager. Gali and Chen relocated their family to the United States in 2014, spending one year in Rockville, MD, and three years in Castle Rock, CO. During this time, Gali worked various jobs but primarily focused on raising her children. In 2018, the Heffers returned to Israel and settled in the town of Kochav Yair, where Gali worked as Resources Manager and Vice President of Operations in Chen’s newly founded cybersecurity consulting company. Gali was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain cancer, in October 2019. Gali is survived by her husband Chen, her son Amit and daughters Yuval, Maayan, and Roni, her parents Nahum and Esther, and siblings Kinneret and Ishai.

EUGENE (GENE) KAMIKAWA

’73 died unexpectedly of natural causes on April 19 2021. Gene attended ASIJ from kindergarten through grade 12. He leaves behind his three sons, Anthony, Alexander, and Adam, and their families. He is also survived by his sister Ruth Meinke ’68 and brother Stephen ’75. He resided in Vancouver, WA.

ROBERT ALDEN

MAGNUSON of Brewster, MA, died unexpectedly on December 24, 2020. Robert served on ASIJ’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees between 1981–84 and was the director of finance for Northwest Airlines.

THOMAS MAYFIELD ’92, passed away on November 17, 2019 in Dallas, TX. After graduating from ASIJ, he attended college at Texas A&M University and Blinn College. He then went on to study technical theater at Texas State University. Thomas worked as a stage lighting and sound professional in Austin, TX, and Las Vegas, NV. He is survived by his parents Joan Weaver Mayfield and Gary Mayfield, and his sister, Tamara Mayfield ’94.

KAYOKO PRIEUR (FF ’19–21), passed away on May 2, 2021. Kayoko joined ASIJ in April 2019 and worked in the Business Office as the Director of Finance and Accounting. Her twins Amélie ’32 and Luca ’32 were enrolled in the elementary school until shortly before spring break this year. Kayoko was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer in September 2020 and devoted the last year to fighting the disease and spending precious time with her husband Paul and her children. SATOKI SANO ’77 passed away on November 27, 2020. Satoki and his brother Tokuya ’89 both attended Nishimachi before graduating from ASIJ. Satoki spent 20 years at Hakuhodo Inc. as a marketing planner before he moved to an international agency and became COO for all global accounts. He started a selfowned consultancy from 2009, helping agencies develop client proposals and train employees. Satoki was also a lecturer on presentation skills for the Japan Marketing Association’s master course program and a professor at Meiji University, where he taught business studies.

ROBERT SILBERSTEIN ’84

passed away on May 27, 2020. Robert was the founder of Genki Inc Atlanta and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He is survived by his wife Erin and their son Harrison and his sister Jennifer Salazar ’81.

STANLEY HOWARD SMITH (AP ’79–81) passed away on January 13, 2021 in Shelburne, VT. Stan spent six years in Japan as Executive Vice President of Allstate, during which time his son Craig ’81 attended ASIJ. Stan served as a member of ASIJ’s Board of trustees from 1980–85 and as a director from 1981–85. He was a prominent member of the expat community in Tokyo, where he also served as director of the American Chamber of Commerce and chairman of their Trade Expansion Committee and US-Japan Trade Study Group, as well as serving on the board of the Tokyo American Club. Stan is survived by his wife Beverly (AP ’79–81), daughter Tedley Pihl, sons Gary and Craig ’81, and five grandchildren.

PATRICIA HELSINGIUS

SÖDERBACK ’76 passed away January 12, 2020 in Turku, Finland. Patricia attended ASIJ from 1973–76 along with her brother Patrick Helsinguis ’79. Born in 1957 in Helsinki, Finland, Patricia graduated from ASIJ in 1976. She then moved to the US, where she received a BSc degree in environmental science

from Rutgers University in New Jersey in 1981. She then moved back home to Finland to continue studying at the Åbo Akademi University in Turku, where she graduated with a MSc degree in biochemistry in 1985. Patricia spent most of her working life at Wallac Oy, the Turku site of PerkinElmer, Inc, lastly as a Global Business Manager within maternal health. Patricia met Tom Söderback while studying at the Åbo Akademi, and they married in September 1986. She is survived by Tom and their three children, Daniela, Thomas and Andreas, and her brother Patrick and his family.

ARNE SORENSON ’76 died February 15, 2021 at his home in Washington after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few years prior. He was 62. Arne was President and CEO of Marriott International, which grew to become the world’s largest hotel chain under his leadership. He was the company’s first CEO from outside the Marriot Family. He began his career as a lawyer in Washington DC, where he impressed Bill Marriott while representing his hotel chain in a 1993 court case. The two men became friendly and a few years later, Arne received an offer to join Marriot. Arne attended ASIJ for the 1964–65 school year along with his older siblings Robert ’72 and Mary ’74.

INGA THOMMESSEN ’74

passed away on December 3, 2020, at the age of 64. Inga attended ASIJ for 10th grade (1971–72) while her father was Norwegian Ambassador to Japan. An accomplished singer and musician, Inga appeared in Annie Get Your Gun when she was at ASIJ. Her love of music continued throughout her life and saw her write and release many songs. Inga settled in Odense, Denmark, where she worked as a language teacher/art therapist for immigrants from the Middle East.

PATRICIA VALENTINI ’70, who attended ASIJ for high school, passed away on February 5, 2021. Patricia’s siblings Malcolm McDonald ’76, Michael McDonald ’68, Jennifer Foley ’78 also attended ASIJ.

WILLIAM WARDELL ’51

passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 19, 2021. He was 87 years old. Bill attended ASIJ in high school from 1947 along with his sisters Dorothy Wardell ’49 and Marian Hanna ’53. Bill was a retired Naval Officer, who reached the rank of Commander, and he spent 24 years on active duty, with 11 of them at sea. Bill served two tours on the USS Collett DD-730 as Gunnery Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer while homeported in Yokosuka, Japan and was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan between 1960 to 1968. While stationed there he met and married his wife Ginny. His awards include Command at Sea Insignia, Naval Aviator Wings, Surface Warfare Officer Insignia, Bronze Star, 3 Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal with combat ‘V’, Combat Action Ribbon w/ Gold Star, Navy Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Quemoy and Matsu Islands, Taiwan) National Defense Service Medal w/1 Star, Vietnam Service Medal w/7 Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross w/ Palm, and Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class.

THOMAS CHARLES WINN ’64

passed away on May 6, 2019 after a sudden and brief illness. Tom was born in Guatemala where his parents were assigned to establish Laubach literacy centers. He went on to live in Colombia, New York City, Kobe and Tokyo, where he graduated from ASIJ in 1964. Tom settled in Washington State where he attended Seattle Pacific College (SPU) before graduating from Western Washington University and subsequently receiving his Master’s in education from Leslie College. He pursued a career teaching in the La Conner School District. After retirement, he spent his time volunteering with the Washington Trails Association and the town of La Conner, including service as a Parks Commissioner. Tom is survived by his wife Mary and siblings John ’58, Elizabeth Meyer ’56 and Julia Pollock ’70.