Sayonara

ALUMNI Obituaries

Sayonara

passed away on September school in 1969. In 1974 Kathy received her Bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Connecticut. She continued her studies at Ithaca College, where she obtained her Master’s degree in music education in 1981.

as a music educator. Her career spanned four countries, with appointments at ASIJ, Victoria Teachers College, and HC Crittenden Middle School, among others.

During her time at ASIJ from 1996–2001, Kathy taught elementary school music and is remembered by many for leading the Elementary School Choir and being involved with the drama program. In the words of Elementary School music teacher Jody Fuller, who worked closely with Kathy, “she was a musician and music educator whose creativity

knew no bounds. Her music classes were rich with creative and artistic experiences that made music-making joyful and memorable. Students danced, sang, improvised and found joy in making and experiencing music.”

choirs, to whom she taught the fundamentals of singing — pitch matching, breathing, posture, and diction. She enjoyed staging creative choir performances several times during the school year, and was always coming up with innovative choral choreography, incorporating hand gestures, and using props. She was highly involved in holiday celebrations, such as Chinese New Year, where she led the fourth grade students in a lion dance complete with paper mâché lion heads, and Halloween, where the Elementary School Choir kicked off the parade with several spooky songs. She brought a friend from Ghana to share Ghanaian culture practices or music and dance, and added a musical dimension to the second graders’ Africa unit.

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Kathy with her daughter Nina Shelhart Sayers ’09

A more recent photo of Kathy

Kathy also made friends throughout the ASIJ community with whom she remained in contact for many years— Elementary School Administrative Associate Aileen Kanoh remembers her fondly as “a super nice and friendly person with a great smile,” and Jody shared that, “She had a happy smile and lovely manner.”

Kathy loved instruments of all sorts, and played the violin, viola, cello, bass, and guitar, as well as various woodwinds and brass instruments and percussion of all types, including but not limited to dulcimer, gamelan, taiko drums,and gongs. She had specialized in strings in university and studied cello seriously with noted teachers in New York before her time at ASIJ. During her time in Japan, Kathy studied under the renowned Shinichi Suzuki, founder of the international Suzuki method of music education, and was a sought-after music teacher when she lived in the United States. At ASIJ, “her innate attention to detail and precision in her music making inspired her students to reach higher than they ever thought they could go,” Jody shared. Members of the ASIJ Elementary School community from that time particularly remember her lively guitar and piano performances brightening the school, and the impressive numbers on the xylophone and other percussion instruments that her students performed under her tutelage. Her devotion and hope that music could and should touch every child’s heart and soul motivated her life as a music educator.

Kathy traveled broadly throughout Asia, Europe, South America, and New Zealand, where she met her future husband, David Sayers (AP ’95–01). They relocated to Nina. They had their second child, Michael, while in Tokyo before settling in Westchester, NY, where Kathy continued to explore, grow, and support others even after her divorce. Kathy is survived by her daughter Nina Shelhart Sayers ’09 and son Michael Sayers.

, known as York, passed away in Old Greenwich, CT, on September 4, 2021. After growing up in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, York graduated from Manhattanville College in 1960 and attended Georgetown University as a graduate fellow in European History. After graduation, York began a 20-year career with Business International abroad. In 1968, she married Frederick Lloyd Baker, III were born. York relocated to the United States for almost ten years in 1974, before returning to Tokyo in 1983, at which time she put her business talents to use by co-founding the relocation company Tokyo Orientations, which is still employed by many expats to assist with their moves to Japan today, with friends. During this time, she served both on the Board of Trustees and as the PTA president at ASIJ. She returned to the US for good in 1989 and began an 18-year tenure in development at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT. Her achievements as the Director of Development were recognized when she won an award for women’s commitments to philanthropy from the YWCA in 2006. After retiring, York served as a volunteer at the Greenwich library until 2021. York is

passed away in Bellevue, WA, on December 6, 2020. Born in Whitehorse, YT, Canada, Stu also lived in Fairbanks, AK, and Redwood City, CA, before moving to Tokyo and spending his school years from 1954–61 at ASIJ. After graduating high school, Stu went on to major in Japanese studies at International Christian University in Tokyo, and maintained a lifelong education at the University of Michigan and embarked on a variety of business ventures leading to the founding of San Francisco Seamaster, of which he was the proud owner and CEO at the time of his death. Stu traveled around Asia and Europe often through his youth. He enjoyed inventing, and was the holder of two patents. He is survived by his sisters Carol Zukerman ’72 and Lee Anne Bennett ’69, and his brother John Bennett ’59.

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passed away on August 20, 2021 in Allen, TX, at the age of 71. She was born in Granite Falls, MN, but grew up in Japan and attended ASIJ from 1961–63 and again from 1964–68. The daughter of a missionary family, Trudy during her time in Tokyo. After returning to the United States, she married Richard ballet through her work in wardrobe for the Chamberlain Ballet in Texas for 30 years. Trudy also loved soccer and volunteered at the Dallas Cup soccer tournament for many John, and many grandchildren.

passed away on August 16, 2021. Born in 1929 in a small town in Switzerland called Ebnat-Kappel, Guido left for Asia to pursue his business as an entrepreneur in 1952. He met his wife Toni in Kobe in 1954 before moving to Tokyo in the early 1960s where his children attended ASIJ until 1973. Guido is survived by his twin children, Cristina Sindicic-Cherubini ’76 and Remo Cherubini ’76.

passed away on January 30, 2017. Mary’s year in Japan at the Meguro Campus was one of the highlights of her life. She was voted wittiest female student of her class, and often recounted memories of her friends and adventures there, particularly her lifelong served as a volunteer troop leader and later as Neighborhood Chairman for the Conococheague neighborhood. Interred at Lincoln Cemetery in Chambersburg, PA, Mary is survived by her husband Joe, two daughters, and three granddaughters.

passed away from pneumonia on August 14, 2021. Born in California, Mary was the eldest daughter of the bishop of Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles and the older sister of renowned entertainment producer Johnny Kitagawa. As a middle schooler, she traveled back to Japan with her family at the start of World War II, and returned to the United States post-war to complete high school and college. When she was 28 years old, Mary made her way back to Japan to work with the Indonesian Delegation alongside her brother, Johnny, who worked at the American Embassy. She once again returned to the United States a few years later to pursue her passion as a designer and found a job producing neckties and other apparel. However, she realized that she enjoyed her time in Japan more and came back permanently. Mary helped her younger brother to found a management agency for Johnny’s musical acts, Johnny & Associates, Inc., and went on to handle the business side of the agency that came to be well known for producing musical groups such as SMAP, Arashi, and KAT-TUN. Many years later, her daughter Julie ’84 went on to become the president of J Storm, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnny & Associates and the record label responsible for the production of a number of the agency’s popular acts. Mary was the honorary chairwoman of Johnny & Associates at the time of her passing. She is survived by her daughter Julie ’84 and her granddaughter Sarah ’22, who shared, “She was truly one of the most hardworking women I have ever met, and her constant pursuit to create better entertainment was inspiring.”

who attended ASIJ for one year in 1949–50 passed away on November 18, 2018.

passed away on October 26th, 2020. Chuck and his family moved senior international partner with Deloitte and Touche. In this position he was the lead audit partner for all multinational companies in Europe, Asia, Japan, and North and South America. He also advised many companies on opening

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including the states of California and Colorado. During this time, he served on the board of a variety of international organizations in Tokyo, including the Tokyo American Club. Heather Schmidt, Ashley Johns, and Denver Hoskins of

passed away in her home in Dallas, TX, on September 6, 2021. Born in Lakewood, OH, Sharon graduated from Ohio State University with a BS in Elementary Education in 1967. Shortly thereafter, she married Larry G. James and moved to Dallas, TX, where Larry began his career with Texas Instruments (TI) and Sharon taught kindergarten. She gave birth to two sons: Keith James ’93 and David James ’95. Over the course of her married life, Sharon managed her family’s 13 moves around the country and the world, mostly for Larry’s career with TI, including to Tokyo, where the family lived and Keith and David attended ASIJ for seven years between 1987–93. Keith ’93, son David ’95 and his wife Cara Singer James ’95.

passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 in Owego, NY. A registered nurse, Mae worked in South Korea, Germany, and all across the United States. She also spent time in the Congo and Japan as a Presbyterian missionary. Mae loved the outdoors and raised a garden in each of the many places she resided over the course of her life. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Edwin Enhong Kang, her son Jayoung ’88 and daughters Jane ’90 and Michelle ’91.

passed away on September 2, 2021. Tom spent three years at ASIJ, from sophomore to senior year, and was a key member of the wrestling team, where he heavyweight class in the Far East championships in 1972. He enjoyed his social life at ASIJ and made many life-long friends, meeting yearly with classmates and organizing

class reunions after graduation. He is remembered for his love of cooking, as well as his love of people and wonderful sense of humor. Tom is survived by his wife Barbara and his daughters Olivia and Belinda.

passed away at his home in Salt Lake City, UT, on January 17, 2021 from natural causes. After his time at ASIJ, Gary returned to Utah and graduated from the Utah College of Massage Therapy and worked as a licensed massage therapist. Outside of work, he was also involved in the Buddhist Temple in Salt Lake City.

passed away from complications from cancer on September 26, 2021. A lover of art, nature, qigong, and martial arts, Ssu-I was a teacher of the Sogetsu School belt practitioner of tai chi with the Beijing Tai Chi and Kung Fu Academy. She enjoyed writing and poetry, and composed her own poems and children’s stories. Ssu-I is survived by her sons Daniel and James and their families.

passed away on the morning of June 22, 2021 due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. After graduating from Oregon State University with a degree in science and business administration, Ken position at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc, where he served as a manager in equity trading. He is survived by his brother Ko, wife Yumi, and children Runa, Kiichiro ’16, and Ryo ’19. The son of Ki Nimori (FF ’60–02), the iconic art teacher whose career spanned 42 years at ASIJ, Ken was a long-time member of the ASIJ community. He and his brother Ko both graduated from ASIJ, and as a result, had friends all over the world. “The Nimoris are very thankful for all the condolence messages we have received,” Ko shared, adding that “many ASIJ friends attended [Ken’s] memorial service” held on

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passed away at age 92 on August 24, 2021 in Newark, DE. She was born in Honolulu, HI, and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii. Mary spent 10 years as from 1958–69, during which time she met and married former head of school Bill Ricketson (FF ’61–77) and gave birth to Laura Ricketson Casalvera ’86. After leaving Japan in 1977, Mary moved with her family to Delaware where she served as a tutor for Japanese families who came to Delaware with the DuPont Company. Aside from teaching, Ikebana. She was a member of Ikebana International in Delaware where she served as the president of the Ikebana International Philadelphia Chapter for a term. Mary is survived by her daughter Laura and her family.

passed away on June 23, 2021 in Ottawa, Canada. She is survived by her brothers Barry and John ’73, and her sister Amber ’75.

passed away on October 20, 2021. Born in Chicago to Dutch immigrant parents, Leone graduated early due to the outbreak of WWII in 1944 from Saint Willabroad Catholic School. She met and married Ross Smith, a returning WWII navy veteran, while attending DuPaul University. Shortly thereafter, they moved to California, where Leone raised her State University, Hayward. In 1969 Leone and her family moved to Japan, where she taught elementary school science and three of her four children attended ASIJ. After the unfortunate and untimely passing of her daughter Kerry Smith ’70 and the end of her marriage shortly thereafter, Leone and her family returned to the States where Leone was employed by Contra Costa County in California, eventually working her way up to the role of Contra Costa

met her second husband, Richard “Pat” Boyle there, and the two were married for 25 years before Pat passed away. Leone was 75 years old when she met her third partner, Rod Sadly, Rod passed away in 2014 after struggling with serious health problems. Leone returned to Walnut Creek, CA, to be closer to her family before moving to a retirement home, where she became a 91-year-old welcome ambassador who worked out daily, and often played impromptu piano concerts for her fellow residents. Sadly, Leone sustained a serious injury from a series of falls in her early 90s, leading to her passing. She is survived by her children Michele Smith, Ross Smith ’73, and Matthew Smith ’79.

, known as Maggi, passed away in April 2019 in Milledgeville, GA. Born in Fairbanks, AK, Maggi spent much of her young childhood in California before moving to Japan in 1954. She attended ASIJ with her siblings from that year until 1964, when her family moved to Kabul, Afghanistan. It was there that she met her future husband, Sgt. Guy Stephen Stoner, who was stationed in Kabul with the US Army. After marrying, the couple lived together in Italy and Germany as well as a wide variety of states around the US. After her husband’s retirement, the couple settled in Milledgeville, GA, where Maggi worked with international students at Georgia College & State University. Maggi is survived by her sons William and

passed away in October 2021. She attended ASIJ for three years in high school along with her siblings Robert Wyland ’78 and Elizabeth Shively ’76.

In the obituary for in the last issue of The Ambassador we published an incorrect date for his passing. Robert passed away on May 26, 2020 in Boynton Beach, FL.

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