Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A Tribute to My Father...

Hello all!
I've been off for a good reason but miss being back in my old routine.

Going back to the reason...my dear sweet father passed away during the Labor Day weekend (Sunday, Sept 5th) in Los Angeles. My family and I are sadden and heartbroken BUT we realized that he had a WONDERFUL LIFE - all 84 years of it!

Ittoku "Bud" Fujii
January 1926 - September 2010

Things About Dad:
- Born in Shanghai, China
- Was one of six siblings
- Father (my grandfather) was an international lawyer
- From kindergarten, wanted to be an international businessman
- Graduate of prestigious Tokyo University
- Named PANASONIC and now the whole company (Matsushita Electric
  Corp.) was renamed to PANASONIC worldwide
- Help phrase PANASONIC's tagline "Just Slightly Ahead Of Its Time"
- Started his own company (import/export-related) in his late 50s
- ALWAYS thinking about business! LOL!
- Married to mom for 50 years (they celebrated this year on May 23rd)

He will be sorely missed especially by my mother. She is holding up as best she can but I think it will hit her when she returns to Japan and the dust settles a little. It is interesting that the day he passed (Sept. 5th) was the same day he first took my mother to the U.S. - a little fact that my brother shared with me.

Although I have been apart from my parents for over 20+ years, my father was always there when I needed him especially when it came to my career decisions. I am proud of how he changed things in the Japan corporate world then and how it has evolved now.

Many, many thanks to all the emails, cards and expressions of sympathy from all of you. Words cannot describe how touched my family and I are. THANK YOU!!

Rest In Peace, Dear Dad!
OTSUKARESAMA DESHITA! xo

14 comments:

Latisha said...

i love this post about your father. He sounds like he was quite a guy. Big hugs to you sweet Margie
xoxo
latisha

Mona Pendleton said...

Such a wonderful tribute to your Father Margie! What an accomplished man! Thanks for sharing this with us all. Keeping you & your family in my thoughts & prayers :) Big cyber hugs!

Terri Davenport said...

Margie,
I'm so sorry. He sounds like a wonderful man.

Julie Overby said...

It sounds like your father was an incredible person. Continuing to pray for you and your family...(hugs)

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you and your family Margie. My dad passed away in July this year too so we will all be making tribute albums I guess. I guess we are all getting older and there are seasons. How beautiful that your dad will return to Japan for final resting. Prays are with you all. SUE B>>>

Unknown said...

What a wonderful life he had filled with honors and achievements. Thank you for sharing with us Margie. I bet he was as proud of his family as you are of him.
Hugs to you
K

Holly - Wild Wyoming Art Cafe' said...

Margie - I just loved reading about your Dad. What an amazing man. Hugs to you.
Holly

Karen said...

What an amazing man! Thank you for sharing this with all of us. I'm sure he will be missed so much. Hugs to you dear friend.
Karen H

Terre said...

Margie, Thank you for sharing your father's life with us, he was an amazing man. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Hugs to you.

Mary said...

Margie what a beautiful tribute to your dad. I am thinking and praying for you and your family. Mary Pfaff

Christy said...

He sounds like such an amazing man. Will continue to keep your family in my prayers, and I am sorry for your loss.

Unknown said...

a lovely tribute to someone who was obviously an amazing man, but also husband and father. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Big hug.

Kevin Renz said...

A well written tribute Margie! Thanks for sharing bits from your and your Dad's life.

Sankari W. said...

so sorry to hear of your father passing away - what an amazing man! thank you for sharing your dad with us - sending you big hugs!
sankari