Tetsundo Sekiguchi - Botanical Garden of the Ozarks - Fayetteville AR - Dedicated Trees on Waymarking.com

In Memory Of

Tetsundo Sekiguchi

(1924 - 2009) a lover of all gardens

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"Eight days shy of eighty five years on the 8th of October 2009, a wondrous phase of existence for Tetsundo Sekiguchi came to a close. That he was able to pass onward on his own terms, peacefully with family close at hand and at home in his most beloved place of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a place where he could absorb the vast beauty of the Ozark. His love of nature, curiosity, and particular brand of humor will be lovingly remembered. Though his cancer prevailed, it was a graceful struggle — eased by the loving and courageous support of his wife of fifty-four years, Tochiko.

Ted, as he was known to friends, was blessed to have experienced incredible changes in both his native country of Japan, where he born on October 16, 1924, and his adopted land of America through the course of his long, amazing journey. While working as an engineer on the reconstruction of Japan, he was introduced to Tochiko and they married on October 1, 1955. Their first two children Tomoko and Naoto were born in Tokyo. The births of Mary, June, and Eugene in Arkansas completed their family.

Ted was among the first recipients of the Fulbright Scholarship studying mathematics at Oklahoma State University. This led him to a long, fulfilling teaching career in the Mathematics Department of the University of Arkansas where he built lifelong friendships as well as with the local Japanese community. An unquenchable curiosity and passion for learning drove him to explore every corner of the state as well as much of the rest of the Lower 48. Taking off in a VW bus with family in tow to camp and hike all around the USA was a cherished summer ritual. In the spirit of adventure he took a year-long sabbatical in 1985 & 86 to teach at the National University of Mexico in Cuernavaca where he and Tochiko shared many adventures and greatly enjoyed trips to Japan, Central America, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. Travels around the United States continued - especially to see their beloved grandchildren Hana Mei, Quin, and Jaden children of June and Mike Breeland of Seattle; Joseph and Kaitlin children of Mary and Mark Kirasich of Houston; Evan and Mia children of Eugene and Alison Parry of Chicago, and Tomoko Sekiguchi's daughter of Eugene, OR. He is also survived by three brothers in Japan, Yoshio, Takeshi, and Minoru Sekiguchi. Above all else he is blessed to have shared his journey and be survived by his life's true love and soul-mate Tochiko."

- above text from (visit link)

Location of the tree: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Type of tree: Kitayama Japanese Cedar

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