Susana Nakamoto Gonzalez
May 24, 1945 - January 26, 2006
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Susana Nakamoto Gonzalez
May 24, 1945 - January 26, 2006
Obituary
Susana Nakamoto-Gonzalez
A beloved mother, daughter, sister, and teacher, died on Thursday, January 26, 2006. She was 60 years old. She died at Missiion Hospital in Mission Viejo, California 3 days after collaspsing at her home from the effects of a ruptured artery in her brain.
She was born May 24, 1945 in Miraflores, Peru, the second of six children to Soichi Manuel Nakamoto and Blanca Y. Nakamoto. Susana was an independent child, and she excelled as a student, showing a passion for learning that she would stay with her the rest of her life. One by one, all of the Nakamoto children and even their parents moved to the United States, crossing into a strange land and lifting themselves up to achieve success in their chosen fields. But Susana was the first to come. She went to Louisville, KY. on a scholarship to Spalding College, where she received a bachelor’s in sociology in 1968. While in school Susana met a young man named Ron Gonzalez, who was studying at the University of Louisville. The two met on a blind date in September 1967, danced the cha-cha and fell in love. They were married on June 11, 1969.
A year later they had a daughter, Cristine, and the family traveled around the world, including Japan and Hawaii, for Ron’s job as a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps. In 1972 they moved to the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County, and Susana began her masters studies in teaching and linguistics at Cal State University, Fullerton. She received her degree in 1979. By then the family had moved to Oahu, where Susana began teaching Spanish at Punahou High School and at the University of Hawaii.
In the fall of 1980, the Gonzalez family moved from Hawaii and settled in Orange County. Ron and Susana bought a house on Hazelnut Lane in Lake Forest, and in 1982 they had a second child, Zach. They put down roots in the community, and in addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Susana continued her teaching, holding positions at a number of Southern California high schools and community colleges, including Servite, Los Alamitos, and Sunny Hills high schools. For the last 15 years she taught Spanish and education courses at Golden West College in Huntington Beach.
Susana not only was a dedicated teacher, but she had a hunger for knowledge, and she eagerly embraced new ideas and challenges. On a late spring day in 2001, twelve days shy of her 56th birthday, she earned a Ph.D. in educational philosophy from Claremont Graduate University.
Her dissertation explored multiracial identity: How do we define ourselves when other people set boundaries of race and ethnicity? She asked hard questions about what makes us who we are, and how we can break through stereotypes. She often spoke of how diversity and learning to understand one another can enrich us as human beings. ?I am perplexed when I am asked to define my identity in terms of race,? she once wrote. ‘should I define it as three quarters Japanese and one quarter Peruvian, Spanish and Italian? Or should I define myself as a universal being whose existence is based on the air I breathe??
She found solace in teaching DahnHak, a mind-and-body training program designed to improve one’s health and help people reach personal fulfillment. She also became involved in the study of peace around the world. She started a peace studies program at Golden West College, and was working with other schools to establish similar programs.
Even with her burgeoning career, Susana’s family was dearest to her heart. She spoke with her mother and siblings regularly. She returned to Peru many times to catch up with old friends and family members. As a teenager she had cared for her ailing father, and in recent years during her trips to Peru she helped look after her Aunt Kio, who had suffered the effects of a debilitating stroke.
In 2006, Susana was looking forward to retirement in a couple of years, and she was eager to spend more time with her growing family. She and Ron had recently purchased a second home near Phoenix, Arizona. It was to be their dream house. They were expecting their first grandchild, as Cristine and her husband are due to have a daughter in April. Although she had misgivings about getting older, Susana was secretly delighted about becoming a grandmother. As if that weren’t enough change for one year, in December, Zach announced at a family dinner that he and his girlfriend Barbie were engaged to be married.
Susana was deeply loved by her family and friends, and she returned that love with warmth and wisdom and a generous, fun-loving spirit. Her sense of humor and sage advice will be missed by all of us. And though we are heartbroken at the cruel way in which she was taken from us, we treasure our memories of her, and we’re thankful for the time we shared with her.
Susana is survived by her cherished husband Ron Gonzalez; loving daughter Cristine Gonzalez; loving son Zach Gonzalez; beloved mother Blanca Yamada Nakamoto; beloved sisters Blanca Guintu, Tere Trawinski and Gloria Melo; beloved brothers Jorge Nakamoto and Lalo Nakamoto.
To share your memories of Susana, as well as to view and add to a gallery of photos of her, please go to www.oconnormortuary.com, and click on her name.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Susana Nakamoto
Gonzalez Peace Education Fund at Golden West College. Checks may be
made payable to the Golden West College Foundation. Please send
checks with a note specifying that the contribution is for Dr.
Gonzalez’s Peace Education Fund to:
Susana Nakamoto Gonzalez Peace Education Fund
c/o Golden West College Foundation
P.O. Box 2748
Huntington Beach, CA 92647-2748
For more information, please contact Margie Bunten at
mbunten@gwc.cccd.edu and at 714-895-8315.
114 responses to Susana Nakamoto Gonzalez
Karen says:
February 3, 2006
I am so sorry for your sudden loss. But the universe never makes any mistakes! I remember Susana from Healer school, and I am grateful for all the work that she did in pioneering the BR program in Peru and the USA. I was so impressed with her.
We will miss her a lot, but know she has made a very positive impact on this earth. I know she is still watching, and still smiling…
Aloha Susana nim. I love you!
Love and light,
Lucky Sabumnim
Rey & Eleanor Flores says:
February 3, 2006
Gonzalez Family,
Please accept our condolences during this diffificult time, Susanna was a beautiful woman and you have been blessed to have such good memories, we know she will always be with you. God Bless You.
Rey & Eleanor Flores
Balbina Cardenas Yucra says:
February 5, 2006
Mi mas sentido pesame, comparto el DOLOR QUE ESTAN PASANDO.
La conoci en el curso que tuvimos en la Univesidad de la MOlina – Lima – Peru, vino para enero del 2005.
ADIOS Susana.
Balby
Anonymous says:
February 6, 2006
***For an English version of the eulogy, please see pvs pages of guest book.***
EN MEMORIA DE SUSANA NAKAMOTO GONZçLEZ, MI MADRE
Por Cristine Gonz”¡lez
BIENVENIDOS: Como muchos de ustedes saben, mi madre era una educadora. Ella considerar’a este momento una buena oportunidad para impartir una de sus clases. Como era su estilo, comenzar’a a menudo su clase con algÃ…”n ejercicio ligero para que sus estudiantes estŽn despiertos y alertas. Para celebrar y mantener esa pr”¡ctica, quisiera pedirles que por favor se pongan de pie para recrear una versi’n abreviada del tipo de calistenia que mi mam”¡ sol’a realizar con sus alumnos.
.
EJERCICIO DE CALISTENIA:
ÃÂBuenas tardes! Por favor: Todos repitan
ÃÂGusto de conocerle! Por favor: Otra vez, Todos repitan
Giren a su izquierda y saluden a la persona m”¡s cercana y d’ganle: “ÃÂBuenas tardes!”,”ÃÂGusto de conocerle!”
Ahora giren a su derecha y hagan lo mismo con la persona m”¡s cercana diciendo: “ÃÂBuenas tardes!”,”ÃÂGusto de conocerle!”
Ahora que entre nosotros dejamos de ser desconocidos, ya podemos tratarnos como amigos.
ÃÂMuy bien! Ahora estiremos el cuello:
– Inclinen la cabeza hacia delante,muy lentamente.
– Ahora incl’nenla lentamente a la izquierda,,a la derecha,,hacia atr”¡s.
– G’renla alrededor en un c’rculo. Una vez,,dos veces.
– Ahora hagan lo mismo, g’renla en la otra direcci’n. Una vez,,dos veces.
ÃÂMuy bien!
– Estiren los hombros:
– G’renlos hacia el frente, una, dos, tres veces.
– G’renlos al revŽs. Una, dos, tres veces.
ÃÂMuy bien!
– Levanten los brazos hacia el cielo y est’renlos. Est’renlos.
– ContinÃ…”en en esa posici’n e incl’nense hacia la derecha; luego hacia la izquierda.
ÃÂExcelente!
– Respiren profundamente contando mentalmente hasta cinco. Respiren: Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco.
– Suelten la respiraci’n: Uno, dos, tres, cuatro y cinco.
Ahora que ya calentamos y estiramos el cuerpo; y nos sentimos m”¡s c’modos, pueden sentarse.
EN MEMORIA
Hay muchas maneras de recordar la vida de una persona. Para recordarla podemos considerar sus empleos, trabajos, logros, curiosidades y actividades extracurriculares, o v’nculo con amigos y parientes. Es as’ que al recordar a mi madre siento que ella fue muy polifacŽtica, us’ “muchos sombreros” en el transcurso de su vida; y los us’ muy bien y con mucho estilo. Ella fue una hija, esposa, y madre muy cariosa y compasiva; una estudiante insaciable; una educadora incansable; y una viajera aventurera e inquisitiva del mundo. Hoy, como hija, compartirŽ con ustedes algunos pasajes de la vida de mi madre. Lo harŽ en forma de lecciones, pues pienso que es la forma m”¡s apropiada para este momento, lo cu”¡l es algo que creo mi madre apreciar’a.
LECCIîN NòMERO 1:
Durante el ao que viv’ en la ciudad de MŽxico, mi madre vino visitarme, y viajamos a Chiapas, el estado m”¡s sureo de MŽxico. El viaje incluy’ un paseo de 24 horas en autobÃ…”s. En una de las paradas, almorzamos en un restaurante de uno de los pequeos pueblos en el camino. DespuŽs de almorzar, caminamos a travŽs de la plaza principal de la ciudad llevando lo que nos hab’a quedado de la comida en un bolso. Unas nias muy pequeas, con vestimentas muy humildes y rotas, nos segu’an tocando nuestras ropas y manos. Nos sentamos en un banco donde hab’a sombra, y una de las pequeas se aproxim’ a nosotras con cautelosa curiosidad. Mi madre comenz’ a conversar con ella. Ella le pregunt’ a la nia si podr’a realizar una tarea para nosotros podr’a ella cuidar de nuestra bolsa de comida mientras continu”¡bamos nuestro paseo. Mi madre continu’: “ÀCrees que puedes hacer eso por nosotras?”. La nia respondi’ que s’, y mi madre le entreg’ la bolsa con la comida y nos fuimos. De esa manera, mi madre le dio a la nia algo que necesitaba, evitando que ella se sintiera avergonzada de recibirlo. Ese gesto hizo que me sienta realmente orgullosa de mi madre.
La lecci’n: Me enseo c’mo tratar a todas las personas con dignidad y respeto.
LECCIîN NòMERO 2:
Cuando ten’a unos 5 aos, y viv’amos muy cerca de donde estamos ahora. Recuerdo
Valerie & Jack Sikkenga says:
February 7, 2006
I still remember the sunny autumn day when Jack and I and our two sons, Tod and Jay, were invited to a Reception at Catherine Spalding College. This occasion was an opportunity to meet and welcome the foreign students that were newly enrolled at the college. Many of these girls were in the United States for the first time, and none of the girls had ever been to Louisville, Kentucky .
For us, it was also a new experience. We had never had an opportunity to spend time with visitors from a foreign land. Our boys were seven and four at the time, and I remember that Tod almost did not go to the reception because his little brother wanted to bring his favorite toy which was quite soiled because wherever Jay went, the skunk was there also!
Well, Jack and I and the boys were quite enchanted with Susana. We enjoyed having her visit us and spend time with our family. It was not long before she also had a handsome Marine accompany her on these visits.
We have always stayed in touch with the Gonzalez family, sending letters, pictures and talking to them on the phone.
Jack and I always thought of Susana and Ron as twenty-year-olds that were newly in love.
Several years ago, I finally had a chance to go to California and visit them and I knew that they still had that special love for each other
Two years ago, they finally made a pilgrimage back to Kentucky, and Jack had to face the fact that Susana was not actually 22! But she still had the vitality and love of life that she had when she last was in Louisville!
In our hearts, she will always be that kind, loving, gracious girl that we had the pleasure of knowing so long ago.