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
Daniel Tagata says:
February 8, 2006
Para Prensa Nikkei
In Memoriam
Susana Nakamoto
Una Obra de Ternura y Perseverancia
Daniel Oscar Tagata
Es muy doloroso saber que una persona con muchos Žxitos en su carrera profesional, dando lo mejor de su capacidad a la humanidad o en plena producci’n de su vida haya fallecido. Se trata de la Dra. Susana Nakamoto 24/05/45-27/01/06 quien vino al PerÃ…” en varias ocasiones especialmente para motivar, ensear o proyectar sobre una metodolog’a educativa como proceso y sistema para incidir en el desarrollo afectivo, moral e intelectual de los nios, nias, adolescentes y j’venes. En ese sentido, ha contribuido para la creaci’n de una sociedad din”¡mica y moderna y, en gran medida, como producto del servicio de las instituciones educativas.
Ella naci’ en el Callao y radic’ en los Estados Unidos de AmŽrica. Recibi’ su educaci’n bilingÃ…Â,e bajo el sistema cat’lico peruano-norteamericano. Tuvo los t’tulos de bachiller en Sociolog’a, master en Literatura y LingÃ…Â,’stica y doctora en Filosof’a Educativa de la Universidad de Claremont, California.
Ense’ a nivel inicial, secundario y universitario. Su experiencia profesional como educadora, durante los Ã…”ltimos veinte aos, incluyen su participaci’n como profesora y directora en el proyecto de Lenguaje y Literatura; y catedr”¡tica en la Facultad de Educaci’n
Manuel Tsuneo Higa, director de Prensa Nikkei, fue muy amigo de Susana y de sus hermanos quienes en su juventud fueron scouts. Y es por esta relaci’n y vivencia que Susana apostaba por impartir tŽcnicas de formaci’n para afirmar la paz, la justicia, la libertad, la seguridad; atender los asuntos pol’ticos y econ’micos; y promover el desarrollo cultural, social y cient’fico.
Tsuneo le dedic’ espacio a Susana, en su medio de comunicaci’n, porque estaba convencido de que el Taller que ella ofrec’a, con la participaci’n de los docentes, ten’a la capacidad de motivar para seguir incrementando los proyectos educativos con esp’ritu innovador y modernizador.
La tesis de la Dra. Nakamoto: “Un acercamiento autoetnogr”¡fico a la vida de los multiraciales” refleja su bÃ…”squeda personal y profesional que responde a las nuevas necesidades afectivas de la comunidad nikkei. Con ocasi’n de la celebraci’n del Centenario de la Inmigraci’n Okinawense al PerÃ…” estuvo elaborando los aspectos de la identidad multi-cultural y multi-racial. Su investigaci’n hay que rescatarla para que la Asociaci’n Okinawense del PerÃ…” pueda enriquecer los estudios que cuentan sobre pr”¡cticas hegem’nicas sobre etnia, gŽnero, religi’n, pol’tica, educaci’n y econom’a del desarrollo afectivo y espiritual de la colectividad en general.
Sus hijos Cristine y Zack y sus hermanos Blanca, Jorge, Eduardo, Gloria y Teresa, destacados profesionales, deben sentirse orgullosos de la labor cumplida por Susana en la sociedad.
La presencia anual de Susana en el pa’s, a partir de 2002 hasta el 2005, ha servido para valorar su amor por el PerÃ…”. Este ao tambiŽn ten’a proyectado venir a Lima, quedar”¡ para siempre el recuerdo de una obra que desarrollaba con ternura y perseverancia.
Lima, 29 de enero del 2006
Marcelo Hoffmann says:
February 8, 2006
Our deepest condolences go to her family and friends. Her loss will be deeply felt by all those she influenced so positively, both in her family circle as well as in her extensive academic career. Susana was a remarkable person and will be sorely missed by all those who knew her.
Marcelo Hoffmann and Lauren Kumzak
Patricia Gomez says:
February 8, 2006
Hace unos momentos recibi un mensaje del Colegio Golden West. Todav’a no alcanzo a digerir la noticia acerca de Susana. Me duele en el alma no haber podido despedirme de ella, aparte de nuestra despedida en Diciembre. LlevarŽ su recuerdo en mi coraz’n.
NamastŽ
Anonymous says:
February 8, 2006
In Memorian
HOLA SUSANA…
Estando tu hermano Jorge en Lima, presto a participar en los actos del Centenario de la Inmigraci’n Okinawense al PerÃ…”, el lunes 23, me enterŽ de la triste noticia de la gravedad de tu estado de salud. En esos d’a, ya se viv’a la euforia del Centenario, y lo cierto es que lo asimilŽ y auguraba con seguridad, la pronta recuperaci’n tuya, pero el viernes 26, recib’ la dolorosa informaci’n de tu muerte.
En las maanas del s”¡bado 28 y domingo 29, d’as centrales del Centenario, antes de salir de casa, en medio de las tensiones y las preocupaciones por este trascendental acontecimiento, roguŽ con mayor unci’n y me encomendaba al Supremo Seor, pidiendo el Žxito del mismo. Como en otras ocasiones, dialoguŽ mentalmente con mis padres, hermanos y amigos que, est”¡n arriba, que de seguro nos protegen y nos gu’an, y por supuesto, me acordŽ de la flamante inquilina del reino de los cielos, Susana Nakamoto Yamada. Por todo ello, estoy seguro que tÃ…” has estado en el Centenario, augurando el Žxito de esta fiesta.
Hace poco tiempo, nuestro comÃ…”n amigo Alberto, hermano de “Pepa” y Juanita Miyashiro, con su cabal’stica c”¡mara mec”¡nica Canon, de esas que prefieren los fot’grafos de antao, y su vetusto flash de 40 cm. de altura, testigo de miles de jornadas, nos tom’ la Ã…”ltima foto, debe ser del ao pasado, pues se luce en el bolsillo de mi agenda del 2005. All’ nos damos cuenta de las arrugas, de que los aos no pasan en vano, y justo cuando trat”¡bamos de estos temas, me dec’as tÃ…” siempre positivamente: “Las arrugas dejan huellas en el rostro como la apat’a en el alma”. Y hoy al recordarte, encontrŽ esta foto, y por supuesto me embarg’ la nostalgia de los aos pasados, cuando carec’amos de arrugas y apat’as.
Recuerdo que viv’as a tres puertas de mi casa, fue en nuestra infancia, desde mi balc’n las ve’a pasar, a t’ y tu hermana Blanca, siempre ordenaditas, seriecitas, bien peinaditas, con el cerquillito bien recortadito, uniforme impecable, faldas azules con los pliegues planchaditos, sin arruga alguna, blusa bien al almidon de pechera, aseaditas, como un an’s, tal como lo exig’a mam”¡ Blanca y las monjitas del colegio pituco San Antonio del Callao. S’lo en esos momentos las ve’a, pues no jugaban en la calle, en la avenida S”¡enz Pea para ver el paso de los tranv’as o de los urbanitos, no com’an raspadillas de la calle, como los hac’an los Ajito, Maezono, Watanabe, Honda, Higa, etc.
En la adolescencia pocas veces conversamos, salvo aquellos cortos di”¡logos: “My name is Susana, el m’o es Chuneo”, “Mis canciones preferidas son las de Elvis Presley, los Beatles, Frank Sinatra. A m’ me gustan las canciones de los Chamas, los Embajadores Criollos, el carreta Jorge Perez, y entre los extranjeros Pedro Infante y Javier Solis y para tirar ritmo frente a la rocola, mi canci’n preferida es Sarandonga del dÃ…”o cubano Los Compadres”. Mientras me hablabas del Ã…”ltimo estreno “My Fair Lady” con Rex Harrison y Julie Andrews, yo comentaba las tapadas de Adolfo Riquelme, los quites magistrales de AndrŽs Bedoya, el trajinar del Tano B”¡rtoli o la valent’a del Mocho Rosasco, todos del inolvidable AtlŽtico Chalaco. Y te aburr’as m”¡s, si te hablaba de los catchacanistas, Yanqui, Cicl’n, Conde, El Hermoso, Manolo Moza, etc.”
Es decir, a pesar de contar casi la misma edad, ser vecinos, ser paisanos, comer el mismo pan con jam’n que preparaba tu viejo, la crema volteada que serv’a tu t’a Kio, etc., congeni”¡bamos poco en esa Žpoca, ya que los gustos y los c’rculos eran distintos en ese entonces.
Culminaste la secundaria, como toda tu familia, partiste a los Estados Unidos, te graduaste de bachiller de Sociolog’a, master en Literatura y Lingu’stica y doctora en Filosof’a Educativa. De pronto los continuos viajes al PerÃ…”, refuerzan esa amistad que se origin’ en la niez y se afianz’ en la madurez.
Me consta que cuanto m”¡s ven’as a la tierra que te vi’ nacer, m”¡s la amabas. Y me consta que en tu Ã…”ltima visita, quisiste llevarte a los yunaites, parte de de nuestra tierra, te fuiste a Machu Picchu, Cuzco, y de all’ escog
Michelle Yamashiro says:
February 9, 2006
“Lately I’ve been hoping you can stay with me,
And I could hold you close ’til the end of time, yeah.”
To me, it feels like we lose so many things so quickly. Whether it’s that favorite pokemon card, cute shirt, or beloved one, everything slips from our hands. It’s painful too, no matter how simple, or how precious something is to you, it still hurts. But, I’ve learned something, not to feed yourself with sorrow, for that is what you will become. Instead, fill your painful soul, with laughter and reminices about the past, and carry those stories to the present and future.
“Make this ride as fast as I can
Tonight this road home feels a little longer
I hope you know that you were my best friend
Tonight I said goodbye, but I should have said more
Thanks for the best time of my life.”
I have strength, because I know she would have strength. I have strength, because her family has strength.
I have strength, because I think of all the good times I’ve had with her, no matter how little they were.
“Come home, I won’t forget the times that we had
So please don’t be a part of my past”
I’ll always remember wondering what those cookie looking like objects were, myself crawling towards it, and stuffing my face with those delicious tidbits.
And. I’ll always remember tia Susana’s face, and the expression she wore when she realized…..
I was eating dog food.
“Please
Tell me how you lift these heavy bricks
And how you built this path for me to walk on
You carve yourself in stones
With the strength of all convinced
But I know your skin
Is still as thin as mine
I can’t believe the calmness in your bones
After everything
And when she dreams”
There are those people in life that I idiolize as “Super Heroes”. One of those select few, is Tia Susana. She’s, forever, Super Susana! Able to make you smile with one wink of the eye, has the ability to make the best out of you, and can warm a heart with a good one on one talk.
I want to be a super hero. I want to fly with Tia Susana, one day.
“What does it take to believe
In all the things you believe
And maybe I need to listen more carefully
I finally know how you stand
against the worst there is
I finally found,
The strength you’ve tried to tell me about”
Thank you, most of all, for being you.