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Fallen Aikidoist
Dr. Norman Miyagi
Long time Aikidoist Dr. Norman Miyagi,
formerly of Chicago passed away on Sunday May 19th, 2002, at 5:15 am
of heart failure at the convalescent center of the Senior
Housing Community, where he resided, in the city of Chula Vista near
San Diego.
Dr. Norman Myagi at Lihue Kauai Airport
May 31, 1995
Thank you to Dr. Ruth Takeshita for sharing this picture with all of
us.
Dr. Miyagi was born in Maui, Hawaii, 91 years ago and was just two
months short of his 92nd birthday in July.
To honor his wishes, he will be cremated without any kind of service,
and his ashes will be laid to rest next to his wife Helene in Kaui ,
where she was born.
In 1993, they found Dr. Miyagi unconscious, suffering from a head
injury due to a fall in his apartment. He had no
memory, unable to communicate, nor the abilities to function for
himself. He was admitted to a physical rehabilitation hospital in
Chicago, where later, his niece, Dr. Ruth Takeshita had him
transferred to a similar rehabilitary hospital near her home in San
Diego where he made a most remarkable recovery of his injuries and
memories.
In the retirement community, he
regained his independence and was happy and content, was visited often
and entertained by his niece Dr. Ruth Takeshita
Dr. Miyagi graduated from a medical college in Missouri in 1943 and
practiced Osteopathic Surgery in Chicago. He took it upon himself
freely to be the official physician to mend and tend to the injuries
of the Aikido membership, including the members' immediate families.
He was one of the original members that started the Illinois Aikido
Club, now known as the Chicago Aikikai, and was also a member of the
yudansha.
Condolence cards can be mailed to:
Dr. Ruth Takeshita
3304 RioVista Drive
Bonita, Ca 91902-1039
Dr. Miyagi is remembered warmly and fondly by
all his friends Robert and Johanna Sakamoto, Saburo Tanaka, Dr. Joe Takahara, Francis Takahashi and
Cheryl Kajita Matrasko, as being an honorable man and true friend both on and off the mat.
He was always a role model for the young people in the dojo. He is
already missed.
Our sympathies and
condolences to all his family and friends. And thank you to Francis
Takahashi and Robert Sakamoto for informing us of our fallen friend
and writing the above memoriam.
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