I know Ted was passionate about UCLA\u00c2\u00a0and its athletic teams, even if they were having a bad year. He and I attended many Presbytery meetings together, and even after I stopped attending the meetings ve years ago due to childcare responsibilities, he continued to attend, sometime as our church\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only representative. He was always attuned to what was going on in Presbytery, especially when it was discussing controversial subjects. One year \u00e2\u20ac\u201d in 1994 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Ted had the honor of being selected as\u00c2\u00a0our Presbytery\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lay representative to the General Assembly in Wichita, the national meeting of the Presbyterian Church. This was a singular honor, one that Ted cherished.<\/p>\n
It is redundant to note that Ted was the pillar of the church, not only because he edited the Clarion every week for 62 years but also because he served ably as a leader in so many capacities: high school church school teacher for many years, elder for many terms, choir member who carried the baritone section, historian (whenever the need arose, he was asked to write the history of our church to that particular date), chairperson of the church\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 75th anniversary celebration in 1988, member of two pastor nominating committees, trustee, etc., etc.<\/p>\n
He was so revered as a layman that the Retired Nisei Ministers Association made him a member of their group. I can remember his attending a luncheon meeting with the group once a month \u00e2\u20ac\u201d on Wednesdays. The group even made him the secretary.<\/p>\n
I was amazed by his stamina \u00e2\u20ac\u201d he did so many things that I became tired just thinking about what he did. I remember in the early days that as he and Sets were raising four daughters, he, naturally, had to provide for their well-being by working as a journalism teacher at Alhambra High School, where he had many award-winning newspapers produced by his students once a week, just as the Clarion newsletters were. Just his professional career and what he did in it was more than a full-time occupation. But he also taught a night-school class at Pasadena City College and during the winter break worked at the post office.\u00c2\u00a0All of this he did because the salary of a teacher was insufficient to raise a family\u00c2\u00a0of four daughters.<\/p>\n
At the same time, he wrote articles and short stories for the Rafu Shimpo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s holiday issue; he even wrote several plays, which were performed by our Sunday School children and required many extra rehearsals. Of course, he also directed the plays. Add to this schedule \u00e2\u20ac\u201d in the Christmas season, the choir, which sang every week, rehearsed and presented special Christmas music. Somehow, Ted squeezed in rehearsal time for the choir.<\/p>\n
I think he carried on this hectic schedule for the duration of his teaching career. Luckily, I used to sit next to Ted in the choir \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and I say lucky because I was able to ride on his \u00e2\u20ac\u0153choir robe\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (not coattails) because he carried the bass section, no matter how many basses there were. If I couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hit a note, I would just follow Ted, and if I still couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hit a certain note, I just faked it and let Ted provide the volume, because he had a strong voice also.<\/p>\n
It was during these times when I sat next to Ted that I discovered his secret to doing so many things \u00e2\u20ac\u201d he took short cat naps, even during a sermon! Sometimes, I became embarrassed for him because I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want the congregation to see him asleep, so I tried to wake him. I would do this, however, not by nudging him with my elbow \u00e2\u20ac\u201d that would have been too disrespectful \u00e2\u20ac\u201d but by coughing quietly or pulling on his choir robe. These actions worked \u00e2\u20ac\u201d he would wake up \u00e2\u20ac\u201d but sometimes he would fall asleep again, and I would go through my routine again. The disconcerting part is that when I discussed a sermon with Ted \u00e2\u20ac\u201d brilliant as he was \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I discovered that he heard and understood the sermon more than I did, even though he was sleeping through half of it!<\/p>\n
Having being a substitute editor for your father several times, I experienced the di culty of editing the Clarion, especially when news came in late. I am sure that is why Ted had to spend many sleepless (or near sleepless) nights editing the Clarion. Yet, in every report that he wrote for our annual church report, Ted was always gracious and thanked the people who helped him and the readers who supported the nancing of the Clarion. He was a true gentleman, who always put the needs of the church ahead of his own convenience.<\/p>\n
I will miss him very much.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I know Ted was passionate about UCLA\u00c2\u00a0and its athletic teams, even if they were having a bad year. He and I attended many Presbytery meetings together, and even after I stopped attending the meetings ve years ago due to childcare … Continue reading