Washington, DC, June 7, 1993
Ordained at Maryknoll in 1948, he ministered in Kyoto, Japan, until 1971. After his marriage in 1973, he and Yoshiko settled in the Washington DC area where, with his knowledge of Japanese language and culture, he served in special education in public institutions until his retirement in 1991.
Robert and Yoshiko were active in the local Catholic community. Yoshiko is known especially for her care of the sick during the years she was married to Robert and took personal care of him during his last weeks at the nursing home.
Their home was always open, espcially to the Japanese in the Washington area. They were all at Robert's wake and at his funeral at St. Hugh's Church in Greenbelt. Robert had worked with them to design his wake and funeral to make it a joyful, welcoming occasion.
The three priests at the altar for Robert's Mass of Christian Burial were the the pastor of St. Hugh's, a native priest from Japan and a priest from Maryknoll. Yoshiko and aother woman wore the formal Japanese kimono.
There were more than 12 married priests in the congregation, mastly from Maryknoll who came from as far away as New York and Connecticut.