Obituary of Kenneth Richard

Kenneth Richard passed away the other day at his brother John Richard home in Edgewood Wa. On July 9th, 2011. He and his husband Antonio and their dog Oscar Marie had just arrived two weeks prior from Brazil so Ken could end his journey of life of 71 years in his home state. Ken had pancreatic cancer. Ken adventure in life took him too many places we could only dream of going. He taught Japanese Language and Culture at the University of Toronto Canada for 30 years. After retiring from there he went to teach in Japan for a few years. Then his journey took him to Hilo Hawaii where he opened a B & B called Emerald View Guesthouse. Some of his family members visited him there in this magical setting. Antonio came into Ken’s life and then they moved to Sal Palo Brazil for a few years. Ken had just recently donated 14 boxes of his Japanese Literature books so they could be enjoyed by others for many years to come in Brazil. He knew he’d never see them again and he was okay with that. A comment he made to me, his 2nd cousin during a visit before his departure, was that life was a journey, we evolve. We spend the 1st part of our lives working and the last part letting go of things go to others to enjoy. I am so happy to have had that precious visit with him. He didn’t look the same as he used to due to fight with cancer, but his mind and spirit was full that day. May we all remember him with a smile and a hang lose hand signal he used to display all the time. Ken you are now a Buda. We lost a wonderful and sweet man. He passed away peacefully in the home of his brother, John (Terry) Richard in Edgewood, Wa. He lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He has led a rich and full life, more than most of us will ever experience. He was a retired University professor: Classical japanese litterature and comparative culture, graduated of Stanford University, class of 1964. He traveled the world and has taught many students thru the years, from 1970 to 2006. We are all better people to have known him. He was generous and wonderful host, to all that stayed with him at the Hilo B&B, and in visiting at his many homes (Toronto, Nagasaki, Hilo, Sao Paulo). Thank you Antonio for loving him and taking such wonderful care of Ken. Thank you also Yoshi, for the 20 years you had spent together. Ken has asked that his remains will be spred at Mutiny Bay, on Whidbey Island, where he is proceeded in death by his parents, Leo and Pauline Richard. We will miss you Ken, until we meet again, Love Terry and John, nieces and nephews: Jude, Sabine, Joey, Julie, Laura and Paul and all the other many relatives.