My husband Robert & I first met Masaharu and Louise when they came to visit us in Madingley in the Spring of 2011, along with Tom and Camilla.
Over a special few days, I came to feel amazingly close to Louise --- perhaps because it was so easy to talk with someone who was such a sensitive listener and sharer of experiences and ideas. In addition to being fellow Americans, we each had a first child born in July 1972 (Edowa and Lara, both later to become Architects) and a second child in 1974 (Tom and Camilla), as well as having 2 granddaughters of similar ages (Isabel born in 2008, Renna 2009, Jessie 2010, and Sachi 2011). Then Camilla and Tom produced our lovely granddaughter (Rei 2012) and grandson (Kaiwa 2015).
Louise’s diagnosis occurred only a few months after Robert’s death, from a prolonged illness in December 2016. Louise continued to recall this, even during her own difficult days. In July 2019 she wrote. "Such are the ups and downs of illnesses. I remember the ups and downs you had with Robert and am sure you understand."
Louise’s thoughtfulness towards others was coupled with an inner strength, bolstered especially by her loving and caring family. Along with Masaharu, she valued a poem called "Hokusai Says" by Robert Keyes, which is meant to be listened to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-_6K56uz-k May we reflect on this, and on what Louise has given and continues to give to each of us.