My wife, Mariko, and I just learned of Tei's passing last year. We hadn't been in touch for decades, but Tei was a strong influence on both of us in the important first years just out of college. I met her when I accepted a position working with Japanese maps for a US government mapping agency. Tei was there with a team of mainly Japanese women, including Dr. Kayo Yotsukura (a classmate of Tei's at Tokyo Women's University) and Fumiko Minami Norcia, among others. "Yotsukura-sensei" and "Sukotto (Scott)-san" provided me with much valuable advice about life choices and what to do with my future during the brief 15 months we worked together--especially regarding the "girl" I had met and was dating. Introducing Mariko to them was almost as tense for me as if I were introducing her to my own parents. At first I couldn't tell if they approved or not ("Her Japanese is too informal," was one criticism I heard), but eventually they came to grow fond of her as well. We are now married with two grown children, and have been together for 37 years. Tei generously lent me a large folding screen with her painting on it to decorate my bare room for several months. I didn't want to return it to her, but eventually I did, since we were relocating to Japan.
Mariko and I miss her strength, her always laughing eyes, and her huge heart.
Rest in peace.
Lawrence & Mariko Marceau
Auckland, New Zealand