We first met in September 1969 when I entered AC, 52 years ago. Looking back, where have the years gone?!
You helped me and several other students spend summers in Japan traveling and attending classes. For me, the summers of 1970 and 1971. I fell in love with Japan, its people, culture, history... and when you called me late in 1976 to invite me to work with you in the new AICF Tokyo office, I jumped at the chance.
After moving to Tokyo in January 1977, you soon sent me on assignments to many different countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. I was away from my apartment more than I was there, which suited me fine! All those travels and experiences changed my life, as you knew they would. I will always be grateful to you for entrusting me with those responsibilities and for so many amazing experiences overseas.
The last time we met was just before your 94th birthday. It was fun reminiscing about days long past. We had a good run... and I will never forget those times from long ago.
Until we meet again, I remain your friend, always,
In Memory of our dynamic, resourceful, gracious, purpose driven friend, Osamu Gotoh,
Thank you for your positive influence on my family, many years ago, when you asked me to teach your two precious daughters the English language and piano. It was a great pleasure to have worked with such dedicated, focused, courteous, organized, intelligent students who devoured every phase of their studies, eagerly, and were anxious to return to their ensuing lessons, prepared and eager to absorb more knowldege! I adore your scholarly children and grandchildren!
Your daughters put their hearts into every phase of learning because you taught them that they could accomplish anything in life and that all things are possible with fervent effort, including achieving a successful career of their choice, etc. You, dear Mr. Gotoh, were the gentle force of inspiration that convinced them to always do their best and make their own good decisions.
With deep gratitude, I remember when you asked me to accept the offer of "giving" me your beautiful automobile (which I could never accept; it was too expensive a gift and I had not, yet, learned to drive), the time you drove me to your radio station and taught me so much about radio communication, the time you insisted on purchasing a fine china set and multiple utensils with me as a gesture of deep gratitude for teaching your chidren. I couldn't accept such an expensive offer. I taught your children because it was a rewarding pleasure for me! The acquisition of their new language and classical music was paramount to their future successes! However, you insisted, so I accepted the idea of shopping with you to choose a lovely, inexpensive dinner set and some kitchen utensils, deeply humbled and grateful for your very kind gesture! I was dumbfounded! When I shared your giving spirit with my Papa, he told me that I was blessed to have met such a distinguished family! Your family was, truly, a blessing to mine! You reminded me of my own Papa!
Also, thank you for the fine, formal family dinner which my family shared in your lovely home, prepared very tastefully and elegantly, by your dear wife and served with such graciousness, accompanied by dynamic, purposeful conversation and pleasant humor, etc. Afterwards, it was an unforgettabe evening of enjoying your beautiful garden!
There's so much more that I should add to your energetic, knowledgeable, diplomatic, courteous influence, but that may require the length of a book! Your life was an open book filled with purposeful foreign/domestic adventures and distinguished organizational skills to improve situations/conditions, enlighten, encourage, show deep gratitude to anyone with whom you were in contact for any purpose.
Millions of heartfelt thanks for your valuable, endearing friendship! Be assured that you are always in our memoriy and in our hearts! Henriette and Larry Faast :)
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Michael Cooney (1969)
Mr. Gotoh,
We first met in September 1969 when I entered AC, 52 years ago. Looking back, where have the years gone?!
You helped me and several other students spend summers in Japan traveling and attending classes. For me, the summers of 1970 and 1971. I fell in love with Japan, its people, culture, history... and when you called me late in 1976 to invite me to work with you in the new AICF Tokyo office, I jumped at the chance.
After moving to Tokyo in January 1977, you soon sent me on assignments to many different countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. I was away from my apartment more than I was there, which suited me fine! All those travels and experiences changed my life, as you knew they would. I will always be grateful to you for entrusting me with those responsibilities and for so many amazing experiences overseas.
The last time we met was just before your 94th birthday. It was fun reminiscing about days long past. We had a good run... and I will never forget those times from long ago.
Until we meet again, I remain your friend, always,
Mike
Henriette Nikolajew (Faast) (1962)
In Memory of our dynamic, resourceful, gracious, purpose driven friend, Osamu Gotoh,
Thank you for your positive influence on my family, many years ago, when you asked me to teach your two precious daughters the English language and piano. It was a great pleasure to have worked with such dedicated, focused, courteous, organized, intelligent students who devoured every phase of their studies, eagerly, and were anxious to return to their ensuing lessons, prepared and eager to absorb more knowldege! I adore your scholarly children and grandchildren!
Your daughters put their hearts into every phase of learning because you taught them that they could accomplish anything in life and that all things are possible with fervent effort, including achieving a successful career of their choice, etc. You, dear Mr. Gotoh, were the gentle force of inspiration that convinced them to always do their best and make their own good decisions.
With deep gratitude, I remember when you asked me to accept the offer of "giving" me your beautiful automobile (which I could never accept; it was too expensive a gift and I had not, yet, learned to drive), the time you drove me to your radio station and taught me so much about radio communication, the time you insisted on purchasing a fine china set and multiple utensils with me as a gesture of deep gratitude for teaching your chidren. I couldn't accept such an expensive offer. I taught your children because it was a rewarding pleasure for me! The acquisition of their new language and classical music was paramount to their future successes! However, you insisted, so I accepted the idea of shopping with you to choose a lovely, inexpensive dinner set and some kitchen utensils, deeply humbled and grateful for your very kind gesture! I was dumbfounded! When I shared your giving spirit with my Papa, he told me that I was blessed to have met such a distinguished family! Your family was, truly, a blessing to mine! You reminded me of my own Papa!
Also, thank you for the fine, formal family dinner which my family shared in your lovely home, prepared very tastefully and elegantly, by your dear wife and served with such graciousness, accompanied by dynamic, purposeful conversation and pleasant humor, etc. Afterwards, it was an unforgettabe evening of enjoying your beautiful garden!
There's so much more that I should add to your energetic, knowledgeable, diplomatic, courteous influence, but that may require the length of a book! Your life was an open book filled with purposeful foreign/domestic adventures and distinguished organizational skills to improve situations/conditions, enlighten, encourage, show deep gratitude to anyone with whom you were in contact for any purpose.
Millions of heartfelt thanks for your valuable, endearing friendship! Be assured that you are always in our memoriy and in our hearts! Henriette and Larry Faast :)