About three years ago, shortly after I started working here, I heard American English with a southern accent outside my class room and I immediately went out in the hall to investigate. I think we were both surprised to see another American. He introduced himself as a compressor engineer from the American side of the company. Maybe once a month or so I would see him at our location in Japan. I never had a real conversation with him, but he always poked his head in my room and said hello when he was here, or I would see him by the coffee machine and engage in small talk. He was always friendly and kind, fun and funny.
The students of mine who worked with him always seemed to be in awe of him. They told me how smart and talented he was. I found out from one student that he was in a rock band, called the Hobbit Band. One time when we were at the coffee machine, a Japanese man with rather long hair joined us. (Long hair is not common in this company.) The American engineer asked the Japanese man if he spoke English and he replied "a little". The American asked him if he played guitar. The Japanese man seemed surprised, but said yes. The American said "I knew it! Someone with hair that long must be in a rock and roll band." I still laugh remembering. (So, maybe you had to be there.)
On one trip to Japan last summer, the American climbed Mt. Fuji with his nephew before returning to the USA. Mt. Fuji is on the bucket lists of many foreigners in Japan, including mine.
I was surprised and saddened to find out last week that he died. I haven't heard how or why he died. I looked up his obituary online and it was beautiful. It said he left this world amidst the wildflowers of his home. I didn't know he was 70 years old and a vice president of the company. He was so friendly and unpretentious. The obituary said that before his college final exams he drove from his school (MIT) cross country to propose to his high school sweetheart and they were married in August. They would have celebrated their 48th anniversary this year. How romantic! It said he is remembered as a music legend, the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the rock band Hobbit.
I'll remember how friendly and funny he was and how much those who worked with him respected him and learned from him. I'll remember that even though he worked very hard at his job, he also made time to climb Mt. Fuji.
