METHUEN – Ritsuko (Yamada) Chojin 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday June 26, 2011 in Windham, NH.
She was married to the late Masakatsu Chojin for 51 years. She was a longtime resident of Methuen, before moving to Windham Terrace four years ago where she was welcomed into their warm community and received exemplary care.
As a young girl, Ritsuko was a high school athlete specializing in volleyball and basketball. Post high school, she graduated from dressmaking school and was able to make shirts from sheets for her neighbors after the war. She survived the atomic bomb blast on Hiroshima and was one of the first Japanese citizens to come to the United States after the war. She became a US citizen in the 1960’s. While Ritsuko embraced America, she also enjoyed sharing her knowledge of Japanese arts and culture such as flower arranging, sushi making, origami, calligraphy and tea ceremony. A master of Ikenobo Ikebana flower arranging, her student base spanned Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Bermuda and British Columbia. She also founded Kittery Point Ikenobo Chapter and was the primary teacher for 40 years. She also enjoyed cooking, gardening, painting, traveling and while at Windham Terrace, singing.
Ritsuko will be missed by her son Edward Chojin of Boulder, CO, Margaret Chojin and her husband James White of Andover, MA.
Beloved grandsons Brandon and David White of Andover, MA, a sister Ikuko and her husband Tomio Sugahara of Ikoma, Japan, a brother Akira Yamada of Tokyo, Japan, a cousin Takako Hayashi also of Tokyo, Japan and several nieces and nephews.
ARRANGEMENTS: Family and friends may call on Thursday from 5:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. Funeral services will take place at a later date in Japan. Ritsuko’s family would like memorials made in Ritsuko’s name to the Japan Tsunami Relief Effort via Direct Relief International 27 South La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93117 or to Architecture for Humanity 848 Folsom, Ste. 201 San Francisco, CA 94107 Both charities also accept contributions online through www.charitynavigator.org.