Masu Sasajima

Masu Sasajima, born July 23, 1937, died July 31, 2021. Preceded in death by father Shigeru (Yamagata-
ken) and mother Masu Uemura (Kumamoto-ken) Sasajima, beloved Shizue Ishizaki (Obasan), siblings
and their spouses and Winfred Klink, sisters Helen S. Kaplan (Irving), Mary Sasajima, Florence Sasajima-
Klink (Winfried and son Winfred Klink), brothers John (Bette Newton) and Mitsuya (Delores Gardner).

Attended elementary schools in Brooklyn, NY, Berlin, MD and junior high in Berlin. Graduated from
Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn.

Received her BA from Hunter College and MA from T.C. Columbia University, NYC. Studied for a
doctorate at the University of NC, Chapel Hill. Also took management courses at Harvard University and
from the National Academy for Voluntarism in VA. Received the Associate Risk Management
designation (ARM}. Employed in educational research at the City University of NY, Educational Testing
Service and Harvard University Graduate School of Ed. Also worked at Education & World Affairs, NYC;
United Way of America, VA, United Way of King County, Seattle and retired from Mutual of America Life
Insurance Company, NYC as a Risk Manager and officer. Volunteer activities included Boards and
committees of the New York Chapter of the Japanese American Citizen League; New York’s Self-Help
Community Services; Seattle’s Newmark Towers condo association; and other volunteer activities at
English-in-Action, NYC and Seattle. Volunteered in Seattle at Senior Services; Seattle Art Museum; Asian
Counseling & Referral Service; Ventures, Inc., and docent at the Holocaust Center for Humanity. Travel
included trips to various states and to Caribbean islands, Europe, the Scandanavian countries, China,
Japan and Israel. Most treasured were the many long term friendships of over 40 years and the newer
ones scattered across the U.S. in Italy and Japan, happily established often over many ethnic and
American meals including Japanese, Chinese, Jewish, Puerto Rican, Southern soul food, Spanish,
Portuguese, Mexican, Southern, California, Indian, Irish, Pakistani, Philippine and other cuisines. She
loved reading mysteries, science fiction, novels non-fiction nurtured early with family members reading
to her as a child; music from jazz to classical and memberships at Benaroya at museums such as NY’s
MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum, Seattle’s SAM and Seattle’s Holocaust Museum. Survived by
nieces Tara Briggs (Rick) and their children, Nicole and Molly, Kim Sasajima (Deborah), Jill (Danny)
Napolitano (and their children, Nicholas and Dominic), and nephew John C. Sasajima (and his children,
Eylie and Max.) Interred with her family in a columbarium in MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Asian Counseling & Referral Service, the Holocaust
Center for Humanity, both in Seattle, The Scholarship and Welfare Fund of the Alumni Assoc. of Hunter
College, the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund or the United Negro College Fund, Inc.