In Memory of Mark Nishio(1992 - 2016)

individual picture
Name
Mark Nishio
Birth Date
August 22, 1992
Ascension Date
June 22, 2016  
Local Church
UC Columbus

Following is a testimony by Following is a testimony by Mark's father, Hiroyoshi Nishio.

Mark Nishio was born at home during the hot and muggy summer of ‘92 in St. Louis, MO with a midwife and Unificationist prayer champion Earlice Wrice in attendance. He is the fourth child and third son of Hiroyoshi & Susan Nishio. His family moved to Indianapolis, IN in first grade, having previously been in Atlanta, GA and Detroit, MI. He taught himself drawing, winning recognition in a city-wide competition. He moved to Columbus, OH where he was homeschooled awhile and attended Dublin Coffman high school. His first job was a cook at a diner while attending the community college.

An avid cyclist, Mark’s his first long distance ride was between Indianapolis, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio with his two brothers when he was 20 years old. It was getting dark on the unlit two-lane highway they were riding as they reached the outskirts of Columbus. Technically they had reached their goal, but it was still 45 minutes from home by car. Mark would not be robbed of his goal and was long gone when his older and wiser brothers were picked up: home—sorta. Mark rode on alone to finish the journey.

Last year he had a serious motor cycle accident which took more than three months to recover from and to start back at the bicycle shop he managed. This year he started to study in college again following in his older brother’s footsteps to be a mechanical engineer. This last Sunday was Father’s day and I visited his apartment and had such an enjoyable time. He showed me how he did his sit ups and pushups in his physical conditioning class, and corrected my push up form. He always gave me a hug when we greeted each other and said, “I love you” when we parted. The night before the accident, he came to our home and my wife, Mark, and I sat at the dining table for several hours while he worked on his math homework. Before he left we called his older brother in Canada and wished him “Happy Birthday”. The boys chatted a bit and Mark headed home. We held up the phone so that his older brother could hear the roar of his Harley Davidson as Mark drove away. He lived a life that my daughter said was, “like a ball that always returned, through difficult times or accidents; he always came back and kept going forward, showing his love and kindness to others.” I am really proud to have him as my son and appreciated discovering that love and beauty can be so profound. His life and personality did not fit into a normal box. His spirit went to the spiritual world where I cannot reach him in this physical dimension but he planted the seed of love and kindness in all of us. Although I miss him greatly I hope you can cherish his seed of love and kindness and live well.

Seonghwa Ceremony

Time
12:00 PM (EST)
Date
June 26, 2016
Location
UC Columbus Church, 4303 Indianola Ave., Columbus, OH
Viewing
The prayer vigil will be held in place of a viewing.

Comments (30)

  • Laura Taylor Hayashi

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    I am sorry I never met him. He light will shine on. Bless us to remember it, and nurture it even now. Prayers for you all, that the love of God and True Parents can comfort you. I am sure they are together now, and watching over us.

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  • Ernst J. Spari

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    Speechless
    I say some words,
    God`s ways
    are always misterious
    in man`s eys
    often hurts
    the heart is the place
    where eternal love
    will remain
    forever.
    The tears
    we cannot hide
    we say good bye
    for a while
    though with a smile
    reunion
    drawn
    by hearts of love
    forever.

    what a wonderful smile your son left to us. Take care… Greetings from Germany.

    Reply

  • The Ochoa's

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    Mark, we send our love and pray that the transition to your eternal home be one that you can use all your amazing talents to bring victory.

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  • Helen Downey

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    Very sorry to hear of your loss.

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  • Dawn Bacchus-Horan

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    May heavenly Parents and True Parents guide courageous mark to a smooth loving transition to his final resting place.
    Aju’

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  • Jean Gomis

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    Please accept our deepest sympathy.

    Reply

  • Carol

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    It saddens the heart every time a very good soul passes on to the SW. It feels such a waste for a wonderful person to bid earthly life too soon. But, God has plans for each one of us and how it affects others. Praying for Mark and his family! May God’s blessings and love bring forth comfort.

    Reply

  • Randy and kumiko Francis

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    What a beautiful testimonial and loving free spirit. Thank you for sharing him with us all.

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  • Anna-Maria Nordhagen

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    God’s speed be with Him !

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  • Bénédicte suzuki

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    So sad to hear such a young man going so soon to spiritual world!
    We connect with the parent’s heart deep sorrow and send our most comforting love to both of you and Mark’s siblings.
    I am sure that in spiritual world he will do great!!!
    How lucky boy to be with True Father’s team with other second gen who have already passed into the heavenly army of True Father, working hard to change the so complicated spiritual world! He can moove with more speed than harley davidson.
    América has lost 2 second generation boys in a short time.
    I feel so much compassion and feel that we never know when we have to go to spiritual world and it is the same with our children. Only Heavenly Parents know the complicated knots of restauration of history.
    Hidéo and i and our boys send you all our love and pray and think about you during those time of mourning.
    The Suzuki family from France

    Reply

  • Martin Stephan

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    Dear Hiroyoshi & Susan
    I am really sorry about your loss. I know it is difficult to loose somebody so close.
    But I know and you know life will go on and we will see each other some day.
    Please take care

    Reply

  • paolo montesarchio

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    I am very sorry to hear this. I was with Susan Nishio in the 1983 I.O.W.C and I just saw in her the real spirit of the Amricans,and her bright spirit I believe is in her son who can help if needed the Providence in America. Thank you Susan and for your son dedication.

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  • Susana Pearson

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    As difficult as such event is, I wish for the gathering of your family in love and acceptance of life. May heavenly parents keep you and embrace you.

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  • Lee Nishio

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    His brother’s speech at the Seung Hwa ceremony

    The funny thing about living is that no matter how hard you try you will always lose in the end. That is to say that no matter how hard you try to escape it, death will eventually catch up with you. I think that, that was one of those things that Marko understood more than anyone I know. He always seemed to be living his dreams and passions. Sometimes I would look at what he was doing and just shake my head wondering when he would ever grow up and become a responsible adult, but that was never him.
     
    Marko was an eternal child in his own way and never ceased to be a source of inspiration to me once I got over the initial shock of what shenanigans he was up to. I remember when he rode home on his first brakeless fixie. We all were so concerned that he would get himself killed doing that especially since he refused to wear a helmet because it wasn’t cool enough. Sure he had his run ins with a few walls and couple of cars but he kept riding and inspired the other Nishios to join the that crazy fixie hipster movement.
     
    Then he spent a summer traveling all across America, something I have always wanted to do but never found the time to do. Traveling is expensive and he didn’t have the money but he found a way through  hopping trains and rummaging through dumpsters. Not sure I would want to live that way but I always envied the freedom that Mark always seemed to have. A freedom that emanated from him like the glow from a lamp. If he wanted to do something he would find a way to do it and that was one of his most inspiring traits.
     
    Then when he got older he decided that he wanted to ride motorcycles and introduced us all to the exciting possibilities of motorized two wheeled transport. If you knew Mark you would know that he never settled for half or the safest bet. Mark didn’t start on a 250cc like most normal people would. No he had to start with a 1200cc cruiser with pipes you could hear coming from 4 blocks away. That was my Marko and he never bothered to wear a helmet. We all told him he was a little crazy and darn near drove our mother insane worrying about him and his motorcycle. Yet it filled me with pride also: I would hear those pipes and think, that’s my bro out there chasing his dreams no matter the cost.
     
    When he finally decided that he needed something a little more than a bike or a motorcycle he got his first car. Naturally he didn’t skimp there either, he went straight for what he wanted. A Cadillac with gold trim and a custom ostrich leather interior. What was even more impressive was it had butterfly doors, hydraulics and one hell of a sound system to match. I’ve gotta say it was  the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. I remember riding in the passenger seat down Main St. through the Short North with the car leaning like it was about to fall over at any point and him hitting the hydraulics at a stop light to make the car bounce. Maybe it was a little stupid to buy a car you can’t drive over 60 but he loved that car and I was proud of him in that moment that he had the courage to follow his dreams even if they didn’t make a lot of sense to anyone else.
     
    You know I was lucky enough to talk to Mark the day before he died. Marko was at home working with my dad on some Calculus homework since he had set his sights on being an Engineer. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me that he decided that he wanted to be an engineer also. There are not many more times I have been more proud of him than when he said that, that was what he was going to do. We talked about school and relationships but mostly that new Harley and all the modifications he had been planning for it. Harley is one of the most iconic motorcycle companies out there and no other bike would have fit Mark’s personality quite as well. I remember as I was just about to end the call mom brought the phone out so I could hear Marko riding off into the night with that odd sound that Harley’s make so well. In my imagination I could see Marko with that funny expression he makes when he is really happy gunning it down the road and I thought, man, that kid is going places.

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  • Lorna Galvan

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    We are praying for all of the Nishio family. May God and True Parents be with you all, always. ?

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  • Dora Rocha

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    Querida familia que os Pais Celestiais conforte seus corações, a voce Mark siga o caminho lindo que o espera agora Deus o ama muito e o quer por perto, seja muito feliz, abraços da familia Rocha

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  • Claudete Kambara

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    Great testimonies ,I am sorry to have missed the Seunghwa on Sunday.I send my love to the Nishio Family.

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  • Rebecca Rosado

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    After hearing the message his brother gave about his life, I picture him in the spirit world swapping stories with Hyo Jin Nim about their adventuresome lives on earth. I have a feeling that he’ll have a special mission in the spirit world that only he can fulfill… One that takes courage and a strong determination. Peace and blessings to you Marko, as you journey to your eternal home and the same to your family as they adjust to life without your physical presence.

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  • Susan Herrman

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    Sending love and hugs to Susan and all precious members of your family–condolences and more love…

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  • Marguerite Felig

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    Dear Hiroyoshi and Susan,
    I feel through your testimony, that you and those who were his family and friends were blessed to know Marko, and that as his parents you gave him such deep love. I wish our family lived close enough (we’re in Billings, MT) to visit you from time-to-time. It would have been a joy to meet him, see you both again and spend some time together. I believe that all friends are eternal, and I’m sending you and Marko my prayers, now that your dear son and brother is on a journey in transition to the spirit world. May your relationship and our Heavenly Parent give you deep comfort and peace always. Love, Marguerite

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  • Amy Cuhel-Schuckers

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    My condolences to the Nishio family. As Unificationists we know about the spiritual world and where we all are going when we pass, but that doesn’t take away the very real human sadness and sense of loss that the person we love will not cross our threshold again in this life. Much love to you all as you walk the path forward with one son in the spiritual world. Thinking of you…

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  • Kiyoko Bowman

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    Dear hiroyoshi and susan i jusy met susan last month i never expected this happen.i lost my daugher 3 years ago. i still think about her everyday.i have been pray everyday.peace come to you love kiyoko

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  • EJ Rapada

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    Dearest Susan,

    I know it must be hard sending a child to his final destination but always remember that True Parents went the same road of pain and love. Bless your heart. Although i never met Mark but he seems to be a person who is living the life he chose for himself and that makes him happy. I guess we should learn from him. Putting aside our hesitations and just trying our best to live the most every single chasing our dreams. Then i believe, it is a life worth spent. God bless you and our sincerest sympathy.

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  • Kathryn Davis

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    Dear Hiroyoshi and Susan and siblings: My prayers and hope is with you! Mark’s beautiful and tender heart shines from his spirit through his face. What an amazing photo and thank you for sharing it. Our children are precious to God who has waited through a long history for the first to be born directly from Him. Imagine that and “know” that your son is “embraced and loved tenderly,” in the world which we all go as our final destination, by our good, good Heavenly Parent and our True Parents.

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  • Grace Davin

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    I’m glad we could get to know Mark through these testimonies. What a great guy! God bless the Nishio Family!

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  • Kehaulani Haydon

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    Sending love and prayers to the Nishio family. My heart goes out to all of you.

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  • Edner Pierre-Louis

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    What can I say to you, Susan and your hubbie, Hiroyoshi? I came to know the both of you over the years, we worked together, and just recently I met you, Susan, at UTS. What can be said to Parents who lose their children at the blossoming of their young life? I don’t exactly know, but I pray that some kind of peace from above comes to embrace you, the entire family at this tragic loss. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Blessing!

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  • Mitch Dixon

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    Hi Mark,
    I never met you, but I have such fond memories of your mother and father. Hiroyoshi and I were shipping partners sending Il Hwa Ginseng to America in 1978. He is a hard worker. Susan is so friendly and nice. I imagine you have qualities of both. God bless you.

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  • Carlos Manzanares

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    I’m thinking about you today Marko. Thanks for being my friend and making me feel accepted and welcome when I was younger. It was fun the times we hung out. I thought you were funny and your sense of humor always made me laugh too lol. I hope you’re resting easy buddy.

    Reply

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