In Memory of Tetsuo Tomeda(1950 - 2016)
- Name
- Tetsuo Tomeda
- Spouse
- Kazuko Tomeda
- Children
- Kazuki, Kenji, Kozo, Chinam
- Birth Date
- February 23, 1950
- Blessing Date
- February 8, 1975
- Ascension Date
- September 9, 2016
- Local Church
- Kodiak Family Church
Tetsuo Tomeda joined the Unification movement in 1970 at the early age of 20. Before that, he had joined the communist movement, but left disappointed because of the many flaws in communism. He was walking one day when he heard a Unificationist sister giving a lecture on the four position foundation on a street corner and was instantly hooked. He signed up for the two-day workshop on the spot.
Tetsuo was Blessed in marriage to Kazuko in 1975 in Seoul as part of the 1800 couple Marriage Blessing Ceremony. He worked on various missions in Japan before being asked to come to the USA in 1985 as a caretaker for Sho-Fu-Den, a property in upstate New York. There, he worked on restoring the main buildings and taking care of the grounds.
True Parents visited Sho-Fu-Den several times. On the first visit, True Father saw some deer and asked Testuo what he did with them. Testuo said he fed them apples, and True Father, in response, told him that the deer should be hunted. Years later, many of True Parents’ children would visit Sho-Fu-Den for hunting deer and bears, especially Hyo Jin Moon, who loved to hunt with a bow and arrow. When the Tetsuo’s last son was born in 1989, True Father visited just few days after the birth and gave name him the name Chinam.
In 2012, he was asked to move to Kodiak to take care of fixing up the church-owned property in Chiniak, about 40 minutes outside of Kodiak. In that area, the roads could be closed for days at a time during the winter and electric outages were a common occurrence. This would have been a difficult job for most, let alone for a couple in their 60s, but Tetsuo accepted the job without any hesitation and spent years taking care of the ground and fixing the buildings.
Tetsuo was a humble and quiet person, believing that everyday small acts such as morning Hoon Dok Hwe (scripture reading) and prayers were the foundation for a healthy life of faith. Even when he faced the most difficult situations, he always accepted them with the understanding that everything was part of his life of faith.
He is survived by his wife, four sons, and three grandchildren.
- Time
- 10:30 (AKDT)
- Date
- Thursday, September 15, 2016
- Location
- Kodiak Funeral Chapel: 303 Erskine Kodiak, AK 99615
John Hitchler
| #
Tetsuo Tomeda – I did not know you, never met you until this moment when I read about you and saw your picture. While I was staring at your picture I could see in your eyes that you were a special brother. When I see your picture, I think “yesterday” you lived, you breathed the air of space, you walked the steps of time, you were productive in your own small way. I see a man of true character, of compassionate nature. Tetsuo Tomeda, I wish I could of had an opportunity to have meet you, but I did not – Life in this plane will miss you, miss your energy, miss your personality …. God Bless You my dear brother! Be well Written with love and respect ….. john
Reply
Mark Johnson
| #
I was so surprised and saddened by hearing this news. I knew Tomeda-San when he lived in Ossining and worked at HRI and his wife worked at iZone Group. There are many good qualities with this man, but the thing I remember most about him was his huge sense of humor, and how he made me laugh, he was a joyful person, as well as man of faith and love. He always choose the humble and simple life, and was very good at working with his hands, something that I admired very much. I hope we can support his very sweet wife and his four sons and grandchildren. Thank you Tomeda-San for all that you gave on this earth. We will all see you sometime in the future. God Bless You! Mark Johnson
Reply
Eiko Matsunaga
| #
I was so saddened by his ascension. I met Testuo san while I was working for iZone Group. He was responsible for maintaining Ossining office iZone shared with HRI. One day he knocked a door of lady’s room and asked if he could come in. He said he was told to do some repair in the lady’s room but was not sure what the problem was. He asked me to flush toilet to see if water was running O.K. and when he saw me pressing lever with my foot, he was so shocked and momentarily speechless. He told me that I should use my hand to press lever because I was mistreating them with such disrespect. He could not believe that a Japanese person would commit such outrageous act. So I explained to him that it was not disrespectful act. I was protecting myself from contacting with germs. But I can tell he was not buying my excuses. Couple weeks later, we bumped into each other and he told me that he has seen many people flush toilet exactly the way I did. And he apologized to me for not believing in me. Then he started talking about his experiences with Father, his wife and children and we had really good time. Back then, I was raising two children in foreign country without anybody’s support. I was facing unbelievable (it seemed) challenges & hardships every day. But while I was talking to Tetsuo san, I felt like I was lifted from battle field and transcended into Garden of Eden. Because his world was filled with peace, hope and unshakable faith to God & T.P. That was the only time we met but I will never forget you, Testuo san….. See you when I get there and let’s have another good talk. Eiko Matsunaga
Reply
Tom Corley
| #
God Bless you Tetsuo, a hardworking and loving man who honored God and family.
Reply
Danny Covone
| #
I Remember when is sell organic salad, carrot and others staff my members the going after Sunday Service at Belvedere. Is was very big hart and love brother. Many God blessing we see you one day.
Reply
Danny Covone
| #
I remember him at Belvedere because after Sunday service it sell organic ,salad been and others products the cost was so small because want help the members .Is heart was so big most the is same member do not have so much money it will take what the have. I will missing is big heart.
Reply
Greg
| #
I did not know him, but I knew one of his sons. He was in a group I had at camp sunrise one summer. Very faithful and pure hearted young man. Not surprised when o see his dad’s testimony. God speed brother.
Reply
Jim Stinard
| #
I worked with Mr. Tomeda when he was employed with HRI and UV Sales in Ossining, NY. He and his family lived next door to us for many years. He was a loving, cheerful, and hardworking man. On numerous occasions he helped and advised me regarding my car and he and his boys would always be the first to start shoveling out the snow in our shared driveway. He will be missed, but his legacy of kindheartedness and service lives on through his family and through all of us whose lives he touched. Thank you Mr. Tomeda.
Reply
Alberto
| #
I worked with your son Kazuki Tomeda under UPF–International HQ in NY. He is a strong member and I know he is a reflection of you love. Well done Mr. Tomeda, RIP.
Reply
Jean Gomis
| #
R.I.P Tetsuo. My deepest sympathy to your Family.
Reply