Obituary

A Posthumous Tribute by Romi Kashiwara

My dear Vic peacefully departed us on September 26th, 2024, at the Penticton Regional Hospital, following nearly seven years of living well with I.P.F. (idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) and bronchiectasis. 

Who was he to me, anyway? I’ll tell you that he was my dear friend of some 17 years (me-yikes, that makes me over 84 years—84 in cat years!)  He always treated me with dignity, love, and caring, and in turn, I trusted, respected, and adored him.

Now, what can I tell you about his spectacular life? Aside from his passion for fitness, cars, baseball/fast pitch, softball, golf, fishing, and spoiling me, what may truly help you to know Vic best was his favourite quote: “The function of a man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” Jack London, American novelist,(‘ The Call of the Wild’)

How did Vic live by these words?  

– Walked to the beat of his own drum; unafraid to try new interests, professions, and tastefully change his fashion and appearance as suited him 

– Did not judge individuals based on appearance, backgrounds, or beliefs…only by their treatment of others

– Liked most individuals, detested society who line the coffers of the ludicrously rich and stroke the ravenous egos of the power-hungry; then there’s humanity which he saw  as a mindless, voracious blight bent on consuming our planet

– Won an intense physical and physiological battle to restore much of his mental faculties after surviving a Subarachnoid Hemorrhage from a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2011; Traces of the damage affected him still

– Loved to research and gain knowledge; learning was a lifelong endeavour

– Strove to achieve ‘Goodness’ –  to think outside himself, to cherish children as pure spirits, admire the elderly for their life’s experience, and make his immediate world a happier place to live in every day

– Found wonderment and inspiration in nature for its unbound magnificence, splendour, and harshness; often contemplated the elemental power of sunshine, clouds, rain/snow, wind, the oceans, and the lands

– Took nothing for granted and found contentment in the simplest of entitlements  

– Practiced the art of smiling every day by focusing on the pleasant and joyful

Vic is predeceased by his memorable mother, Michiko. He is survived by his prodigious and savvy son, Quinn, his intelligent and lovely daughter, Katy, Best Dad Ever, Harley, his amazing sister, Helga, and several talented cousins and uncles. 

A very special Cheers! to his drinking, baseball, golf, fishing buddies, and karaoke family.

So, this is farewell. In his wisdom, Vic sent me ahead to the great Kitty-Litterbox-in-the-Sky, where I’ll be waiting to greet him and begin our next grand adventure together. 

Me-yowzah!