Robert Yoshimitsu Fuchigami

Bob was the youngest son born to Tokuye and Heita Fuchigami on May 15, 1930, in Marysville, California. He joined his elder brothers, George, Bill, Walter and Torao “Tosh” working on the family fruit and vegetable farm. He also had three sisters: Mary, Nobuko and Kazuko. In Spring of 1942, his family of ten were forcibly moved to the incarceration camp Amache, located in southeastern Colorado, where he would spend the next three years. This injustice weighed heavily on him, and he would work tirelessly for the remainder of his life to ensure the preservation and lessons of this history would not be forgotten. “Never Again” was his motto and how he signed his books. His input was crucial in helping to make the Amache Historic Act legislation into reality. Too young to serve with his brothers in the United States Military during WWII, Bob enlisted with the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and served from 1950 -1954. Bob valued education, which equaled freedom to him. He completed a B.A. in Education at San Jose State University followed by a M.A. in Special Education, also at San Jose State University. Bob received a fellowship and was able to continue his studies at the University of Illinois with an Ed.D. in Special Education in 1964. It was in Illinois that he met Sally, his beloved wife of 58 years. They married in 1962 and their first child, Kathleen, was born soon after. Bob began his career in higher education as an Assistant to Associate Professor with the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Hawaii. There, he initiated and developed a degree program to train teachers in the new field of Special Education. Bob followed up as an Associate Professor in Special Education at the University of Oregon. A second daughter, Ellen, arrived just prior to Bob accepting a position as Coordinator and Professor for the Special Education Program at Sonoma State University. After becoming Dean of Graduate Studies, Bob would move on to become the Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction, Director of Special Education of the State of California in 1985. His final professional years were back at Sonoma State University, and he retired as Professor Emeritus in 1992. He and Sally became both domestic and global travelers, visiting some of the world's most beautiful places in the decades following retirement. They settled in Kittredge, Colorado to be closer to grandchildren in 2005. Bob was an inspiration to everyone he met, from the campers he welcomed to Camp Unalayee in the Trinity Alps, Northern California, his longtime friends the “Elams” in the Bay Area, his Boy Scout Troop from Greeley, Colorado, all his students, and everyone fortunate enough to cross his path during his almost 95 years. His devotion to education and unwavering optimism were legendary. He will be greatly missed by the remaining family, especially grandchildren Alex, Jared and Sejal.