Rumi Marie Rice

It is with deep love and reverence that we honor the life of Rumi Rice, who passed away peacefully on August 8, 2026, at the age of 95. A longtime resident of Carlsbad, California, she spent years cultivating beauty, fostering deep community connections, and sharing a profound, lifelong passion for Ikebana—the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement.

Rumi was born in Okinawa, Japan. She met her husband while working for the Japanese government. They married in Okinawa and enjoyed a happy life together. After her husband’s retirement, they moved to the United States and settled in Carlsbad, where they lived for over 60 years.

Rumi began teaching Ikebana in 1970, touching many lives and inspiring countless people through her love of Ikebana. She earned the degree of Riji, the highest level of accomplishment for a teacher in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana.

Rumi founded the Keiri Study Group, a local Sogetsu Ikebana school and study group in Carlsbad devoted to education, creativity, and friendship through flowers. She received formal Sensei and Master designations to lead the group and guide its students. Sogetsu is a modern school of Ikebana that honors tradition while encouraging individual expression, freer forms, and the use of varied materials. Through Keiri, she shared this creative approach with students of all levels, teaching them to look at nature with artistic freedom, harmony, and balance. She offered classes, exhibitions, and programs while welcoming students into her home and forming many lifelong friendships.

She was well known throughout San Diego County for her classes, demonstrations, and educational presentations on the art of Ikebana. Among the many places and organizations where she taught, demonstrated, and exhibited her work were San Diego Oasis, the San Diego Floral Association, the Japanese American Community Center, Casa del Prado, local garden clubs, women’s organizations, the annual Mum Festival at the Wild Animal Park of San Diego, the San Diego Museum of Art, and Ikebana International, San Diego Chapter. In later years, she continued to demonstrate for the San Diego Ikebana community through public programs at Balboa Park, where she shared Sogetsu freestyle arrangements and encouraged student participation. Through this work, Rumi brought the beauty of Japanese Ikebana to the Carlsbad and San Diego communities and inspired generations of students. Her contributions were recognized through honors and proclamations from local and Japanese cultural leaders, including recognition from the Wild Animal Park of San Diego, the mayor of Carlsbad, and Mr. Shigeru Inoue, Consul General of Japan. She was also awarded the Keiroshosho Award, an honor reserved for senior masters who have successfully preserved traditional arts across generations.

The family would like to thank those who cared for and supported her through the years, including her Keiri Study Group friends, Kumiko of Kaiser Hospice, La Marea Assisted Living, and her caregivers, Monica and Rosa. She touched many people and will be dearly missed. Rumi taught us that, like a beautifully balanced Ikebana arrangement, a life well lived requires space, intention, harmony, and a deep appreciation for the world around us. She was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed and forever remembered.

A private Catholic Mass and celebration will be held at a later date. For anyone wishing to donate in her memory, please consider the following or a charity of your choice:

La Marea Assisted Living- Attention Staff Fund c/o Ann Robinson

5592 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008

St. Patrick’s Church

3821 Adams St., Carlsbad, CA 92008

Ikebana International San Diego

4674 Isleta Ave., San Diego, CA 92117