Kazuko’s story began in 1927 in Kyoto Japan. She was the first daughter of 5 children to Kyusen, an artist, and Mitsue, a homemaker. She enjoyed a happy childhood of harvesting vegetables from her mother’s garden and being treated to candies at a candy store across the street in Morioka where her father became famous while teaching art in a local high school. But a fire of the beloved home sent the family back to Kyoto where she obtained an associate degree in English at Doshisha Junior College. Using that skill, she obtained employment with the US military which led her to meet Dean Schwartz whom she married in 1953. As an Army wife she obtained her US citizenship and traveled from St. Petersburg, Florida to Panama Canal Zone, to San Pedro, California, to Tokyo, Japan, to Winters, California, to Eatontown, New Jersey and then back to St. Petersburg at Dean’s retirement. Along the way they had 5 children. But as a busy mom, she found many avenues to share her culture with its emphasis on education, respect and family. She was always the perfect hostess, serving Japanese goodies and drinks as each guest would sit. With the Japanese American Society, she would dress in one of her many beautiful kimonos and write a child’s name in Japanese calligraphy or dance a bon odori at SPIFFS events. She taught others to speak Japanese or translate documents and assisted visiting Japanese dignitaries. She even worked at Epcot’s Mitsukoshi department store for a few years helping guests to purchase kimonos and all its matching accessories. She pursued her love of learning by obtaining an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education in 1990 at St. Petersburg Junior College. As Rheumatoid arthritis began taking its toll on her she endured knee replacements, wrist and shoulder surgeries but bounced back to enjoy traveling with her children and grandchildren to America’s iconic locations, Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Yosemite. Her geology knowledge from SPJC made each rock or landscape more interesting. Her later years brought out her love of art as she colored beautiful pictures at Program for the Acute Care of the Elderly (PACE) with the support of caring staff and doctors. Her story ended but her legacy will live on through her children Sandra Whittington and her husband Michael with their 3 children Nate and his wife, Sarah Whittington (Raelyn and Abigail), Ben and his fiance, Amber Marley (Will), Jessica Whittington (Tommy), Frank Schwartz, Arlene and her husband, Richard Rapisardi with their 2 children Adam and his wife, Jinny Jensen (Marina, Cami, Gabe, Catie and Jackson), David Rapisardi, Carla Pintar with her 2 children Mugen and his wife, Yesenia Pintar (Kenji, Jin, Maiya), Senji Pintar and Andy Schwartz with his 2 children Nick Schwartz and Megan Baptist-Schwartz. She will always be remembered as a loving, kind, and courageous mother who expanded her children’s world through her Japanese heritage.
Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home 7950 131st Street N., Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.
