Ruth Fukuchi passed away peacefully on December 29th, surrounded by her family and close friends. She is survived by her children, Matthew (Joyceline) and Catherine Fukuchi-Wong (John); grandchildren, Lauren, Rex, and Vanessa; and many relatives. She was predeceased by her husband, Tak Fukuchi; parents, Tsutaye and Nobuko (Okubo) Sato and her sister, Grace Sawasaki.
Ruth was born in San Diego on August 2, 1934. During WWII, her family was unjustly incarcerated by the US Government at Poston III Internment Camp in Arizona. After the war, the family returned to San Diego. Having skipped a year and a half grades and graduating from San Diego High School at 16 years old, Ruth received a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Microbiology. She met Tak Fukuchi on a blind date in Berkeley California and they married in 1956. They were long-time residents of El Cerrito and Kensington, California.
Ruth had a 30+ year career as a Microbiologist at the Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory at the State Health Lab in Berkeley and later in Richmond, California. Ruth was a talented artist, exceptional scholar, and a trailblazer. Ruth’s college degree and a long-time career was a positive example of what women could achieve for generations that came after her. She also found time to do double-duty as a mom, serving lunches as the “hot dog lady” for her kids’ school.
Fiercely independent, Ruth had many interests and passions. She was a swimmer at the El Cerrito Swim Center, enjoyed the opera and symphony, traveled the world, and earnestly participated in retail therapy with her work buddies and friends. She chronicled everything with her trusty camera. She tagged along on Tak’s golf travels and enjoyed watching her grandkids’ activities. Most recently, she was an active member of two East Bay ukulele groups: the Sentimental Strummers, and the J-Sei Ukulele Performance Group. She will be missed by her family, friends, lab buddies, and the community she built over her 90 years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608.
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