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Stanley Pranin Obituary
July 24, 1945 -
March 7, 2017
Stanley passed peacefully on March 7, 2017 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada with his loving family by his side. Stanley was predeceased by his parents John and Lois Pranin and by his younger brother William (Billy) Pranin. Stan is survived by his loving wife Yoshiko and their two children Johnny (26) and Jeanette (22).
Stan was born July 24, 1945. Born and raised in San Pedro, he attended Cabrillo Avenue Elementary, Dana Jr. High School and San Pedro High School where he graduated in the class of Winter, 1963 as the Co-Valedictorian. Stan received his B.A. degree in Languages from UCLA and attended U.C. Berkeley where he worked on both his Master's and Doctorate degree. During the Vietnam era, Stan joined the U. S. Army as an enlisted man rather than as an officer because he wanted to utilize his language skills. Stanley was fluent in Spanish, French, Italian and Japanese. In the U. S. Army, Stan taught language skills to our American Diplomats serving overseas. He also worked in the intelligence field in Ethiopia because of his fluency in Italian.
After serving in the U. S. Army for 3 years and after his work on his doctorate degree at U.C. Berkley, Stan moved to Japan where he initially worked as a technical translator and interpreter for several Japanese engineering companies. He stayed for 20 years, studying Aikido under the founder of Aikido's prize student, Morihiro Saito Sensei, and earning his 5th dan black belt in Aikido, which takes 6 years to complete. As his passion for Aikido grew, he worked preserving the history of the martial art. He located and preserved multiple videos of the founder of Aikido and its early practitioners. He interviewed and recorded the history of Aikido from important teachers of Aikido and Daito-Ryu (school). He became the most knowledgeable expert on the art of Aikido in the world. Stan published "Aikido Journal", a worldwide magazine on the art of Aikido. Stan travelled the world teaching and lecturing on Aikido and its history and bringing Aikido Masters to practitioners all over the world, including Europe and South America. Without his tireless work, much of the history would have been lost.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at The Harbor Church, 25401 S. Western Avenue, Lomita, CA 90717. He will be missed by his family and friends and the Aikido practitioners throughout the world. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Stanley Pranin
Sponsored by Daily Breeze.
Heydon Buchanan
March 30, 2019
I knew Stan in the Army in 1969-70. We were in the Army Security Agency, and our paths crossed at Goodfellow AFB in Texas. I had been in the Army for 3 years at that point and had spent a year in Thailand. He had made a trip to Japan before entering the Army and was gushing with enthusiasm about it. The most noticeable characteristic about Stan was his positive attitude and a "can-do" approach. We planned a trip to Mardi Gras for Feb. 1970. He didn't have the money for the trip at that point, but he assured me "Where there's a way, there's a way." He took a night job and soon had the necessary amount. We went and had a great time. I finished my Army time a few months later. I knew he was going to devote his life to Aikido. I thought about him and other fellow soldiers later on. I served with a lot of good people. RIP Stan.
Carlos Alfonzo
September 16, 2018
unforgettable sensei from Buenos Aires, Argentina
September 14, 2018
I just learned about Mr. Pranin's passing. My name is Michael (Mick) Lovett. I studied with Mr. Pranin for four years at the University of Santa Cruz, California--back when the "dojo" was held on the dirty and funky mats in the below level wrestling rooms then on campus. Previously, I was a student of Mel Stuart at the Mission Rebels dojo in San Francisco. I joined the Santa Cruz group with Stan along with Frank Doran, Robert Nadeau, Greg Brodsky and Bob Frager in 1972. Among other things, he took it upon himself to give me a good number of private training sessions--all I needed to do was to clean the wrestling mats--a Herculean task on the level of the Augean stables.
My best to the family of Stan Pranin.
Mick Lovett
May 27, 2017
Thank you very much Stan, for a lifetime of dedication, intelligence, serenity, kindness... serving Aikido and Budo !!! My heart goes out in prayer that a new chapter starts to be written by you, at the Heavenly dojos !!! Domo arigato gozaimashita Pranin sensei!!! My heart reaches out for your family as well...
Carlos Alfonzo
May 15, 2017
Rest in peace and thanks for your contribution to the aikidos world
Carel Zappeij
April 26, 2017
This humble condolence. I had the honour to meet Mr Pranin only once in Paris during a visit of Saito Sensei. He was very kind to me and accessible.
His books and videos are among the most important to me for a right understanding of my Aikido practice.
May he rest in peace.
Carel Zappeij
Amsterdam The Netherlands
Catherine and Atsushi Mimuro
March 30, 2017
Rest in peace Stanley. Thank you for all of your great contributions to the World aikido community. Many practitioners greatly appreciated your tireless research.
Rest in Peace Sensei Pranin
Dr. Carl Totton
March 17, 2017
Sensei Stanley Pranin:
A Poem
The rising sun opens the door
For open hearts to find their core
Sensei Stan was always in the zone
May his love for Aikido guide him home
By Dr. Carl Totton
Director: Taoist Institute
May the Tao be with you my old friend
Love
Mark Maki
March 17, 2017
Stanley... so many good thoughts come back to me when I saw his name.
Stan was my best friend during my years at Cabrillo Avenue Elementary School. We were in Cub Scouts together. His mom, Lois, was our Den Mother.
Stan and I spent many an hour together working on our trading card and stamp collections. We also enjoyed being young together, spending summers enjoying baseball and doing all
the goofy things 8-11 year old San Pedro boys did back then. Maybe Crawdad fishing at Averill Park? YMCA? Boys Club? Halloween Dress Up parade at school? I think Stan kept me in line for our Polio Immunization shot at Cabrillo Avenue's Auditorium.
We remained friends through high school, but our paths had
diverged by then, yet he always remained my dear friend.
As I read his obituary, I was amazed at his accomplished, worldly
life.
I am fortunate to have known and enjoyed the company of Stanley. I'm sure I'm a better person for the experience.
Cathy Camp
March 17, 2017
Yoshiko, Johnny and Jeanette - I was so sorry to hear about Stan's passing. You might recall "Speed" and Lois were my godparents. Of course in my world that meant Stan was my godbrother! Being the oldest, he was held in high esteem. (Not to mention he was tall, dark and handsome; athletic and smart!) We were so blessed to have had all the Pranin's in our lives but, Stan always held and still holds a special place in my heart.
With much love, Cathy (Johnson) Camp
March 16, 2017
Rest in peace Terry & Mary Haller
Linda Haller Welch
March 15, 2017
My cousin Stan was a very special part of our family who will be greatly missed.
Devon CURLEY
March 14, 2017
RIP Pranin Sensei, it was a great privilege to have been able to attend and practice with you at one of your seminars. My condolences to the family.
Jerry Romano
March 14, 2017
I was very sad to hear of Stan's passing. We became friends as eleven year olds in Little League. Our friendship remained thru high school and beyond. He was a brilliant student, a good athlete, and a kind and decent person. He will be greatly missed.
Aviv Goldsmith
March 14, 2017
Peace be with Stan Sensei's spirit and condolences to the family.
Zhenliang Ling
March 13, 2017
Mankind's role is to fulfil his heaven-sent purpose through a sincere heart that is in harmony with all creation and loves all things.
Morihei Ueshiba
RIP Sensei Stanley Pranin ... Thank you for the invaluable contributions to the Aikido world.
John Zorotovich
March 13, 2017
My memory of Stan goes back over 55 years ago. I had just joined the tennis team at San Pedro High School where Stan was the king of players. I wasn't very good and Stan helped me quite a bit. He noticed I was holding my racquet incorrectly and showed me the proper way to hold it. From that moment my tennis game greatly improved. A nice person, Stan was. Bon Voyage, Stan...
March 13, 2017
We are so sorry to hear of Stan's passing. The three of us Johnson kids will always remember the swim parties at the house on Jaybrook and the wonderful friendship of our parents. Stan was the quiet older brother, always having some interesting activity he was involved in....I remember most the martial arts phase. I will be out of town on Saturday but will be there in spirit. We send our sympathy and love to the family, may he rest in peace. Chris Johnson, Caren Johnson Brownlie and Cathy Johnson Camp
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