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David Fumio SUNAHARA

1944 - 2022

David Fumio SUNAHARA obituary, 1944-2022, Toronto, ON

BORN

1944

DIED

2022

David SUNAHARA Obituary

DAVID FUMIO SUNAHARA 1944 - 2022 Husband, Friend, Teacher, Gardener, Sociologist, Volunteer, Chef, Glass Artist. David left us peacefully on November 16, 2022 after a good life characterized by much love, humour, travel, study, adventure, banter, friendship, creativity, and intellectual rigour. Born to the late Tamotsu and Marion (Hoshino) Sunahara in Slocan, BC; and raised with siblings, Setsuko Joane, Reginald, and Michiko Jane Eddington in London, ON; David attended the London Teachers' College; taught primary school in St. Thomas, ON; sky-dived 200 times; volunteered with CUSO in Sarawak, Malaysia, where he met his future wife, Ann (Gomer); and travelled through Asia and Europe. Back in Canada, he married Ann and encouraged her work on Japanese Canadian history while he studied at Western (BA MA) and UofA (PhD). Policing management, especially First Nations Policing, was the focus of his professional life. Privately, his gardening, his many community activities, his dinner parties and his glass butchering rounded out his world. He will be greatly missed by Ann and both their families, friends and neighbours. He did not want a funeral, so we will gather in the spring when his garden is in bloom to celebrate his life. In his honour, please donate generously to your local Food Bank or to the charity that he most respected: Médecins sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders.

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Published by The Globe and Mail from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for David SUNAHARA

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7 Entries

Cassandra Kobayashi

February 8, 2023

To Ann and family, and all those fortunate to enjoy David's company - My belated condolences. I just read of David's death. This wonderful notice sketched a satisfying life journey, wide interests and connections with many people. I have no idea what glass butchering is, but am happy that this little inside joke is there for those who know. So sorry to you all for your loss.

Donna Read

January 11, 2023

So sorry to earn of David´s passing Ann. You will miss him a lot. When/if you´re up to it could you get in touch?
Donna Read (law school classmate)

Jim Creechan

January 6, 2023

I am so sad to have learned about David´s passing. I am happy to learn that he lived a full and happy life with many interests and accomplishments. My sincerest condolences to Ann and his family.

Tonita Murray

December 8, 2022

Please accept my condolences on David's passing. It is sad that he has left this world so soon. I can attest to all the wonderful characteristics you mention in his obituary, and a few more besides. Apart from everything else, he was a great conversationalist. I remember a lot of our chats when we were both at the Canadian Police College. As I prepared to go off to Afghanistan, he told me a number of stories of his travels in that country in the 1960s. One was about riding on the top of packages strapped to the roof of a bus as it drove through the Khyber Pass. Now having seen those over-stuffed and unsteady buses and travelled some of that route myself, I marvel at his courage and tenacity - the tenacious part having as much to do with how he managed to hang on without falling into a precipice as with his determination to continue doing challenging things. You will miss such an lively and endearing life companion Ann, but I am sure he has left you many rich memories.

Toni Murray

Nora Nishikawa

November 29, 2022

To Ann and family
So sorry to hear of David´s passing. The two of you purposely strived for social justice with heart and integrity. I thank you for your dedicated support to many communities. Take care

Sachiko Okuda

November 27, 2022

My deepest sympathies to Ann. David was instrumental in the development of taiko drumming in Ottawa. Bravo for a life well lived.

Bun Ip, CUSO, East Malaysia ( Simmangang,1969-71)

November 27, 2022

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results

Memorial Events
for David SUNAHARA

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