New York, New York
Loving New York
Kazushige Ito was born in Hiroshima, but he loved New York. "I think he loved New York more than a lot of native New Yorkers," said his wife, Yuko Ito.
Living on the corner of 66th Street and Columbus Avenue, he jogged regularly in Central Park, visited Lincoln Center every weekend and explored the city's French, Italian, Vietnamese and Indian restaurants. Last year, he ran in the New York City Marathon. "He was in heaven," Mrs. Ito said.
In Japan, Mr. Ito used to spend $600 for an opera ticket; a fraction of that got him some of the best seats at the Metropolitan Opera. Last year, he watched more than 20 operas. His favorite was "Aida."
He was training to run in the Philadelphia Marathon. "Last year, it took him four hours and 18 minutes to run the New York City Marathon," Mrs. Ito said. "He wanted to finish in four hours this year. I think he could have done it. It would be Nov. 18, one day before his birthday." He would have been 36.
For Fuji Bank, where Mr. Ito was a planning specialist, the couple had relocated from Yokohama to Tokyo to Manila. They came to New York in 1998. "If this hadn't happened, we would have settled here," Mrs. Ito said. "He loved New York the best."
Mr. Ito was my very first boss when I went to work at Fuji Bank Manila Branch in 1997. He used to hum arias from Aida and even lent me DVDs of some of his favorite operas. I continue to pray for him and the many people we lost that day. Special prayers, to you, too, Mrs. Ito. Keep the love always.
Fean Asprer
September 13, 2011
Hello,Mr.Ito.
I'm same age with you-but now I'm 45,It gives me strange and sad feeling.
When I heard the news of WTC,10 years ago,at first I worried about my collage friend who is working at Fuji-bank,didn't know which branch he was.
You might remember,in our generation,lots of students with good grades wanted to find a job in bank,So,I saw many Japanese name similar age to me,in a list of WTC victims..who were hard working people,and cut off their future middle or less of...
K O
March 29, 2011 | Tokyo
Like Michele Sinclair, who posted below, I also dedicated my 2001 run in the Philly Marathon to Mr. Ito, and hoped to break 4 hours as well. I didn't quite make it - I missed by 3 minutes and 2 seconds. As I crossed the finish line, elated but disappointed, my first thought was "I owe him one." This year I am back in shape and ready for another try. Seven years is not long enough for any of us to forget what happened, nor to forget the friends and loved ones that were lost. This run will be...
Don Bashline
April 04, 2008 | Watertown, MA
Happy Birthday!!!
Doug Abraham
November 19, 2007 | Livonia, MI
In memory....
P Tabbernor
November 15, 2006 | Victoria, BC
As I cross-stitched your name on the memorial that I am doing for all of the victims, I prayed for you and your family. Please know that your death was not in vain. We will always remember. God Bless.
Kristine
November 06, 2006 | Tecumseh, MI
Yuko -
Please know that I think of you often. I am so sorry for your loss.
I love you!
"Sister" Laura
Laura Rush
September 11, 2002 | Santa Ana, CA
Dear Mrs. Ito,
On Wednesday, Sept. 11th at 8:46 a.m., in memory of your husband, Kazushige, I will be singing Mozart's "Requiem" with a chorus from the community of Honolulu. We are participants in a global memorial to the victims of 9/11. The Mozart "Requiem" will be sung at 8:46 A.M. in every time zone beginning in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii. I will be wearing a button with your husband's name and singing in his memory. After I selected your husband's name and researched...
Diane Koshi
September 09, 2002 | Honolulu, HI
Rest in peace..........
Angie Campbell
May 02, 2002 | Denton, TX
