Kenji Kitagawa

Kitagawa, Kenji, born July 31, 1958 in Kansas City, Missouri to Dr. Holly Kitagawa and his wife Nobie, passed away Monday, October 24, 2011. The oldest of 6 children, Kenji demonstrated a true love of the arts. During his childhood and his teenage years, art played a central role as he would turn a simple set of Popsicle sticks into a golden treasure box, macrame plant holders to decorate the house, sculpture snow into a happily dancing Snoopy with Woodstock by his side, and craft Lego blocks into giant passenger jets. As a young man, his tastes became more sophisticated when he began to experiment with stained glass, pastels, plaster, origami and pottery. He loved to garden, but he finally found his passion in cooking, preparing delicate souffles in high school. Thankgsgivings and New Year's day were always Kenji's time to shine as his family delighted in his culinary skills.
An avid cyclist, he found solitude on the highway. He logged hundreds of miles as he participated in such events as Pedal the Peaks in New Mexico, and the Triple By-Pass in Colorado.
Kenji graduated from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985. He settled in Denver where he practiced family medicine with his father. Eventually Kenji quit his practice to become an educator when he started a Kumon learning center for children.
Kenji combined his love of cooking and compassion for the sick as he volunteered for project Angel Heart.
Kenji lives on in the hearts of his family, parents Dr. Holly and Nobie Kitagawa, wife Jean (Edwina) Kitagawa, son Koji Kitagawa, siblings Dr. Lisa Lewis (Randy), Jill Tancioco (Rafael), Dr. Benji Kitagawa (Antonette), Miko Kitagawa (Skip), and Dr. Genji Kitagawa (Becky), aunt May Mizokami (Tom), cousins Dr. Ray Nagashima (Anne), Danny Nagashima, Paul Nagashima (Juli) Michele Bodenheimer (Stan), and Ronald Fox. He was preceded in death by aunts Sr. Bernadetta and Jenny Tomoi (Edwin).
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 29 11 am at the Denver Art Museum. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Project Angel Heart, 4190 Garfield St, Denver, Co 80216.