ROBERT NEFF

ROBERT C NEFF Robert C Neff, 77, died peacefully at his home in Hayama, Japan, following a lengthy illness. His spouse, best friend, comrade and partner in numerous adventures, Fumiko Sekizawa Neff, survives him. Having lived his early years in St. Louis and Independence, he embarked on a journey that shaped his life when his missionary parents moved the family to Japan in 1960. Following graduation from The American School in Japan ('65), his higher education prepared him for a wide variety of opportunities. A respected journalist, editor, and author, he lived and traveled all over the world with Fumiko. They sought out local accommodations, food and beverage and befriended many people from all walks of life along the way. Neff-san was a mainstay at The Foreign Correspondents' Club in Tokyo for many years. He and Fumiko visited dozens of Japanese hot springs and enjoyed their cottage in Tuscany. His fluent command of Japanese, storytelling prowess, and lifelong connections to friends are noteworthy. He is predeceased by his parents, Frances (Dillon) and Charles Neff and younger brother John. His two sisters, Nancy and Susan, survive him as do his nephew Tyler and nieces Caitlin and Sarah and their children. In addition he is survived by Fumiko's three siblings, three nephews, and their children. The family pays special tribute to Fumiko who never wavered in her care and support of Bob.