KENNETH MASUMI SHIMOGAWA

Kenneth,

I will always remember you as a Good friend in my otherwise difficult times at Cypress College in the mid-1980s.

I salute you! Rest in Peace.

LTC Stephen Conway and family
United States Army Reserve

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of my friend Kenny shimogawa. At that time, he wanted to be called Kenny. He and I met at Cypress College at the gym about 1983. He was inspired by the movie Valley Girl. He followed the 'new romantic/new wave' styles back in the mid-80s. He was influenced a lot by early Duran Duran and Culture Club . For a while, he sported a waterfall haircut . Hopefully some of you have pictures of him with that cut . You couldn't really see his face because of his long bangs . He and I would go to Old World or to a couple other clubs. We were both into the New Wave Music at the time. He went a Long Beach State and I went to Cal State Fullerton. The last time I saw him, in 1999, he came to see me when I was living up in Victorville. He was showing me how he made this custom jacket with a Klingon symbol. He said his students thought he was cool. Kenneth and I shared some similar things like having a marriage and kids later in life. I did not know until tonight that he passed away. I'm glad that the GoFundMe page was successful. Interesting that Kenneth birthday is only 5 days before mine. My father-in-law is also named Kenneth and his birthday is on the same day as his. I am happy to see that Kenneth let the legacy of very interested in happy students at every school he taught at.
Kenneth always ask me some political questions. Because I was an officer in the Army National Guard, he had some contrarian arguments on politics. I did not know that he was a history major.
I am still in shock over the loss of my friend that I see how his widow has been blogging her grief. The way she describes how Kenneth acted before he hit it off with her was the way I would see him be shy around a female. I'm so glad that Kenneth met the woman of his dreams and conceived three beautiful kids. Kenneth, rest in peace!

Kenneth was a true Renaissance man. He and his wife Teresa are two of my best friends and taught side by side at Cypress High School.

Kenneth's sudden passing sent shock waves through our school as students and colleagues both mourned his passing. He positively affected our lives in so many different ways.

His memory and legacy will live on in his three delightful young children, Ethan, Eloise and Peter.

I miss him daily along with our frequent banters and shared rants.

Thank you Kenneth for being a passionate history and anthropology teacher, promoter of public education, dedicated union brother, extraordinary political campaigner, climate protector and warrior for social justice.