Robert "Bobby" Suzuki

I met Bob when I was 10-years-old; he was the parent of my friend and classmate Jane Suzuki. Initially, he remained in the background where most parents of 10-year-old friends remain. However, I was soon struck by Bob's incredible ability to tell stories and funny jokes...the laughter (mine and everyone else's within hearing distance) is what I remember the most. Secondly, Bob was a very kind soul; his gentle nature made a big impression on me as a kid...the rest of my friend's parents remained in the background, but not Bob. And Bob will always hold a special place in my heart (right next to Millie). I will never forget them.

My first memory of Bob was when he was about seven or eight years old in West Los Angeles. Bob lived next door to my mother's good friend, Ruth Monma, who was also my piano teacher. One day when piano lessons were over, my sister and and I were outside of Mrs. Monma's house when a little boy came over with a box of games. He asked us if we wanted to play with him, and we couldn't resist this boy's smile and twinkling eyes. We got to know him on those afternoons after lessons and were sad when Mrs. Monma moved away and we couldn't see Bob any more. Years later when I lived in Chicago I met Bob and Koko and we became fast friends. Even though Bob seemed familiar, it wasn't until he told me he lived in West L.A. and after some "do you know" questions, I found out he was that little boy who lived next door to Mrs. Monma. I just know that his friendly smile and twinkling eyes made him unforgettable to me and everyone else who had the good fortune to know him
Lyn "Lil" Takeshita Moy

He was always going the extra mile to make us laugh. He was no doubt my favoritist uncle. I felt as though I had two sets of parents. My mom and dad and my auntie Koko and uncle Bob. How very very lucky I was. I remember the 3 roses hair pomade he used in his early years. He took the time to take my brother and I to the park to fly kites, go fishing, roller skating and camping. I was about 7 or 8 years old and went on a special vacation with my aunt and uncle, before they had Jane. We went to Mackinaw Island and Unlce Bobby helped me not be seasick on the car ferry. He taught me how to tell time and he taught me how not to be afraid of parakeets and he protected me when I was a young child and neighbor children taunted me about being Asian. He took the time to go over to the kids and talk to them rather than yell back at them. And....he was the ultimate jokester, very rascally. He kidded me about my first date He loved to embarrass me and pretend to not speak English in public. He was the ultimate in making his eyes cross. He loved life and made sure he had fun and his laugh was so infectious. He was a wonderful storyteller, whether about his life growing up in west Los Angeles in a pretty rough neighborhood to recent stories of his fishing trips. He was a loving, generous, caring person. He was loving to my parents and I am filled with joy and pride for the gifts of love and rich memories he gave me and I miss him deeply. He was a dear friend to my father. They bowled, played cards, golfed and played baseball together. Thank you Uncle Bobby. Love, Shary-bo