Virginia "Ginny" Ishida

Thanks for the memories, Mom !!

Missing you one year later, Mom. Your smile, kindness, humor and family values. Always in my heart!

Dear Ishida Family,
I was pleased to attend Ginny´s celebration of life yesterday and to hear all the special memories so many had of her. She would have approved of her memorial. I learned a lot more about a very special lady.
Mrs. Ishida was the lunch monitor and recess supervisor during my teaching years at Cipriani during the first generation of the school. She was capable of handling any student behaviors, and all issues were resolved before students returned to the classrooms to learn. I appreciated Mrs. Ishida for always spending time helping students. When Cipriani closed in 1984, I was transferred to Nesbit and Central School needed your mom. She and I didn´t request transfers back to Cipriani when it reopened in 1994.
There were at least 3 occasions when we traveled to Granite Bay for luncheons with other retired Belmont employees, a few from Central School. Ginny would share her life adventures on those road trips. She also enjoyed chatting about her family... she was so proud! We all enjoyed her good cheer and company on those trips.
Danny Chin
Teacher at Cipriani, Nesbit, and Sandpiper Schools

Jude, we will be there. Oh I can´t even begin to recount my memories and experiences with your mom and fam. She pretty much always took off where my mom left off. Always supportive of Chrissie & Clark, my mom & I. She taught me how to eat pickled smelt out of a gallon jar with chop sticks, jeeze! I think I may have only been 6. , helped me sew my 1st dress in 6/7th grade, taught me "cake decorating", (bikini cake for Roger) taco shells are only turned with chopsticks while frying. The list goes on and on. Should have written a book. I learned so much. And she gave me you guys, my sisters. lovingly, Bets.

Ginny Ishida was such a larger-than-life person, I am not sure where to start, so I'll start at the beginning. My time with the Ishida family began in 1962 when Yo Ishida became the manager for the Belmont Tigers Little League team. His son, David, joined the team, as well, a team comprised of a group of friends who went to Cipriani School. As youngsters, sports was everything to us, and I can still recall those baseball games, the bonds we formed. The friends: Dan Hess, Truett Welch, Ed Nickelson, Steve Holmquist (though he played for the rival Braves), and later Bob Shane. As the years went by through junior and senior highs, the bond with the Ishida family grew stronger. They were a central connecting point where we met as friends, always welcome, always up to some new adventure. And what I remember most about Ginny Ishida was her warm, generous and encouraging spirit; yet not afraid to speak words of wisdom into our rambunctious natures of youth. Ginny and Yo were models of grace and kindness. They truly built a legacy in the Cipriani neighborhood, and I know speaking for the names mentioned here, we express our love for Ginny and Yo.

In recent times these same friends have been able to gather and share memories with Ginny, David, Liz and Judy at our sports reunion picnics held at Twin Pines Park in Belmont, the most recent being October 2019. If I remember correctly, Ginny brought her famous fried chicken, chocolate chip cookies, salami and sourdough bread. I think back now to the first of these reunions in May 2010, and something Steve Holmquist said while sitting at a picnic table with Ginny, "Eating salami sandwiches with Mrs. Ishida, does it get any better than this?" Steve's comment speaks for all of us and it reflects how Ginny was so special, and I believe that's because she made others feel so valued.

Virginia "Ginny" Ishida: you will always have a place in our hearts.

I was in fourth grade at Central Grammar School and I inhaled a pen cap because I was sucking on it even though Mrs. Ishida told me to take it out just 2 minutes before. Her quick response to realize I was choking saved my life. An ambulance ride and a week in the hospital fixed me but Mrs Ishida was the one who saved me. I will always remember her smile, generosity and gentleness.

It’s hard to put into words what Mrs. Ishida meant to me. She was the kindest soul with unlimited patience. She was my friend, neighbor, Girl Scout Leader, mentor, and sewing teacher of the highest caliber. She taught me everything I know. It turned into a lifelong career for me and I am forever grateful! To this day I am still teaching her techniques. Mrs. Ishida I miss you already and will always carry a part of you near and dear to my heart! I have loved you to the moon and back!

I will long remember our dumpling lunches that she shared with Sue and I. Ever cheerful, with a welcoming hug, she will be missed.

Ginny was a shining light to those of us lucky to experience time with her and the Ishida family.

One of the sweetest, kindest, and loving persons to have walked this Earth. I’m forever grateful for being part of the family all these years. There is no other gem like Grammie-Yo! Your spirit lives on with your family. We love you and will miss you.

Forever cheerful, happy, fun loving, kind, generous, unconditionally loving, beautiful, strong, uplifting, practical, down to earth, an amazing role model of wife, daughter, sister, mom, caregiver, friend and teacher.
What a blessing to the world and to all of us. Thank you, God and thank you, Mom.

Mrs. Ishida was a loving mother and a wonderful person. It has been an honor to know her these past 60+ years.

If Mrs. Ishida was on yard duty at Cipriani, I don't think anybody would even THINK of breaking the rules, because you wouldn't want to disappoint her. She was just so good and kind. And all of her kids are the same.

Remembering Mrs. Ishida 50+ years ago at Cipriani. May she Rest In Peace.