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Susan Kobayashi Obituary
January 16, 1964 - January 31, 2023
Susan Mariko Kobayashi's dance of more than a decade with metastatic breast cancer has come to an end. Loving mother, loving wife. Born in Honolulu, she was a lifer at the Punahou School and went on to Brown University getting a BS in Electrical Engineering and UC Berkeley where she received an MBA and an MA in Asian Studies. She was a successful hedge fund manager at several firms in the San Francisco Bay Area, but her passion was community service, dance, and yoga:
Susan was a board member and campaign fund manager for her children's preschool, Nihonmachi Little Friends. She helped secure the Julia Morgan-designed 1830 Sutter for the preschool that had been held in trust by the YWCA, and she helped raise funds for the addition at the same site that would consolidate the preschool's two campuses.
She served on the boards of the Japan Society of Northern California and the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California. She also served on the board of originally San Francisco-based RAWdance.
Susan was a lifelong dancer most recently as part of ODC Dance Commons. She was a longtime student of Manouso Manos in the tradition of Iyengar Yoga.
She is survived by husband Chuck Han, daughter Mina, son Dylan, parents Ann and Paul Kobayashi, and brothers Mark and Dale.
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for Susan Kobayashi
Sponsored by Tulip Cremation- California.
Yvonne Kobashi
June 26, 2023
I still hold you and your loved ones in my prayers.
Yvonne Kobayashi
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Pam Sadberry
February 8, 2023
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kathryn Langstaff
February 8, 2023
Dear Chuck and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Susan was a delight and a bright light. I know she is a bright star. May she continue to shine light upon you now.
Much love,
Kathryn Langstaff
Amy Sehnert
February 6, 2023
Saddened by this news and sending healing thoughts to Chuck, Dylan and Mina on your loss. Susan will always be remembered by us for her welcoming and inclusive coaching of the co-Ed PSG soccer team during our earliest days at FAIS. Those were fun times with gatherings and cheering from the sidelines. She had such a warm smile and will be remembered fondly. Amy Sehnert and Paul Wolters
Alex Mcclure
February 6, 2023
Sending you and your family my love and condolences. Susan was an incredible person and I feel honored to have known her, danced with her, and volunteered with her. I will miss her
John Bratton
February 6, 2023
So sorry for you and the kids, Chuck. Such a terrible loss. Prayers headed skyward for you.
Ever true,
Bert
Christopher Browne
February 6, 2023
Sending deepest condolences to Chuck and the kids. A very brave fight. Her spirit will be missed.
Winston
February 6, 2023
I am so sorry to hear of Susan's passing. I served on the Board of Nihonmachi Little Friends back in the 1990s, and I remember with relish how the Board fought for the rights of the community to claim the YWCA building for the generations of forthcoming Japanese and Asian Americans. Susan was a brilliant yet humble leader who had deep roots in J-Town. I admired her intellect and grounded determination and passion. She loved all the children of Nihonmachi, and made sure that the culture and legacy of J-town would never be lost. Rest in peach Susan and thank you for all your commitment and leadership: Winston Wong, MD
Rochelle Kopp
February 5, 2023
Steve Matsuura had the inspired idea of pairing Susan (who I didn´t know before that) and myself to co-head the Japan Society of Northern California's Program Committee, at a time when the programming at the Society needed to be reinvigorated. It was great working with her and getting to know her. She had terrific judgement in everything, lots of wonderful ideas, a strong commitment to the Society´s goals, and great senses of both perspective and humor. All of these made her the ideal person to collaborate with, and thanks to her dedication we were able to build a foundation that was then taken up by the Society´s new leadership that was coming in just as she stepped down. I learned a lot from working with her and it was a lot of fun too. I also admire how she lived life with gusto over the past five years even as she was battling cancer.
Prisca
February 3, 2023
Friendly, warm , lovely person, I will miss you
Cynthia Jones
February 3, 2023
I met Susan many years ago when her son and my daughter were in the same grade at FAIS. Our paths then later crossed at Rhythm and Motion, and over the years we would periodically catch up on the "kids", and life. Susan was always warm, open, and just a delight. The world is a sadder place without her.
David Lassman
February 2, 2023
I´m sad to see this...
I did Susan´s hair for many years.
When ever she came into the salon she brought her smile, her positive energy and her fun banter with her.
Her memories will stay with me for a long time
Leo Chu
February 2, 2023
I met Susan for coffee in 2014 when I was working at Symphony Asset. She helped to introduce me to more people in the same field and share with me her experience at work. Very nice personality and a very happy lady. Nice to know her.
Lin Chase
February 2, 2023
Sending love and peace. My heart is with you all.
Ce Ce Chin
February 1, 2023
Knew Susan through Wendy and Leigh Sata, and Cheryl and Dan Halabe. She was wonderful and will be missed.
Dilshoda Yergasheva
February 1, 2023
I met Susan almost a decade ago at work. She was on stage, in her element, presenting on the latest finance strategy that she has been. A leader of. I was smitten right away as a young woman, learning the ropes of a male dominated industry. I found her after the session told her how impressed I was and asked her to be my mentor. She was such a giving person, and despite being really busy starting a new fund, she took me under her wing, shared, sage, advice, and soon enough I was working with her and her team. Susan was a star, one of a kind person not only was she incredibly smart and sharp, but she was endlessly kind and caring. I remember admiring that, despite being a very busy person at work she found time to engage with many other interests and hobbies outside of work. She studied French, she went to dance and gave it her all, and she always regardless of how stressful I could get, had a smile on her face, and what is a stress absorber lifting her colleagues up. When Susan got sick, she remained true to herself. She was driven to figure out how to manage the disease and navigate complex healthcare systems with a smile on her face, and a very positive attitude. during the past decade I spent many dance classes with her, had lunch, talked about life, and learned persistence resilience, kindness, and positivity from my beloved friend, and mentor. She impacted my life a lot. I feel so lucky to have met her and to have shared time with her. I will miss her to the moon and back rest in peace my dear Susan you meant the world to me!!
Kate Machi
February 1, 2023
I am full of sorrow and memories and unbounded sympathy for Susan's family.
Susan and I bonded 20 years ago during a FAIS field trip when our four-year-old sons were running wild at the SF Bay Aquarium. We became immediate friends, sharing many loves-- motherhood, holistic health, literature, and DANCE -- as well as our experiences with cancer, and our struggles with the French language. We shared dance, music, and film soirees, walks in GG Park, celebrations with our growing children, massage therapy sessions, and long, frank, honest, and often hilarious conversations. She teased me about driving like a grandma in my clunky station wagon; how I loved riding in her white Porsche, which she drove like a pro. Always super generous, Susan was the staunchest supporter of my writing when I finally broke into it; she read everything critically and connected me to anyone she thought could further my career.
Susan was brilliant, kind, accomplished, humble, funny, generous, and very beautiful. I will miss her always and will never forget her wonderful laugh. Rest in the peace and abundance of the universe, dear friend.
Timothy Ome
February 1, 2023
I met Susan in 1993 at Lehman Brothers in New York City. She was brand new in the firm and I a seasoned Vice President. There were very few people of color then and she knew of me and reached out. In that first meeting I learned that she was from Hawaii, a Punahou alum. We quickly became friends and I took her under my wings. She followed me to Japan where I met her visiting mother Anne Kobayashi. Over the years our careers and relationships evolved and I last remember meeting with Susan at the Manoa shopping center. Susan was extremely bright and a joy to be with. She asked me then if she could help me and I replied give back as I did to her. Susan leaves a lasting legacy that many are unable to replicate.
Jennifer Portnick
January 31, 2023
I met Susan years ago at Rhythm and Motion and I adored her from the start. She was funny, smart, a great dancer, and beautiful. We had so many laughs together in and outside of dance class, I´m left with oodles of happy memories of her though I haven´t seen her in person in over seven years. My beloved friend, you will always be with me and I love you so much. With love, Jennifer Portnick
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