Early Sakayama Years in the US 1950-1982
Pages to this website: The Early Years, The War Years in Japan, Early Years in the US, Later Years in the US, Obituary.
After arriving in the US (voyage was made by boat) near San Diego California, Bill and Mary drove east to live in Boston while Bill attended college on the GI Bill, receiving his business degree from Boston University. Mary's 3rd son, Eddy, was born in Boston in 1952.
Bill landed a job with US Steel Corp. in New York City so the family moved to an apartment in Astoria, Queens. Alan, Mary's 4th son was born in New York in 1956.
In 1958, the family moved to a brand new house in the suburbs of New Jersey. Here, in a development called Somerset Hills, just outside South Bound Brook, Mary set down roots in the neighborhood, making many friends, teaching piano, being a Den Mother, volunteering at the hospital, and living the good suburban life. One important milestone: In 1974, when she was 54, Mary earned a BA Degree from Alma White College.
This first page covers the years from 1950 to 1969. Page two covers the years from 1970-1983.
Continuation to page 2 of the Early Sakayama Years in the US
1950 Ohio Mary, Bill, Bobby, and Larry
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1951 Mary with Bobby and Larry
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1952 The Sakayama now have three boys. Ed with Bobby and Larry
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1953 Queens NY Mary, Bill, Bobby, Larry, and Ed
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1954 Somerset Hills development, Somerset NJ
Remember- before there were clothes dryers everyone hung their laundry outside. |
1954 A road trip to Ohio. Bill, Mary, Bobby, Larry, and Ed
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1956 Alan, the fourth brother arrives.
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1956 The Sakayamas moved from Boston where Bill received
his bachelor's degree from Boston University, to Astoria, Queens in NY. |
Sitting along the river park in Astoria, Queens with baby, Alan, Nettie & Kitty Kaan.
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1957 Easter The entire Sakayama family
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1958 The Sakayamas left Queens, NY and moved into a brand new development called
Somerset Hills in Somerset, NJ. Alan in his fire engine truck in front of their new home at 60 Marcy Street |
1958 Mother's Day with little Alan.
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1958 Playing cards with her boys Somerset, NJ.
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1959 Easter Bill and Mary
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1959 Easter The four Sakayama brothers.
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About 1959 The back yard above-the-ground pool
and the back yard grill and chef. |
1960 Mary was a Cub Scout den mother. Larry as a cub scout and Bobbie as a boy scout.
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1960 Mary receiving a corsage at a Cub Scout event.
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1960 The Sakayamas were written up in the local paper
regarding the Boy Scout activities of her two older boys. |
During the 1960s - Without Mary's devotion to making her photo albums,
this site wouldn't have been possible. |
1960 Henry and Margit visiting 60 Marcy St Somerset NJ.
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1961 Bob showing his brothers his rocket which he is about to launch. This is a favorite picture of Mary's
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1961 Dr Yuasa with Mary, Larry, Ed, and Alan in front of the house at 60 Marcy Street, Somerset, NJ
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1962 Dot and Bill Sterling with Bill and Mary
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Mid 1960's A family portrait
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1963 The Sakayamas spent time on Block Island.
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In the 1960's Mary in front of their car . Somerset NJ
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Mid 1960's Mary with her four boys, Ed, Bob, Alan, Larry
left to right |
1964 Getting ready for the annual picnic
for the Japanese import company, Otagiri, where Bill now worked. |
1965 60 Marcy Street home with the trees planted years earlier were now maturing.
Compare to the 1958 picture with Alan in his toy truck. |
1965 Mary's brother, Aki, visiting from Japan where he chose to live after the war.
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1965 Emi Yamashiro and Mary. Emi was Bill's niece.
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1965 Mary with a neighbor, Dottie.
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1965 Mary's oldest son, Bob graduates from high school.
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1965 Mary takes a stop in Hawaii on her trip to Japan.
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1965 Mary with relatives, and parents on a trip to Japan.
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1965 Mary's parents
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1965 Mary visits Bill's mother and relatives on her trip to Japan.
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1965 Mary visiting the Asakusa district in Tokyo.
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1965 Mary working on an afghan quilt for Larry. Meiko, Aki's wife helps.
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1966 Mary volunteered at St Peter's Hospital for a number of years.
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1966 Mary with 80 hand puppets she had made for the children at St Peter's Hospital
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1966 St Peter's Hospital Mary and another volunteer are holding hand puppets that Mary made.
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1968 Not sure what the occasion, but Mary with the author, James Michner.
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1968 Not sure what the occasion, but Mary with the author, Pearl S. Buck.
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1969 Wedding of oldest son, Bob to Lynne Raymond. Bob graduated from Brown University the following day.
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In Memoriam for Mary Ishio Sakayama 1920 - 2011