Mary Ishio Sakayama Obituary

Pages to this website: The Early Years, The War Years in Japan, Early Years in the US, Later Years in the US, Obituary.

Mary Sakayama, age 91, formerly of Florham Park, passed away peacefully at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, NJ on Wednesday July 20, 2011.  She was predeceased by her husband William Sakayama and survived by her 4 sons, Bob, Larry, Ed, and Alan, and their families. 

Mary was born Mariko Ishio in Tacoma, Washington on July 13, 1920.  She was the first child of Ken and Shigee Ishio followed by her brother, Aki, in 1925.  At an early age, the piano became an important part of her life.  Growing up in Tacoma, she played at church and community functions, high school musical productions, and for her high school graduation. 

After graduating from high school in 1938, Mary and her family returned to Japan.   They settled in Nakano-ku on the outskirts of Tokyo where she studied music and eventually became a kindergarten teacher.

After WWII Mary worked for the American Consulate in Tokyo, where she met Bill Sakayama, who was a translator for the US Army.   They were married at the beginning of 1947.  Their first son, Bob, was born in December of 1947 and their second, Larry, in 1949.

In 1950 Bill and Mary returned to the US to live in Boston while Bill attended college on the GI Bill, receiving his business degree from Boston University. Their 3rd son, Eddy, was born 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, their 4th son was born in New York in 1956.

In 1958, the family moved to a development called Somerset Hills, just outside South Bound Brook, NJ. Here Mary taught piano, was a Den Mother, and volunteered at the hospital. In 1974, when she was 54, Mary earned a BA Degree from Alma White College.

To be closer to Bill’s work, Bill and Mary moved to Florham Park, NJ in 1972 where they became active members of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship.  Mary was a regular vendor at the Fellowship’s annual craft fair where she sold handmade greeting cards, baskets, cloth bags, and numerous other items.

In 1979 Mary's second son Larry married Sally Leonard. Mary became step-grandma to Jay, Matt, and Kara.  More grandchildren followed: Zebe (1983), Emi (1984), Rue (1984) and Juli (1988).

Mary and Bill traveled to Mexico and Canada as well as several trips to her home town of Tacoma for various reunions.  It was in Florham Park that Mary became an avid Yankees fan.

In 1976, Bill and Mary moved into the retirement community, Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, NJ where she became an active participant in musical activities, and volunteered in the Fellowship Village store where she sold her hand made greeting cards.

Mary became step-great-grandma to Brandon, Austin, Nicholas, Savannah, and Rylee.

After Bill passed in 1997, Mary continued to live independently for many years, enjoying her grandchildren, and activities and friends at Fellowship Village. 

Mary passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 20, 2011. 

She will be remembered for her kind nature, musical talents, and crafts. 

No public service will be held. 

Those wishing to honor her life can make a donation to their favorite charity in her name.