Sachi Tsutsumi Hayward

October 30, 1926 - August 23, 2023

Sachi has passed. She was in my life for over 60 years as a gentle guiding light of kindness. She impressed me with her indomitable spirit, her impish ways when she was determined to get her way, and her loving heart. I will miss our visits. She was so very dear to me.

Sachi and me circa 1964-65

As a 5 to 7 year old Sachi babysat me in her wonderful home on Rhode Island St. on Potereo Hill in San Francisco. You would walk through a tall dark gate into a magical lush green garden with a beautiful fish pond filled with Koi. The house was built as a single story that jutted out over the side of the hill. I remember the tile floors and the way it was open all the way to the back so you could enjoy the view. As you stepped into the house  from the garden you came to a metal sprial staircase, and down this staircase was Sachi's world. As a child I didn't realize that she rented this space from others. I just knew that the home fit her personality. The house felt very serene and peaceful which was how Sachi was to me.  She was very patient with me which endeared her to me mightly. It is only recently that I learned her patience with me was due to her lack of English and not her gentle manner. OR so she says.  She taught me Oragami and painting, and I always felt a quiet sense of being when I was with her.

Sachi and me early August 2023

Sachi came to California from Japan to go to The San Francisco Art Institute to study Printmaking in the early 1960's.  Here are several of Sachi's incredible aquatint etchings courtesy of her niece Lynn, and some from my archives.

"Blue Vase"

Blue Vase 2

 

"Dry Vase"

 

Tan & Blue Vase

Dry Flowers C

Yellow with Leaf

Sachi with her siblings in Japan

As her niece Lynn says, they are all together now.

Sachi has been preparing for her departure for a long time now, I hope her trip is beautiful. The day she died I saw a group of beautiful egrets fly over the delta and I believe this was Sachi joining her family.