Mr. Kimura, our longtime gardener retired today at the age of 81. We will miss him very much, because his outstanding gardening skills aside, he was a warm and caring man.
When Mr. Kimura became a gardener 55 years ago, at least in the Los Angeles area, Japanese gardeners were common, for they came in search of opportunity, little of which seemingly existed in World War ll ravaged Japan.
Mr. Kimura turned 8 years old shortly after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and he was 11 1/2 years old when the war ended.
A conservative man, Mr. Kimura and his late wife bought a new home in 1965, and now 50 years later, that is where Mr. Kimura continues to live alone today.
He has two sons, both in their early 50's, neither of which live near him, and neither son has children.
In addition to his stature as a gardener, Mr. Kimura was long a world class koi enthusiast, but in recent years, he gave his koi collection to others.
For Mr. Kimura has begun having extensive health issues, that have become so painful and exhausting, that sometimes he has to rest in his truck while his assistants, Mario and Salvadore do the work.
Standing about 5 feet tall and weighing perhaps 110 pounds, but still climbing ladders to trim plants even this week, Mr. Kimura had no plans to retire, saying he would have nothing to do all day but sit around his home.
But when we spoke two days ago, feeling pain throughout the right side of his body, he did that, and plans to work on his own home landscaping, along with taking an occasional trip.
Mario will take over the business, and it is Mario and his wife Nancy, who live near Mr. Kimura, who Mr. Kimura calls upon when he has health issues.
We've known Mr. Kimura since 1987, and he and his staff did the gardening at our Via La Cuesta home, until we sold that home in 2001 and moved away from the immediate area.
As soon as we bought our current home in 2010, we hired Mr. Kimura. He in turn invited us to visit him at his home, an honor to receive such an invitation in Japanese culture, and I happily did.
His home and his yards were immaculate.
It's always hard to say goodbye to people we become close to, and love and respect.
But that time has come with Mr. Kimura, as it does for all of us in life and while we will miss him, we will remember his many kind acts, his humility and the warmth of his personality.
Dick
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