“At 5:04 p.m. on October 17, 1989, the 6.9M Loma Prieta Earthquake shook our building at 1550 Sutter St. I was leaving the building to go to the parking. You guessed it; I turned around to go back to our office. Volunteer and paid staff jumped in to help.”

Q. What are some of your earliest memories of your Red Cross work?

A. There were so many Red Cross services and programs! In addition to learning to do Red Cross basic emergency casework to support service members and their families, we also did the casework part of Disaster Operations. Pete Ashen, then Disaster Director, took me with him to the AFEES (Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station) to serve coffee and donuts from Bob’s Donuts on Polk Street, San Francisco and share Red Cross contact information for family emergencies with those entering military service. These are examples of cooperation between two lines of service.

One story I heard a lot about was when Pete and volunteer Abbie McGreevy, RN led, with many volunteers worked on the San Francisco Red Cross part of receiving and caring for Vietnamese babies and children during the April 1975 Operation Babylift. Many of the children were very sick. The Babylift was a mass evacuation by the U.S. of children (not all were orphans) from South Vietnam. Pete talked about the Airlift operation and receiving and taking care of the children at the Presidio of San Francisco. It was a massive and multi-country operation. 

More

“My father passed away last year and was part of the U.S, Army’s highly decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team composed primarily of Japanese Americans during World War II. My mother is also Japanese American and was interned at Heart Mountain Internment Center during World War II. Family and our Japanese culture are important to us.”

Q. What is one of your most memorable experiences at the American Red Cross?

A. I assume many would mention a disaster assignment, saving a life or some major project but for me it’s a million small things like teaching someone first aid, helping serve meals at a shelter, donating blood, recruiting volunteers and donors, and helping Red Cross staff and volunteers work together. It’s the million small things that give me and others a smile and pride when remembering our Red Cross years.

Q. You have an extremely interesting life as seen on Facebook. What can you tell our readers about your hobbies?

A. When I was working at the Red Cross, most did not know that I was an avid seashell collector. I started out collecting shells off the beach at age 3 and did my first seashell display and show in elementary school. My collection did not really take off seriously until my retirement. I currently buy, sell and trade specimen shells from around the world (but mostly buy), and go shelling whenever I can get close to the ocean.

More