Marjorie Yoshiko Tsukamoto
March 4, 1937 – Nov. 1, 2022
TSUKAMOTO, MARJORIE “MARGIE” YOSHIKO was born on March 4, 1937 to Bunji and Toki Ikenoue in San Francisco, California. She passed away peacefully on November 1, 2022.
Margie spent most of her early years in San Jose, until in 1942 when she was put in an internment camp along with 120,000 other Japanese American citizens. In 1945 she moved to San Francisco where she attended Benjamin Franklin Middle School and George Washington High School, graduating in 1956. She went on to attend San Francisco State University, where she majored in early education with plans to fulfill her long-held dream of being a teacher.
Margie would go on to teach third grade at Golden Gate Elementary School for five years, and Alamo Elementary School for the next 33 years, until her retirement at age 62. She loved watching young children grow in their relationships with each other and discover the potential they possessed within themselves.
As a young girl, Margie joined the youth group at Pine United Methodist Church in San Francisco where she forged strong bonds of friendship that would last a lifetime. She spoke fondly of joining Girl Scouts and the youth basketball club with some of her very best friends.
Margie met the love of her life, John “Butch” Tsukamoto, at Pine Church where they later married on October 6, 1963. They made their home in San Francisco and enjoyed many years traveling the world together. Their adventures began with a trip to Mexico City in 1968 where they visited Cuernavaca, the pyramids and the magnificent Museum of Anthropology. They would later embark on a 30-day bus tour of Europe, and set sail on cruise ships at ports-of-call including Norway, Sweden, Gibraltar, Italy, Spain and France. They also made multiple visits to Hawaii, Korea, and Japan, where they spent time with family and friends. During the trip to Japan, they brought Marge’s father’s ashes to his son in Kagoshima. Two cruises to Alaska capped their love of travel.
When she wasn’t travelling, Margie remained active at Pine Church serving many years in leadership positions.
She also volunteered for the Kimochi Lunch Program, played Mahjong once a week, was a faithful patron for the Civic Light Opera and regularly attended rehearsals of the San Francisco Symphony. But, one of the things she loved most was playing poker with her family and friends.
Kind, caring, and generous beyond measure, she was a loving wife, sister, cousin, best friend and auntie. Loved and cherished deeply, Margie will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband, John; brother Kaoru; nephew Ken; many dear cousins; and her friends who were more like family.
Donations may be made to Pine United Methodist Church or charity of choice
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