Remembering Mahito
In Memory of Mahito Shirako
Mahito came into my life over a dozen years ago when he was a freshman at CSUMB. He became involved with Otter Days as a student facilitator and he took courses in the Outdoor Recreation program where he got certified to SCUBA dive. He also took courses I taught in Wilderness Leadership.
He was tall, slender and wore a goofy grin much of the time. He was endlessly energetic, curious, optimistic, kind, caring and generous.
He was “an outdoorsman’s outdoorsman” and had a great love of Nature and adventure. He was 1 of only 2 people I knew who actually enjoyed hiking in pouring rain hunting wild mushrooms.
Mahito also had a great sense of humor. He loved to tell stories too, and if the story was funny then all the better. Usually I knew when he was going to tell a funny story because he’d laugh to himself a little at first and then often start off by saying; “You wouldn’t believe what Bryan did…”
It was my pleasure to have been not only a teacher of Mahito’s but also his friend. Over the years I watched him transform from a slightly goofy teenager who knew the world was his oyster into a much less goofy adult who knew the world was not just his oyster, but his abalone, venison, crab, crawdads and anything else edible too.
At CSUMB Mahito found his home, his community and the life he wanted and so enjoyed living.
It’s hard to believe that just a short while ago he was sitting on the couch in my living room laughing and telling stories. And now he’s gone.
Just as no parent wishes their child to precede them in leaving this world no teacher wants this of a student either. He left us much too soon. But he left us with a message.
The message is that life is precious. That none of us know how long we’ll live. And to make everyday an adventure. What good is it to have lived 100 years if you never left the couch and TV? Mahito knew the secret to a good life, which is to live fully making every day count, and that he did.
I’m honored to say that I was his friend.
– Robert Alexander
my family and i would like to send our deepest condolences to mahito’s family we are so sorry for your loss at this difficult time. we hope this brings the family so comfort during this time. please let anne know we are thinking of her during this time and that we miss her. you are in our prayers anne. we are so sorry about mahito. he was a wonderful person in many ways. mahito was always a pleasure to talk to on face book. our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time. the davison family
laura davison - November 24th, 2010 at 3:35 am