Obituary of Masataka Mizushima

Professor Emeritus Masataka "Seth" Mizushima, 91, passed away peacefully at home on May 28th, 2014. He was surrounded by family including his wife, Yoneko.

Masataka was born to Seizo and Shizuko Mizushima in Tokyo, Japan on March 30, 1923. He grew up as the eldest son of a traditional Japanese family who survived the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the firebombing of Tokyo during World War II. As a university student of the Sciences, Masataka was exempt from the military draft which claimed the lives of many men of his generation. He graduated from Tokyo University (Todai) with a doctorate in Physics.

Masataka fulfilled his dream of coming to the United States when he obtained a research position in 1955. During that same year, he brought his new bride, Yoneko to Boulder, Masataka was a man who pursued his dreams and passions with quiet determination. He settled in beautiful Boulder where he spent countless hours in his research lab and his study at home while he published numerous research papers and wrote several physics books including graduate level physics textbooks. At the same time, he expressed himself in paintings, leather crafts, and wine making. Masataka loved the outdoors. He took his family skiing, camping, ice skating, and driving to see sights nationwide.

Traveling was his great passion. As a visiting professor, Masataka took Yoneko and their five daughters with him overseas for extended trips. They lived in Bucharest, Romania, for a year, and in The Netherlands and Japan for six months each.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Yoneko, daughters Nana Mizushima (Bob Forshay), Naomi Mizushima (Shigenori Shimomura), Nori Mizushima, Nobuko Mizushima Ito (Stan Ito), and Nieret Mizushima (Steve Castleberry) and ten grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Kenji Mizushima in Tokyo, Japan. He is predeceased by his sister, Hatsuko Arii.