Lynne Morishita

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Morishita, Lynne On April 2, Lynne Morishita said goodbye, in the presence of family and friends, after a 3 year fight against ALS. She was 64. We will always remember the courage and grace with which she faced the failing of her body, and remember the way in which she was able to take joy in her days, even up until the end. We were so fortunate to have her in our lives. Special thanks to her friends and colleagues. Through your calls and visits, through conversations and letters and Facetime, you helped her to remember who she was, and to know that the losses of this disease could not define her. We were amazed at your outpouring of love and support over several years time, and grateful for the meals, massages, readings, movies, laughter which you gave to her and to her family. Thanks to Mary Pat and Donna for everything, to Stan for reading and Paul for dancing, to friends from all of the coasts for visits, to Leslie and her family, to Tom's family. Thanks to Grandma Lois and Grammy Barbara (the dynamic duo), whose small statures hid great energy and big love. Thanks to her nurses Paulina and Iana, who treated her with such affection and expertise, to Dr Evgi Tiryaki and the care team at the ALS clinic at HCMC, and to the ALS Association. Special thanks to Jake, who knew to move back to be with her, and to Ellia, who had the courage to move to Minnesota. Thanks to the Breck and Edina communities, to the lunch ladies and the Thursday group and the soccer parents, and to all of you for your generosity of spirit and loving care for Lynne. Lynne grew up in southern California, a girl scout and song queen, and knew from an early age that she wanted to become a nurse. This career took her to UCLA, to Boston, to Yale, where she became a nurse practitioner. She maintained a passionate and creative interest in this field for her whole life. Tom was fortunate to meet her at Yale, and even though she declined his offer of a cheese sandwich, he persuaded her to move to San Francisco in 1978. There, she developed the nurse practitioner role at the On Lok clinic which became a model for the national PACE program for care of the elderly. In LA, she developed a geriatric day hospital which gained national recognition. She continued this work in Minnesota after moving here in 1992, at the U of M, at Park Nicollet, at Axis disability care, among others. She was gifted in her work as a consultant and in program development for the same reason that she was blessed with so many friends: she had a generous heart, she looked for the best in everyone, and she trusted what life gave to her. But her passion was her family. She was a great supporter and a wise critic for Tom. And she loved Jake, absolutely. She delighted in his presence and in his journey through life. All of her friends know how much his visits, jokes, pictures, and stories always brought forth a smile. Although we have lost her, she will always be cherished and remembered by Tom and Jake Amatruda, by her sister Leslie, and Todd, Hana and Yoko, by nephew Sean, by her mother Lois, by mother-in-law Barbara, by Tom's family: by Kate and Colety, by Chris, Eb and Molly, by Liz and Georgia, by Jim, Lisa and Ted, and by many family and friends. Where will we find Lynne now? Maybe when we think of her, walking briskly around Lake Harriet, lifting a glass of red wine on a Nantucket porch, sitting in her office overlooking the meadow, watching Jake as he explores this world or runs down the soccer field, or when we remember her laughing and talking with a friend. A celebration of Lynne's life is planned for Saturday May 7, 11:00 at the Breck School Chapel, 123 Ottawa Ave N, Golden Valley 55422. Of course, this will be followed by a walk around Lake Harriet. In place of flowers, please consider making a gift in Lynne's name to Planned Parenthood or to the American Refugee Committee.

Published on April 10, 2016