Mark Izu
Remembrance of a Gentle Soul
My life partner of 49 years passed away quietly, sweetly on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 6:53 p.m.. Mark had been sick with cancer for more than 2 years, but he kept making music, he kept performing - with me, for us. His final wish was to see our son KK and meet our new grandbaby girl. We flew to Boston where KK and Geena live and he met precious baby Lucy.
Mission accomplished!
Mark always did like to get through his "to do" list. We flew back to San Francisco on Christmas Eve. Two weeks later, he died peacefully in his sleep.
The outpouring of love from so many of you comforts my aching heart. Thank you.
My beloved Mark,
You were fiercely loyal, loved your friends and family passionately and wouldn’t say a mean word against a soul - even when someone did you wrong. You loved to wear silly animal slippers in our flat and drink out of tiny coffee cups, your favorite one was made by our niece, Ten.
You were a wonderful father. When KK was a baby, you told me to watch KK’s little toes and if they started to wiggle KK needed us. You said babies can’t talk, but they tell you in other ways and crying is their last resort. I think that’s why KK has always been so confident.
You would never take the last bite; you'd always leave one mouthful on the plate. I found that exasperating. Since I’m mestiza, I didn’t know that in Japanese tradition, it’s considered inconsiderate to take the last bite. Leaving a little food on your plate is an offering to the kami, shows consideration for those who don’t have enough and shows the cook you appreciate the effort they put into the meal. That is so you, my dearest Mark - you never explained, you just did.
You were my bass player quietly holding it down - rock steady. I used to tell you that sometimes I felt like a helium balloon soaring away into the sky, but when I got scared, I could count on you to hold onto my string.
Once, when I was bogged down in the existential blues, swirling in uncertainty, I asked you what was the point of our work anyway and you said simply “to uncover the Light.” That has been my mantra ever since.
You were always there beside me - within calling distance, hugging distance. Every morning you'd wake up and make me coffee and I’d tell you, you made the best coffee in San Francisco because it was.
Every night we fell asleep holding hands.
The last words you said to me were, “I love you.”
This is my promise to you: your music, your wisdom, your spirit, your art and what we created together will live on "uncovering the Light."
I love you, Mark Izu.
Thank you All for your love and support,
Brenda, KK (and Mark in Spirit)
Mark’s Celebration of Life
Donations to Mark’s Farewell Fund will go directly toward covering the costs of his end-of-life care, funeral/burial expenses, and Mark’s Celebration of Life event (memorial service).
Memories of Mark
Please share your memories and photos of Mark. Your contributions will help us create a lasting tribute to him and a memory book for Lucy.
