(From left) Tamao Tanaka, Tim Tanaka and Norico Tanaka-Wada are presented a plaque in honor of their parents, Sumiko and Tomoyasu Tanaka. Their plaque – one of which was presented to the family and another that will be displayed in Tanaka Hall – included a watercolor painting of cherry blossoms that was created by Ohio University Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit. Norico Tanaka-Wada noted that the family requested that their plaque highlight their parents’ contribution to the OHIO-Chubu University relationship as reflected through the cherry blossom. “The wonderful thing about the cherry blossoms is that their beauty is fleeting,” said Norico Tanaka-Wada. “So only one week of the whole year is their beauty able to be appreciated, but now we have these beautiful pictures of the cherry blossoms that students can enjoy all year long.” Photo by Jasmine Beaubien
Members of the Bobcat family cheered on Aug. 29 as Ohio University leadership joined representatives of the namesakes of OHIO’s newest facilities in a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of a $110 million project that has brought four new residence halls and a first-of-its-kind Living Learning Center to the campus.
The grand opening celebration kicked off with a dedication ceremony inside the Living Learning Center. During the ceremony, university leadership joined members of OHIO’s Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and student representatives in recognizing those who made the project possible and honoring the individuals whose names adorn the newly-constructed buildings.
“Today, we pay tribute to the legacy of a past president, our first African American student-athlete, the first female board of trustees member, and an integral member of our international community – individuals whose resolve and advocacy have indisputably influenced Ohio University’s course and contributed to the level of excellence for which we are known today,” said Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis.
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones and Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life Pete Trentacoste joined President McDavis in honoring Arthur D. Carr, Evelyn Coulter Luchs, Claude R. Sowle and Tomoyasu and Sumiko Tanaka. Representatives from each of their families were presented a framed gift that featured either a portrait of the namesake or a painting in their honor as well as the Board of Trustees resolution naming one of the residence halls in their honor.
(From left) Stephen Sowle, Leslie Sowle, Norico Tanaka-Wada, Tim Tanaka, Tamao Tanaka, Janey Smith, President Roderick J. McDavis, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones, and Jovon Johnson cut the ribbon marking the official grand opening of Ohio University’s four new residence halls and Living Learning Center. Photo by Jasmine Beaubien
Dr. Tomoyasu Tanaka, Emeritus Professor of Physics & Astronomy, served as an OHIO faculty member from 1971-89 and mentored OHIO student Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009.
Tanaka is also known as the father of the OHIO-Chubu University relationship, which began during President Sowle’s tenure and which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.
Also enjoying a homecoming visit were two of Tomoyasu and Sumiko Tanaka’s children – daughter Norico Tanaka-Wada of Japan and son and daughter-in-law Tim and Tamao Tanaka of Raleigh, NC.
The Tanakas were both known for their generous support of international students, both in Athens and in Japan. Sumiko Tanaka frequently hosted exchange students and co-founded and co-funded the exchange program for developmentally disabled and elderly citizens.
“We’re just really in awe and overwhelmed by this tremendous honor,” said Norico Tanaka-Wada. “I think our parents would be so humbled by this and would say simply, thank you.”
The siblings reflected on their childhood years growing up in Athens and at Ohio University.
“Clippinger was like our playground,” said Norico Tanaka-Wada.
“It’s just amazing that our parents are being honored like this,” said Tim Tanaka, who noted that his parents never wanted to be in the spotlight. “This is such a big deal, and we’re learning even more about our parents from all the people we’ve talked with today.”
2 Comments