Mr. Wortman passed away on August 23, 2003 during a swimming meet in the Hudson River from a heart attack. He had to be taken from the water and was unable to be resuscitated. Jeffrey had slowed down his kendo practice, and had returned to his first love of competitive swimming. Wortman sensei, 5 dan, worked very hard for the AEUSKF as the Executive Secretary for many years and was a key negotiator for the BKR to reunify kendo in the United States with the KFUSA. It was at this time that I knew him. I remember a hilarious sketch that he and others performed at the 1986 US Championships that poked fun at kendo referees, they called it the "Shinpan Ballet". Jeffrey will be sorely missed by those who knew him. Note: Thanks to Mark Grivas for this info.

Obit: http://www.swiminfo.com/lane9/news/5813.asp 

PNKF sensei Takeo Ted Imanishi passed away August 9, 2003 after a protracted, noble, and exemplary battle with cancer.  Ted Imanishi was born in Seattle November 20, 1923. He was most active in Kendo in the pre-War period, and often shared stories from that era.  His father, Umajiro Imanishi, head instructor at Seattle Kendo Kai, was arrested by the F.B.I. December 8, 1941 for the crime of being an important community leader in the form of a Kendo teacher, (imagine that!) and spent the War in a Federal penitentiary.  By mid-1942 the rest of the family had been sent to Camp Minidoka, from which Ted Imanishi was drafted in 1944 and served in a three-man machine gun crew in "Dog" Company of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in American military history.  Following the War, he completed apprenticeship as a carpenter, built a business as a cabinetmaker, and eventually became a highly respected general contractor famous for his immaculate craftsmanship and integrity.  He married in  1951 and 3 of his five children have become prominent kenshi in the PNKF.

Ted Imanishi attended Seattle Kendo Kai practice every Sunday, and always went to every major regional taikai.  Over the years, he was consistently available for help and support in Kendo activities.  We miss him, and our heartfelt condolences go to his wife Toshiko, his sister Hats, children, grandchildren, and all the family.  Note: Thanks to Tom Bollings for this info.