Saturday, April 9, 2022
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To Mutsuko, Mariko and all in the family,
Amy and I and our children are profoundly sorry for your great loss.
One scene I can never forget about Mak was seeing him pacing the floor, although only a short distance in the hallway just in front of his lab, hands behind his back, and head down deeply absorbed in thought. Evidently, he was immersed in his protein world, and I believe “sequencing” in his head. Those were some of the fun moments at 100 Sussex Drive. Mak introduced me to two things that I am most grateful of ‒ eating sushi that I have enjoyed to this day with lots of wasabi even though my first experience was quite a dramatic one to the effect that I didn’t know what hit me because unbeknownst to me, this green condiment was embedded in the sushi. Over the years, I progressed to appreciate kaseiki, largely through the connection that Mak initiated by introducing several Japanese visiting scientists to my laboratory, at first in Ottawa and later in Montreal. Mak was an ambassador, a gentle “godfather”, and a great mentor. He was an (scientific) officer and gentleman.
Above all, we have lost a great, kind and gentle friend. Mak was also a humorous guy. He will be sadly missed but forever in our heart. Speaking of food, be assured that we will try out the cake recipes that were Mak's favorites. Fond memories will live on.
Three photos are attached: With Y. Konishi-san at the retirement party of Mak at Sussex Drive in Ottawa; home dinner in Ottawa (March '87) with the late T. Uchimura-san, my very first Japanese visiting scientist; last picture with Mak at his residence in Ottawa on Feb 8, 2020 just before Covid-19 became a pandemic.
