Remembering Dr. Fujio Matsuda

Connecting the DOTs...

Remembering Former DOT Director Dr. Fujio Matsuda

By: Brandon Hee

Dr. Fujio Matsuda

recently passed away. He was our Director of HDOT in 1963 through 1973. I thanked him for that compliment, as it was only since 2014 that I started studying philosophy.

I met him at Moiliili Hongwanji when I was a guest speaker on October 8, 2017.

Dr. Matsuda came up to me after the service to talk.

He said, “I hear you work at HDOT. Do you know who I am?” relates to Buddhism. After the initial meeting, I would see Dr. Matsuda at other Hongwanji events, and I would say hi to him, and he would always then ask who I am, and I would reply that I am the one that talked about how Star Wars

I said, “Sorry, no, I do not.” He said, “I was the Director of HDOT, but you may have not been born at the time. When were you born?”

I said, “1969.” He said, “Well, you should know I was the President of UH from 1974 to 1984.”

I said that was also before I went to UH and was not aware of what happened before I went to UH.

Dr. Matsuda told me that I am more of a philosopher than an engineer. He would then say, “Oh yes, the philosopher.” I would just smile back.

I wanted him to hear my first Dharma message presented in 2015 talking about the movie “The Last Samurai,” but never got him to critique it.

I miss this man who is so likable, approachable, decent, and honorable.

He would have made a good president of our

See MATSUDA on page 2

Table of Contents

Remembering Dr. Fujio Matsuda...........1 Director’s Message .....................................3 Administration ............................................ 8

Airports .........................................................11 Harbors .........................................................12

Highways .................................................... 14 Ways to Boost Your Immunity............. 15 Arrivals & Departures .............................17

CONNECTING THE DOTs

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MATSUDA continued from page 1

country, and he is definitely a good role model.

I wish I could have known him earlier.

Perhaps, he could have given me more Mr. Miyagi-type advice.

Ironically, the other person I held in high regards was also a structural engineering professor, and his name was Arthur Chiu.

I miss our conversations over lunch talking about engineering and philosophy.