Kazuma Masuda's Obituary
Mr. Kazuma Masuda, age 89, passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023, in Garland, Texas. He will be sincerely missed by his loving family, devoted friends, and all the wonderful individuals who knew and loved him.
Kazuma Masuda was born on December 20, 1933, to Fujio and Sadai Masuda in Tokyo, Japan and passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 19, 2023, in Garland, Texas.
Kazuma is survived by his son, Richard Muir and his wife, Kay (Kazue); his grandson, Ken Muir and his wife, Haley, and their two children / his great grandsons, Keston Alexander Muir, and Aiden Charles Muir; and his daughter, Kay Coder and her husband, Tony Fears.
Kazuma graduated from Tokyo Rika University with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. He was hired by Hitachi Zosen’s ship building division immediately after graduation and worked for them until he retired at 60 years old. He traveled to many countries as part of his job and arrived in Dallas, Texas in 1963 where he met Kazue Arimoto (who owned a Japanese Restaurant) at a Japan-American Society meeting. After a two-year stint in Dallas, Kazuma represented his company in countries such as Germany, India, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, etc.
Kazuma married Kazue on December 20, 1973, and both lived in Tokyo, Japan until Kazue’s retirement. Kazuma and Kazue moved back to Dallas to be closer to her children in 2007. Once back in Dallas, his wife, Kazue began conducting cooking classes out of their home and both joined the Green Kai where they made many new friends. After being introduced to cruise travel by Rich and Kazue (son and his wife) on a Disney cruise, Kazuma and Kazue took several cruise trips around the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and Alaska as well as traveled to Greece with a faculty group from Dallas College. Cozumel was one of his favorite places to visit each year as a second home after he learned to snorkel at age 60.
After Kazue’s passing, Kazuma became the “chef” and continued as “Otoko Sensei” (Male teacher). He often prepared elaborate dinners for the “Gourmet Club” at his house, when they were not on their monthly outings to local restaurants together. He also made the best bento boxes for his daughter, Kay, who loved his tonkatsu, inari-zushi, and tempura.
Not only was Kazuma an excellent chef and host, but he was also an avid game player and loved to play card games -especially SPEED – and he loved to cheat (and get caught or noticed for his “cunning”)! He also loved being the winner so that he could be the lead in “punishment” (hand slapping). He had a beautiful voice and loved to sing, especially Karaoke with his friends.
Kazuma was a samurai – all the way to the end. He was strong and rarely complained about his health, though he was suffering from Alzheimer’s, memory loss, and weight loss. He was loved by all who knew him and was known for his stern, but kind manner, skills in cooking, singing, and cheating at games, and adoption of many young people, as he loved children and teaching them anything he could. He was known to his friends as Masuda-san, Mom’s students as “Otoko Sensei”, his children and their friends as “Papa”, and his grandson as “Jiji” (grandfather). Kazuma will be greatly missed but will be forever remembered by all those he touched during his adventurous life.
There will not be a funeral / memorial service. Please do not send flowers or gifts. In lieu of flowers, you may make a memorial gift in any amount made payable to the Richland College Faculty Association Scholarship Fund. Send check to: Richland College, 12800 Abrams Rd. Dallas, TX 75243, Attn: Kay Coder
To visit the obituary for Kazuma's wife, Kazue Masuda, please follow the link below:
https://www.restlandfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Kazue-Masuda-1055/#!/TributeWall
What’s your fondest memory of Kazuma?
What’s a lesson you learned from Kazuma?
Share a story where Kazuma's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Kazuma you’ll never forget.
How did Kazuma make you smile?
