“I must have flowers, always, and always.” 
― Claude Monet


Forever in our hearts

A tribute donation offers you a thoughtful way to celebrate a special person.
Alice Etsuko Sumida (1914 - 2018)
I.I. Portland Chapter #47

Born near San Luis Obispo on California’s Central Coast on July 18, 1914, (lived to 104).. An Oregon resident for nearly eighty years,

Alice promoted education and worked tirelessly to expand cross-cultural understanding. She supported the arts, respect for all faiths, and the preservation of ethnic traditions. She was recognized many times for her efforts and honored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Alice loved to dance. At age 84, she began ballroom dancing and went on to win competitions in both the United States and abroad.

Her motto was always, “you have to keep moving!”
Betty Taylor
I.I. Washington D.C. #1

Betty’s principal passion was flower arranging, particularly Japanese flower arranging as expressed through the highly disciplined Japanese art of ikebana. This passion culminated in her being the first American awarded Grand Master status in the Ohara School of Ikebana, Kobe, Japan, in May 2011. In addition to five ikebana study tour trips to Japan—where she was often honored—Betty devoted 50 years to sharing her love of Japanese flower arranging by teaching, lecturing, and hosting seminars for countless groups from New York to Florida and as far west as Montana.

​From 1992 to 2016, Betty was a Resident Artist and Teaching Master at the Stone Lantern in Highlands, NC. Betty served four terms as President of the Ohara School, Washington, DC Chapter. She also served as President of Ikebana International, Washington, DC Chapter 1
Betty Jetter
I.I. Monterey Bay #
George Franz  (1942-2020)
I.I. Philadelphia #71

At Penn State, he was a member of the University Faculty Senate for 23 years and was its chairman in 1980-81. He was the recipient of multiple teaching and advising awards as professor of History and American Studies,  He served after retiring as Interim Chancellor for Penn State Brandywine Campus. In the community, he was president of the Chadds Ford Historical Society and president of the congregational council at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Chadds Ford.
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Post-retirement, he took classes and practiced Sogetsu Ikebana. He proudly posted weekly photos of his creations on Facebook. In recent years, several of his arrangements were displayed at Longwood Gardens and at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Allie Marie Uyehara (1926 -2019)
I.I. Washington D.C. #1

Allie Marie Umsted Uyehara was born in California on May 30, 1926.  In 1955, she moved with her family to Tokyo, Japan where Allie discovered ikebana.  She began formal study at the Sogetsu School with Ogawa Seiko, earning her teaching certificate in Sogetsu, and two certificates in the Saga Goryū School.  

As Allie moved with her family moved from city to city, she established chapters of Ikebana International – Chinook #8 (1958),  Boston#17 (1958),  Dayton #33 (1959).  Allie is the only Ikebana International member who has created this many chapters.

Her career in Ikebana International spanned 60+ years, from its founding in 1956. She was President of I.I. Chapter No. 1 from 1973-75, Chairman of the I.I. North American Regional Conference in 1976, and a Board Member of Washington, D.C.#1 continuously from 1972 to 2014.

Allie published Ten Keys to Japanese Flower Arrangement in 1975.  The themes that Allie distilled in this book are universally relevant, and are a part of the continuing growth and development of ikebana. In 2013, Allie put her book on a website and made it freely available to all.  
Catherine Baylis (1942 - 2020)
I.I. Denver Chapter #66

Catherine discovered Ikebana at the Sogetsu Spring show in 2005. During the next 15 years she studied Sogetsu with her Sensei, Seiko Yoshikawa, earning several certificates including a 1st grade teacher diploma. 

She became an active member in Ikebana International Denver Chapter 66; serving as the Hospitality Chairperson 2012 - 2016, President 2016 - 2017 and Treasurer 2017 - 2019.  As Treasurer she was instrumental in developing a new budget format and accounting system for Chapter 66.

Catherine represented Chapter 66 at the I.I. World Conference in Okinawa Japan; she participated in the regional convention in Dallas; attended a workshop presented by the Ohara school in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and took Ikenobo classes from a teacher in Boulder, Colorado.  Catherine loved ikebana, respected every school and wherever she went was a true ambassador for Ikebana International.