Dec 09 2008
Mark Andrew Waye
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
Canada
Passed away quietly at the age of 23 on January 26, 2005.
Mark was a dedicated member of the Bridgewater Uechi -Ryu Academy for 10 years. Mark was also instrumental in launching the nearby Lunenburg Dojo, helping instruct both adults and children.
Despite what many would find overwhelming physical challenges, Mark achieved the rank of Nidan and participated in every aspect of the style he so much enjoyed.
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Dec 09 2008
Michael E. Heffernan 01/12/43–08/20/89: 
Being only ten years of age when my father passed the memories of his karate studies are limited. One clear memory I have is going from dojo to dojo with my father at age 8 or 9 and him not letting me sign up because the styles were all so different from what he believed in which was Uechi-Ryu. My mother had kept a select number of his karate items in a chest which I recently asked for just prior to signing up at a local Jiu-Jitsu dojo. Thankfully I found enough to get to this point redirecting my studies to a Uechi-Ryu dojo 25 minutes away.
I had discovered a business card (Mattson Academy of Karate, Norwood Branch) of Harry E. Brawley, Jr.’s, a black belt and a patch with the Uechi symbol. It took hours of searching the web with no luck finding Harry Brawley, Jr. before I came across George Mattson’s email and wrote to him only to find out he had taught a number of classes in Norwood while my father was there and even remembered him. I appreciate all your help Sensei Mattson and hope to meet you along this journey.
Michael E. Heffernan left behind his wife Christine and four boys Lance, Christopher, Grant and I. –Brett Heffernan (brett_heffernan@yahoo.com)
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Dec 09 2008
Al Moulton – – – Suffers fatal heart attack!
February 15, 2005: I received a call this morning from Chong, Al’s wife, informing me of his death. Until the end, Al continued to post on these forums. His last email to me was February 2nd:
The latest news isn’t so good, George. Actually considering the alternative, maybe it is. A week ago Thursday I was rushed to the hospital with chest pains ala 911. Spent the weekend there. Beat the Grim Reaper again. Today, received results of the tests. I have permanent damage to the ole ticker. I guess dieting and exercise sometimes don’t make any difference. I’m going out for Pork Ribs and beer tonight, . . .l.
cya.
Allen
Al was a very proud person. He didn’t complain, even though he lived his last twenty years of his life (following a serious accident) in constant pain. He was a tireless advocate for Uechi-ryu and participated in as many activities, tournaments and classes as possible.
Al is best known for writing a number of excellent Uechi-ryu text books and for his contributions to these forums.
Because of his illness, Al was unable to work for the past year. They didn’t have insurance and his health problems drained all savings. Although she didn’t ask, I believe she would appreciate any financial help the Uechi community could provide.
Please send any donations to:
Chong Moulton
45830 High Way to Heaven Lane
Great Mills, Maryland 20634
[Please visit the Special Needs Forum for comments from his friends.]
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Dec 09 2008
QUINCY – Carmine A. DiRamio, 77, of Mystic, Conn., formerly of Quincy and Braintree, a retired Quincy police officer, died April 10 at a hospital in Mystic from complication of diabetes. Carmine DiRamio, was a Quincy Police Officer, union president, boxing champ
Mr. DiRamio was a Quincy police officer for 40 years and former president of the police officers’ union. He retired in 1991.
In 1955, former Chief William Ferrazzi commended him for excellent work whenhe caught three teenagers driving a stolen car. The group was later linked to several car thefts.
A martial arts enthusiast, Mr. DiRamio was a certified self-defense instructor for 25 years. He studied under George Mattson at Mattson Academy .
He was director and co-owner of the Institute of Okinawan Karate , previously located in Braintree and Quincy . He was a second-degree black belt and was recognized by Black Belt magazine in 1966 for his work in demonstrating the value of karate in law enforcement work.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II and served aboard the Quincy built destroyer – USS Boyle.
Mr. DiRamio held the Massachusetts middleweight boxing title from 1949 to 1951.
Husband of the late Helen V. (Keating) DiRamio and the late Barbara Ann (Young) DiRamio, he is survived by a son, Robert DiRamio of Duxbury; two daughters, Joan Curtin of Randolph and Betty Greenberg – DiRamio of Sandwich; two stepsons, Thomas Postell of Quincy and Joseph Postell of Braintree; two brothers, Alfonso DiRamio of Clearwater, Fla., and Edward DiRamio of Quincy; two sisters, Grace Fitzgerald of Bedford and Frances Salvatori of Quincy; seven grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.
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Dec 09 2008
Ernest L. Howland (Ernie) , died August 20, 2005 at his home in Brockton after a lengthy illness. Born in Braintree, son of the late John P. and Mary A. (Sullivan) Howland, he was raised in Brockton and was a graduate of Brockton High School. After high school, he entered the United States Air Force and served with the Air Force for four years. Following his years with the Air Force he received his Associates Degree in Engineering from Northeastern University in 1971 and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Fitchburg State College in 1980. He taught drafting at Bristol Plymouth Vocational High School.
In 1977 Ernie, as he was known to friends and students, opened the Brockton Karate club which he owned and operated until his death. Mr. Howland studied and taught Karate for 37 years, was well known and a respected member of the Martial Arts Community and attained a master rank of 6th degree black belt in Uechi Ryu. Through the martial arts he translated enduring life lessons to both youth and adults. He was an admired instructor and friend to his students. He leaves behind a grateful student body. For many years he enjoyed spending time at his summer home in Yarmouth and was a communicant of both Christ the King Parish in Brockton and St. Pius Church in Yarmouth. He was a member of Club National and enjoyed caring for his two cats.
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Dec 09 2008
Teen killed, another hurt in bizarre police chase [Corey was a Brown Belt Uechi-ryu student of Chicago teacher, David Kahn.]July 25, 2006
BY ANNIE SWEENEY Crime Reporter
The three teen friends playing poker on a slow Sunday summer evening went out for a two-minute errand — a quick visit to a nearby store for Coke and chips.
The northwest suburban high school pals — Corey Diamond, Elliot Cellini and Brandon Forshall — left Forshall’s Wheeling home about 8:20 p.m. They headed toward the intersection of Dundee and Schoenbeck roads.
There, they drove into the path of a rental truck that Buffalo Grove police were chasing. The truck careened into the intersection and slammed the 2001 Ford Taurus that Cellini was driving, police said.
Diamond, 16, a front-seat passenger, was killed. Cellini, 16, was critically injured. Forshall, 17, who sat in back, suffered minor injuries and was home on Monday, unable to remember much of what happened.
Friends of Corey Diamond, 16 (right), leave flowers Monday at the southeast corner of Schoenbeck and Dundee in Wheeling. Diamond was killed at the intersection Sunday night after a rental van struck the car he was riding in. (TOM CRUZE/ SUN-TIMES) “Physically he’s fine,” said Forshall’s mother, Dorothy Forshall. “Emotionally it’s going to be a while. We’re really praying for Elliot. And we’re praying for Corey’s family.”
Corey, who grew up in Arlington Heights, was an Eagle Scout, like his father and grandfather, said Howard Hirsch, his uncle. He played volleyball and trumpet and also loved fishing and camping. He was a good student and also had a brown belt in karate.
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Dec 09 2008
Alan E. Kunian
HOLLISTON – Alan E. Kunian, 75, of Holliston, died Friday, April 27, 2007, at UMass Medical Center in Worcester.
He was the husband of Marjorie E. (Doherty) Kunian, who died in April 2000.
Born in Lynn, he was the son of the late Hilda (Abrams) and Harry Kunian.
A graduate of Lynn High School and of Suffolk Law School, he worked as an attorney, specializing in real estate, in the Framingham area for more than 40 years. He served in the U.S. Army from Dec. 10, 1954, to Sept. 14, 1956.
Mr. Kunian had a passion for karate and had trained under George Mattson for many years and maintained his black belt status until a few years ago. He was a ham radio operator with the call name of KA1AL. He had a love of flying and was a licensed pilot. He also enjoyed automobiles and jazz music and had a great affection for dogs.
Mr. Kunian enjoyed spending time at his family home in York, Maine.
He leaves six daughters, Joan Kunian of Portland, Maine, Robin Murby of Manchester, N.H., Danna Porcella of Upton, Lynn Iarussi of Holliston, Laurie Marcinkiewicz of Medway, Lisa Matott of Harrisville, R.I.; two sons, David Shomphe of Farmington, N.H., and Bob Shomphe of Concord; 14 grandchildren, Amanda, Jessica, Meghan, Jamie, Alexandra, Courtney, Kurt, Taylor, Nicholas, Brett, Brooke, Christopher, Garrett and Madison; and one brother, Fran Langlands.
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Dec 09 2008
William Arch passed away Saturday, November 24, 2007.
Bill was born September 23, 1936 in Hillsdale, Michigan to the Honorable Judge Charles and Lily in (Haynes) arch. From October of 1967 through September of 1969, Bill served in the US Army until honorably discharged. He was married to Janet Davis on August 18, 1962. She survives him.
He had a love of, and was very devoted to the martial arts, specifically the Okinawan Uechi-ryu style.he achieved the rank of seventh degree black belt and he shared his passion as an instructor at the Maple Street YMCA for many years.
From an interview conducted by Jim Gemmell
Bill was a relatively soft-spoken, gentle man with a great sense of humor, and an even greater heart. For the past several years, he taught Monday and Wednesday night karate classes at the Kalamazoo YMCA on Maple Street, about a quarter-mile west of Sensei Jim Thompson’s Okinawan Karate Academy.
Bill began taking Uechi-ryu classes on Aug. 8, 1966. His original sensei was Al Horton, then Bill Keith, Bob Harding and Ron Everett. Arch also studied under Sensei Steve Fuller, who now lives in Three Rivers, Michigan, and has a dojo attached to his house.
In a March 6, 2005, interview for a future documentary on Uechi-ryu’s history in Michigan, Bill Arch told Jim Gemmell that he began training at Sensei Al Horton’s dojo on East Main Street in 1966.
“”Morning class was small, six to eight. Al Horton worked swing shift at paper mill, most of my training was around Al Horton, until I got onto another shift and did night classes,” Arch said.
Bill Keith was an instructor, as well. “Advanced students were up front and junior students were in back”, said Arch. “They kept them separate; they always kept junior students turned around so they didn’t see what the advanced students were doing. You didn’t show junior students advanced material, either. They had an open stairway that came up through the center of the floor in the main part of the dojo. It was pretty strict training. Mr. Horton really held the iron to us.”
Arch recalled when Grandmaster Kanei Uechi and Master Ryukyu Tomyose first visited Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1967. They stayed at the home of Bill and Kathy Keith. “I can still picture (Uechi) on stage at the fairgrounds giving a demonstration,” he said. “And even at the old dojo when he was looking at some of the ikkyus at the time, and Tomoyose was testing them. I was a green belt at the time.
“I still remember Master Uechi doing Sanseiryu across the stage, and I can still here his feet across the stage to this day, because they always said he’d never do a high-level kata when he demonstrated. He used to do Kanshiwa. This was the first time he ever did a high-level kata in a demonstration.”
Arch had a special place in his heart for Sensei Thompson. “He’s really been a big influence on my life. With Sensei (Thompson), you can take up any book, and look up the word ‘sensei’, and he’s the one.”
Arch also credited Dr. Doug Wunderly, a chief of heart surgery at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, and who has been in Uechi-ryu since 1971, for saving his life three times on the operating table. “He diagnosed a blockage I had in ’93, put two stints in ’98 and another stint in ’01.”
Services will be Thursday at 1 p.m., in Langeland Funeral Home, 3926 S. 9th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Bill’s Rank History
Student |
William E. Arch(8/8/66) |
| First Sensei
Dojo Address |
Allen J. Horton
Kalamazoo Oriental Club 2103 E. Main Street Kalamazoo, MI |
| Shodan | June 14, 1971 |
Sensei |
Uechi Kanei |
Association |
Uechi-Ryu Karate-do |
Certificate # |
581 |
| Nidan | March 22, 1975 |
Sensei |
Uechi Kanei |
Association |
Uechi -Ryu Karate-do |
Certificate # |
247 |
Sandan |
October 21, 1979 |
Sensei |
Uechi Kanei |
Association |
Uechi-Ryu Karate-do |
Certificate # |
202 |
Yondan |
May 15, 1983 |
Sensei |
Uechi Kanei |
Association |
Uechi-Ryu Karate-do |
Certificate # |
160 |
Godan |
August 1, 1989 |
Sensei |
James Thompson |
Association |
Okinawa Karate-do |
Certificate # |
168 |
Rokkudan |
July 9, 1995 |
Sensei |
James Thompson |
Association |
Okinawa Karate-do |
Certificate # |
80 |
Nanadan |
September 9, 2002 |
Sensei |
James Thompson |
Association |
Okinawa Karate-do |
Certificate # |
04 |
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Dec 09 2008
John VanderLaar Dead at 48
Word of longtime Uechi-ryu practitioner John VandeLaar’s passing has saddened the martial-arts community in Michigan. A Battle Creek resident, VandeLaar, 47, began studying Uechi-ryu in June 1979 under Sensei Bill Keith, and shortly thereafter became a student of Sensei Jim Thompson’s during the transitional period in which Thompson bought the Okinawa Karate Academy in Kalamazoo from Keith. In later years, VandeLaar dabbled in Goju-ryu, Shotokan, Kobudo (under sensei’s Estrada and Nagazato), Kendo and aikido.
At his home in July 2005, John told Jim Gemmell in an interview for a future documentary on Uechi-ryu in Michigan that he was “one of the smaller guys in the (Kalamazoo) dojo” when he began. He said longtime student Doug Wunderly “took me under his wing a little bit and helped me along. I also did a lot of classes with Mark Stewart, a kickboxer, and Don Joyner.”
VandeLaar recalled the hard-core traditional training and testing regimen at Thompson’s school in the early 1980s. “For example, for the Sanchin test, you had one person in front of you and one person behind you, and you had a complete test, as far as the strikes, on every thrust.”
John was grateful for the great martial-arts heritage in Michigan, in terms of both the high-quality instructors and the competitors in various styles, as well as his students. He said Al Doorlag got him involved in the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) tournament competitions in the late 1980’s, which VandeLaar continued to be involved with up until the time of his death. John was also active in training students for the Junior Olympics, and Project Action, in which he helped raise funds to allow at-risk kids to pay for karate classes.
John ran a small dojo in the basement of his home for several years, and headed a karate program at a local gym.
Thanks to Al Bennett for the picture of John.
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/memoria-post/
Dec 09 2008
He died suddenly, on November 26, 2008, of an aortic dissection, following emergency surgery.
Eric was buried with military honors at Fort Custer Military Cemetery, Battle Creek Michigan on Dec. 5, 2008.
Sensei Eric Bishop began his Uechi-ryu training in Kalamazoo in 1973, and was the first person known to have introduced Uechi-ryu to Germany, in the late 1970’s. Eric died of a heart ailment in late November. In a video interview for a future documentary, Eric told me the following in Kalamazoo on Oct. 28, 2005:
(While Eric was teaching Uechi-ryu in Badkissigen, Germany), “The only Europeans that we could track down that had any Uechi experience were the guys in England, who were very helpful communicative-wise. There was supposedly a guy in Czechoslovakia. And, of course, the Iron Curtain was up, so we had no access to him. And there was supposed to be a gentleman in France, who I believe was actually an Okinawan, but we could never locate him.”
Bishop started in Uechi-ryu in the summer of 1973. “It was because my best friend at the time, Doug Wunderly, had just gotten his Shodan during one of the first visits of the Okinawans. In fact, I still have one of the boards that he chopped in half, and they autographed it for me. At the ‘Y’ (Kalamazoo YMCA), anyway, the policy was that once you got your Shodan, you helped teach. So, he (Doug) was teaching his first class
that summer. And the big Bruce Lee fad was going on, and I thought, “Well, I ought to go see what this chop suey stuff that he does is. And I went and took his first class; and, of course, it was surprisingly demanding and difficult. And I wasn’t sure I was going to pass my first belt test.
“Bill Arch was the main instructor. We always called him ‘Master Poe’ – that was our nickname for him. And I believe that Steve Fuller was teaching. A brown belt, Don Kinch, was very involved. Don Joyner didn’t come down to the Y often, but he was involved. Larry Mahar was involved.
“I was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Army, and headed off to Germany, where I was stationed for two back-to-back assignments. So I was there eight years. And I was an Ikkyu at the time I left for that.
“If there was any significance to my being in Uechi (ryu), it was that in ’81, when I was in (Badkissigen, two hours east of Frankurt) Germany, there was a thing called the Kontact Programme – find any way to get Germans and Americans doing things together. And there was a local sport club – they had aikido and judo – sort of like a mini-YMCA. They asked if someone would teach karate down there, and they said, ‘Yeah, we want you to teach.’ And I told them I can’t teach. And they said, ‘Sure, you can.’ And I said, ‘No, you don’t understand, I can’t teach it…I’m an Ikkyu, not a Shodan, I’m not allowed to teach…they couldn’t understand, it wasn’t there kind of authority thing. And I was talking to Doug about it, I believe, and he talked to Bill Arch and Jim Thompson, and got back ahold of me and said, ‘Yeah, they said it’s okay. Go ahead and start teaching.’
And I didn’t really think it would go much anywhere. Showed up for the first class, and there was like 25 young Germans in gi’s, in seiza, ready to start training. It was really an interesting experience. About a year into that, I came back for a friend’s wedding, so by chance it was timed right, they were doing Dan testing, and so I tested for my Shodan at that time.
In ’84, just before I came back for my first return for a school, I had Doug and Stuart Eddy come over to run a training seminar, and hopefully to test my top two or three students, to see where they should be…we decided to make it an annual thing. In that second year, Kris and Steve (Fuller) came over. I don’t think that was a Thompson year yet, I don’t think he was there (Kalamazoo) until the third year. By the third year, they (students) had gotten Shodans….they were pretty much running it (German program) on their own. I believe they still actually train there.”
Anything you’d want to say to anybody, Eric? “I’d just thank Bill Arch, especially, the Master Poe, the efforts he put in. He was very patient with me. I’d be there for three months, out for three months…he was always just 100% there. And, of course, Doug and Stuart for being such good friends, even outside of the Uechi thing. And what they helped me do in Germany. And Master Thompson’s trust in me was really flattering. It’s a great thing and it’ll always be a part of my life, whether I ever teach again or not, doesn’t really matter to me.”
Eric brought enthusiasm to everything he undertook, then magnified it through his willingness to share his interests with others. I knew him while he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army, where I saw this in three special ways.
Whatever his job, Eric strove to do it well. In Germany, he was an excellent officer, well trained, focused on his mission and blessed with a gift for leadership. His unit performed its missions well and Eric was involved in many extra activities that kept relations with their West German partners strong.
Eric was also keenly interested in the world around him. In Germany, that brought him a rich life outside the military community. He was thrilled to visit the cities and towns around him, with their history, culture and wonderful scenery. His outgoing nature led to friends in many places, from the house next door to the corner pub to the local motorcycle shop. He was deeply grateful to those people for the many ways they added to his experiences, and they gained from knowing him.
And finally, Eric’s ability to share opened a new world to a group of young people interested in the martial arts. Eric had trained in Okinawan karate before being commissioned, and when he got to Germany, he looked for an opportunity to continue training. Finding none, he volunteered to teach at a local recreation hall and led classes regularly for several years. His most dedicated students from those early days still practice and many now teach their own classes. All would tell you that Eric was a close friend and that they are deeply grateful to him for opening the door to an important part of their lives.
I, too, am grateful for Eric’s friendship. In small ways, the interests he shared enriched my life. In much bigger ways, his approach to life as a whole made him a valuable role model.
– Stuart Eddy
December 7, 2008
Eric was my first Troop Commander as a First Sergeant (Lima Leads was our motto). Captain Bishop was full of life and was a soldiers soldier. He truly kept the soldiers at the forefront of his charge and never waivered from that key responsibility. His trusty sword always traveled with him on all field exercises most notably on all Graf Gunnery deployments. As with your first teacher, your first drill instructor, your first mentor, I will remember “T” as my first Commander during a critical time during the “Cold War” in the Fulda Gap. I know your are reading this Captain Bishop….See you at Fiddlers Green. God Bless and keep you until then……Leadhorse 7 (Ernie Ford)
Ernie Ford (North Pole, AK)
________________________________________
December 7, 2008
The entire Blackhorse family offer our condolences. We will miss this wonderful soldier and member of the Blackhorse family. President, The Blackhorse Association 2008-2009
John Sherman Crow (Thibodaux, LA)
________________________________________
December 7, 2008
I will always remember a young Captain T. Eric Bishop, a fine young commander, who was an outstanding leader. His death comes as a major surprise; he died much too young. Our sincere best wishes to his family.
Ned Devereaux (Portland, OR)
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