Irma Bortolazzo Gadway and Terry Wakumoto Kuzuhara Reconnect after Seventy Years

Last year some time Karen Paaske, one of my collaborators at the Lompoc Valley Historical Society, told me she had happened to speak with Irma Gadway of Lompoc. They spoke about the upcoming book, Vanished.  As a child growing up in Lompoc, Mrs. Gadway was Irma Bortolazzo. Mrs. Gadway told Karen that she always wondered what had happened to her friend Toyoko Wakumoto.

Later, in an e-mail exchange with me, Terry Kuzuhara of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, who was once known as Toyoko Wakumoto, mentioned her friend Irma Bortolazzo. She wondered what had ever happened to her.

In November Mrs. Kuzuhara e-mailed me noting that she had had a wonderful lunch with another Lompoc acquaintance.

“Marian Konishi and I had a very happy reunion yesterday with her sister-in-law Nancy Nishimura. This was possible because of your book,” she wrote. Then she asked for Irma Bortolazzo’s address. She wanted to send a holiday greeting.

On December 13 I was the keynote speaker at the annual Christmas meeting of the Lompoc Valley Historical Society. Who should appear in the line to purchase a book but Irma Bortolazzo Gadway. She wanted to get in touch with her friend Toyoko.

Three days later I called Illinois and left a message on the voice mail with Mrs. Gadway’s address. I also gave Mrs. Gadway the Illinois number, address and e-mail.

On December 18 Mrs. Gadway sent an e-mail to Illinois, but received no response.

On January 12 Mrs. Kuzuhara sent an e-mail to me saying “I did send a note to Irma Bortolazzo but have not heard from her.”

Somehow electrons of the Ethernet and the carriers of the United States Postal Service were passing in the night unawares.

Finally in February came this from Illinois: “Just a quick note to say that I was delighted to receive a note from Irma over the weekend. Your book made this possible.”

Four days later I received another bit of news, this from Lompoc.

“I received a Christmas card from my friend (Terry K) and it was so exciting to hear from a friend that I had wondered for seventy years what had happened to her. I’m so happy that her life in Illinois has been good. She told me the hardest thing she had to do, when the family was taken from Lompoc, was to leave her dog behind. I have written to her and hope that we continue our newfound relationship. Thank you for finding my friend. s/Irma Gadway”

Then on March 7 came this from Illinois: “A quick note to tell you that I somehow overlooked e-mail which Irma sent to me on December 18. I must have passed over her e-mail and I am very embarrassed and apologize for this. I am happy Irma wrote again via US mail and followed it by a phone call last week during which we had a long and happy reunion. The many years since 1942 melted away.”

They talked for more than two hours. The story makes someone else feel good too--me.