Yoshihiro Sugita

Yoshihiro Sugita, born Jan. 12, 1938, in Kobe, Japan, died peacefully at Parkside Nursing Facility on March 9, 2018. His parents were Kishi Kudo (mother) and Zeiichi Sugita (father). Yoshi grew up and was educated in Japan. He met his future wife, Elizabeth Sliger Brady, at Kobe Union Church in Japan. In 1972 they married at Second Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga where Elizabeth was the church secretary. He was very proud to become a naturalized U.S. citizen on Jan. 13, 1976. Yoshi was highly skilled in computers, worked in the IT department of BellSouth in Atlanta for 27 years, and did post graduate work at Rutgers University for coursework related to his professional responsibilities. Yoshi was a friend to everyone and had many interests including photography, personal fitness through his extensive martial arts training, and a love of music especially country music. He became an accomplished musician on the guitar (both acoustic and electric) by an intensive self-taught regimen in which he typically practiced 6 hours per day. Yoshi and Elizabeth also enjoyed traveling together. He was a fascinating man who loved to meet and converse with others. Yoshi’s humility and demonstration of stoic courage and peace while cancer took his life was a witness to all those around him. He was cherished and loved by his wife’s family, and he will be greatly missed. He is survived by the following members of his wife’s family: Niece, Debbi (Glenn) Anderson and daughters, Autumn (Richard) Boatwright, Jewell Anderson; cousin, Jim (Mary Francis) Dunn and children, Michelle (Steve) Fogarty and sons, Matthew, Alex, and Brandon Fogarty; Jim (Kim) Dunn and children, Brittany (Eric) Brooks, Joshua Dunn, and Lauren (Nick) Smith; cousin, Martha Crouse and children, Paul (Dianne) Crouse, Erin (Mike) McGuire and by his many friends and church family at Second Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga. A memorial service will be held at 12 (noon) on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Second Presbyterian Church. In accordance with Yoshi’s wishes, lunch will be served for all who attend after the service at the church (compliments of Yoshi). Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, Battlefield Parkway.