Francis "Yuho" Fujio, 86, of Lincoln, RI, left us on August 31, 2023. He was born in Iwate, Japan, son of the late Hikoshichi and Fukuyo Fujio. He leaves Jean, his wife of over 60 loving years.
At the age of 16 Yuho left his home to begin a seven year apprenticeship with Tomoe Ogawa, National Living Treasure of Metalsmithing in Tokyo and also to study at National Tokyo University of Art and Asagaya Design School. He came to the US sponsored by missionary Father Richard A. Merritt to further his study at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, following a summer at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine.
His profession as a metalsmith, design engineer and designer of hollowware, jewelry and figurines led to positions with Reed & Barton, Silversmiths; The Napier Co.; Myers-Suzio Inc.; Snow & Stars Corp, a subsidiary of Nakagawa Co.
His work led to extensive travel throughout the world.
Yuho's work has been exhibited throughout New England, the Midwest, NY, Tokyo and the Smithsonian in Washington DC. Much of his design work and a brief biography along with drawings appear in The Napier Co., a book by Melinda L Lewis that relates the history of Napier. Slides representing his hollowware are in the permanent collection of the Archives of American Art.
He has been a member of the National Craftsman's Association of Japan; Meriden (CT) Industrial Management Club, serving as its president in 1983-85; and Providence Jewelers Club. In Judo he earned a third degree black belt and was a Boy Scout Committeeman for many years. Many summers would find him working in youth camps. Over the years his family hosted many Japanese students who were also sponsored by Father Merritt.
His sons, Kurt and Kim, his grandsons, Kyle and Kayden and his sister-in-law, Ann Kloehn, survive him. In Japan he leaves his sister, Fumiko Sato, sister-in-law, Kyoko Fujio, nieces Yoshiko and Kumiko Fujio and Fusako Kano; also nephews Masahiro Fujio, Michio Sato and their children. His brothers, Mysero, Katsuo, Katsuji, Kiyoshi and his son; sister-in-law, Gloria Perschbacher and brothers-in-law, John Perschbacher and John Kloehn predeceased Yuho.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for the many dedicated caregivers at Beacon Hospice, The Holiday Retirement Home and his physicians who nurtured him during many years of coping with the very rare neurological disease of PSP; Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
Yuho will be remembered as gentle, generous, genuine, kind, creative, and methodical. He was honest, had integrity, perseverance, courage and strength. He enjoyed his family, the outdoors, especially the New Hampshire woods; hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, classical music, gardening and golf.
A family memorial is planned to celebrate his life.
Arrangements entrusted to the J.F. Skeffington Funeral Home & Cremations Chalkstone Avenue Providence.
For online condolences kindly visit: skeffingtonfuneralhome.com
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