Marion M. Fukushima

Long-time Swarthmore resident Marion Fukushima died peacefully on January 3 in Burlington, Vermont. She was 92. She and her husband Toshiyuki Fukushima made their home in Swarthmore from 1956 - 2015 and raised their six children there.

The daughter of Tracy and Anna Macdaid, Marion was born in 1927 in Hackensack, New Jersey, and completed high school in Endicott, New York. She attended Keuka College, where she studied religious education and sociology, graduating in 1949. While on a field work assignment in Philadelphia, she met her future husband, who was then a student at Swarthmore College.

When her children were young, Marion was an active substitute teacher at the Swarthmore Elementary School. She worked over many years to obtain her teaching certification, which she received from St. Joseph’s University while in her mid-fifties.

Marion served the community as a Girl Scout troop leader and Sunday school teacher. She was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church, especially in the prayer chain, which was very important to her. She helped keep her Keuka College classmates in touch by organizing the class notes for many years.

The family vacationed regularly on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. She and Tosh took up skiing later in life and often went to Vermont and the Poconos. Marion was an avid knitter of mittens and sweaters, and later knit caps and cardigans for premature babies. She also enjoyed piecing many patchwork quilts that are now treasured by her family.

Marion was predeceased by her husband of more than 50 years. She is survived by six children, four grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren: David Fukushima (Shirley Collins) and their children Dashiel and Iris, of Vershire, Vermont; Elizabeth Fukushima (Paul Martin) of East Montpelier, Vermont; Philip Fukushima (Elaine) of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and his step-children Julie Rose of Acampo, California, Rebecca Bedford and Lindsay Tague, both of Jamestown, California, and Lauren West of Waikoloa, Hawaii; Margaret Fukushima Creed (Adam Creed), of Media, Pennsylvania; Catherine Fukushima of Brooklyn, New York; and Barbara Fukushima (Peter Stoneham) and their sons Joel and Luke Stoneham of Shutesbury, Massachusetts. Other survivors include her brother Douglas Macdaid (Rosalie) of Spring Hill, Florida, and nephew Gerald Macdaid of Gainesville, Florida.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 301 N. Chester Road, Swarthmore, on Saturday, January 18, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Episcopal Church.