Issue:
December 2024 | Obituary
Dan Sloan
It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of former Board Director Mary Corbett, who died peacefully last month after a stay in hospital.
Listing Mary's tireless efforts over the years to promote the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan would run the risk of missing one of her many contributions, but it includes areas of oversight, such as being Club Secretary multiple times, and her work for committees like House & Property, Publications, Public Relations, Entertainment, Library, & Workroom, Membership Marketing, Food & Beverage, Associates, and Professional Activities.
Most recently, she personally organized the PAC lunch in September with former Giants pitcher Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese to play in Major League Baseball. It mirrored a "Mashi" event at another of her major affiliations, the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club, whose community is also mourning this great loss. There will be a family funeral and memorial celebration on a date and location to be announced, while the Yokohama community is uniting to support Mary's sister, Evelyn Corbett, and mother, Mrs. Kayoko Corbett.
Mary was a documentary filmmaker and writer, involved in public relations, and an alumna of Yokohama International School, where she was also an active member of the community, and a friend to anyone. She and I joined the FCCJ in the same year – 1994 – but would often meet by chance on the same No. 8 bus from Honmoku in the morning, catch up on the latest at the Club, YCAC, or YIS, and talk sports or local news.
She was always incredibly positive and constructive in any endeavor, and our organization greatly benefitted from her time in its service.
I can say with deep conviction that it was an honor to know and serve with Mary on behalf of the Club, and she absolutely made those around her better people. She will be terribly missed by one and all ahead, Details of the Club’s plans for a memorial evening will be shared soon.
