Dr. Sadako Miyanoo Vargas

Sadako was born February 20, 1932, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan, to Mitsuji and Kiyo Miyanoo. At the age of 4 years old, Sadako and her family moved to Nagano, her father’s hometown. She grew up in Nagano with her older brother Mitsuaki, older sister Sumiko, and younger brother Eiji. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was a retired Navy officer. When Sadako was 8 years old, her father passed away and soon after, Japan entered World War II. She survived through starvation, bombings, and multiple health complications by maintaining a positive attitude and perspective on life. After the war ended, Sadako embraced Catholicism to deal with the many changes occurring in post WWII Japan.

Upon completion of her high school studies, Sadako set out to work in order to support her mother and brother. She worked for the United States government in Japan, under Major Virginia H. Yates. Major Yates encouraged Sadako to write to various entities in the United States to seek out an opportunity to obtain an education. After two years and countless correspondence, Sadako received a scholarship to go to the Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia Kansas.

She met her husband, Mario Vargas, a student from Costa Rica, at Emporia. She married Mario in 1956 and together, they finished their studies at the University of Kansas. She studied occupational therapy and graduated, in 1959. That same year, she achieved another major milestone, and gave birth to the first of six children.

Sadako worked in the United States, Costa Rica, and Japan as an occupational therapist and as a result, she became fluent in English, Spanish, and Japanese. She specialized in pediatric occupational therapy dedicating much of her career to empowering disabled children to live happy and fulfilling lives with dignity and pride. She worked with the severely handicapped community that faced a lifetime of disability and she taught them how to thrive despite their situation.

Besides working as an occupational therapist, Sadako truly enjoyed being in academia as a student and a professor. She taught at universities in the United States, Costa Rica and Japan, usually while working as an occupational therapist at the same time. Sadako established the credibility of the occupational therapy program at the Kyushu College of Rehabilitation by obtaining the recognition of the World Federation of Occupational Therapy. This was the beginning of the establishment of a training program for the potential occupational therapy leaders and instructors in Japan.

Eventually, Sadako settled down in New Jersey with her husband and 6 children and continued on her higher education path by receiving a Master’s degree from Columbia University, when she was 49 years old. Her love of learning ultimately led to her successfully completing a Doctorate program at Rutgers University in Educational Statistics and Measurement, when she was 65 years old. All along, she worked while she went to school. Sadako’s academic research work is evidenced in numerous scientific research publications.

Even though Sadako was known by many as an occupational therapist, professor, and student, she took the most pride in bearing the title “Mama” and “Bachi”. While her career and educational accomplishments are impressive, Sadako’s role as a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother are what brought her the most joy. She was dedicated, selfless, and nurturing as she put her children and husband before herself on countless occasions. She was a mother first regardless of her professional and academic career and while she elevated herself to higher levels throughout her life, she always brought her husband and children with her.

Passionate about her work, education, and family, it only follows suit that she had plenty of fire left to pursue her love of the opera and travel in her later years. Sadako became an avid follower of the opera, especially performances by Placido Domingo. She also managed to travel to over 10 different countries in as many years.

Sadako was a brave and courageous woman who left her home country of Japan to pursue a higher education in the United States and she never looked back. A common theme of her life is the pursuit for adventure and travel. Even into her 80’s she traveled all around the world from the steps of Machu Picchu to the Pyramids of Egypt. Her love of higher education was fueled by her curiosity and passion for learning not for the mere achievement of obtaining degrees. She was truly an unstoppable force that demonstrated how learning, opportunity, worldliness, joy, and fun can be experienced in all stages of life.

While the person that you read about here seemed larger than life, Sadako was a humble and unassuming woman that lived honorably. She was a kind-hearted, hard-working woman that never took herself too seriously. Sadako sums this up with a description of herself in the following Facebook post:

"In summary, I am an old Japanese woman with wrinkles, who cannot sing, dance, or play music, cannot speak well and mind half gone, but with Heart full of thanks and love to all of you, my friends."

Dr. Sadako Miyanoo Vargas was preceded in death by her parents Mitsuji and Kiyo Miyanoo; brother, Mitsuaki Miyanoo, brother, Eiji Miyanoo, and husband of over 50 years, Mario Vargas. She leaves behind her sister, Sumiko, of Nagano, Japan; sons, Pedro Vargas and wife, Nilar, of Katy, Texas; Antonio Vargas and wife, Migdalea, of Kendall Park, New Jersey; daughters, Cecilia Skoultchi and husband, Barry, of Skillman, New Jersey; Maria Lee and husband, Lars, of Old Hickory, Tennessee; Ana Tatoris and husband, George, of NJ; Monica Bell and husband Atiba, of Katy, Texas; grandchildren: Isabel, Mario, Ethan, Victoria, Sophia, Aaron, Mari, Noah, Elizabeth, Jenelle, Brandon, Jason, Cristina, Teddi, Adelia, George, Michael, Lea, Jalen, Kendall and Maddox; great grandchildren: Lily, Isely, Everett, Bowen, Kaitlyn, Rylee, Sophia and Hannah; and a host of other family and friends.

A very special and heart felt “Thank You” to Lani and the entire staff of the "Angels Over Us" caregiver agency who did a phenomenal job in providing care for Sadako, in Katy, Texas. Annette, Marietta, Claudia, and Angel - you are all wonderful women that not only took excellent care of Sadako, but truly treated her as if she was your mother. You spoiled her, tended to her every need, and tried to maintain an elevated quality life for her. Mama Sadako thanks you.

A very special thanks to the Three Oaks Hospice staff who took great care of Sadako in her final days of life.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in the Rio Grande Chapel of Katy Funeral Home, 23350 Kingsland Boulevard, Katy, Texas 77494. A livestream will be available. February 26, 2022 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. John Vianney Church, 420 Inman Avenue, Colonia, New Jersey 07067. March 5, 2022 at 9am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sadako’s name to the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.katyfh.com for the Vargas family.