Dr. Robert Yasui left his mark on this community in the best way possible.
He did it quietly, without fanfare, day in and day out.
But his influence was such that a Peace Memorial was erected in his honor outside of Pine Street United Methodist Church several years ago.
Dr. Yasui, who died recently, was honored Saturday in a memorial service for all the causes he championed with grace and class for decades.
Born in Oregon and having faced the World War II hardship of being forced into a Japanese Internment Camp, Dr. Yasui turned that prejudice into a life's mission to bring all cultures together in peace.
And he succeeded.
Anyone he touched was drawn to becoming more tolerant of others.
A physician of unquestioned integrity, he used that gift in generous ways.
He served for decades as team physician to Lycoming College student-athletes and was a fixture, along with his wife, Phyllis, as the doctor on call at the Little League World Series for most of the event's history.
And to meet Dr. Yasui was to know that he never let his gifts go to his head.
Remarkably successful, he used his achievement to better others and wore his influence with humility and class.
We thank him for gracing our community with decades of professional and humanitarian excellence.
