Benchmark of outreach

CORAL WILSON

In a little corner of Irvine Terrace Park in Corona del Mar, two

stone lanterns and Japanese black pine trees are testimony to a

special relationship and years of friendship between the cities of

Newport Beach and Okazaki, Japan.

On Sunday, two new benches were added to the tranquil setting,

allowing for rest and contemplation for old friends and passer-bys.

Placed side by side, they overlook the lanterns, the city and the

ocean below.

In a Newport Balboa Rotary Club/Sister Cities Assn. joint event,

the benches were dedicated in honor and in memory of Wendell Fish and

Moe Hamill.

The two men, who were leaders of both organizations, passed away

last year, only five months apart. Through their hard work and belief

in the importance of international friendships, they conceptualized

the Newport Beach Sister Cities Assn. and made it a reality.

In 1982, the Rotary Clubs of Newport-Balboa and Okazaki South

became sister clubs, joining their efforts to develop cultural,

educational and community relations between the two cities.

One of the first projects was the Junior High School Exchange

Program, in which four students from each city stay with host

families for 10 days, often developing lifelong friendships as a

result.

“I cannot think of a better way to bridge the distance between

nations than to allow their youngsters to visit one another and live

with their families. This was the vision shared by Moe, Wendell and

their counterparts in Okazaki in 1982,” Rotary Club President Roger

McGonegal said in his speech on Sunday.

The concept originated with President Eisenhower’s

people-to-people concept, that individual friendships between

countries will lead to greater peace and understanding.

The Feb. 23 dedication marked the 98th anniversary of the founding

of Rotary International. It was designated as “World Understanding

Day” by the Rotary Club.

Four civic leaders came from Japan for three days to take part in

the ceremony. President of the Okazaki International Assn.

Masao Kato presented gifts to the two men’s families and expressed

his fondness for the two men who had become close friends over the

years. After giving Dorothy Hamill, wife of the late Moe Hamill, a

kiss on the cheek, it was obvious Kato had been influenced by his

American friends.

“Usually, Japanese do not kiss in public,” Kato shyly admitted.

In the audience, Sara Lucas recognized Kato immediately from her

visit to Japan in 1985 as one of the first exchange students in the

program.

Minutes after her arrival in Japan, a bomb was discovered in the

airport, and the students were locked inside for hours, she recalled.

That did not dampen the experience. She returned two years later to

visit her host family, the Hayakawas.

“We got the red carpet treatment all the way,” Lucas said.

She was impressed by the hospitality of the Japanese, but the

relationships built over a short time were the point of the whole

experience, she said.

Scott Paulson, chairman of the Okazaki committee of the Sister

City Assn., said that after his many visits, friends in Japan now

make up one-third of his Christmas card list.

“The fun part is, once the students make the exchange, they stay

friends forever,” Paulson said. “It is a magic thing that happens.”

Friends and colleagues remembered Wendell Fish and Moe Hamill with

admiration of their vision and expressed determination to carry the

work that they started far into the future. Fish, who passed away in

his 90s, and Moe Hamill, in his 80s, were actively involved right up

until the end.

“Nothing was work to him. Everything was a pleasure,” Dorothy

Hamill said of her husband.

She already has two picnic lunches planned with friends at the

benches. She said her husband would have been thrilled and honored by

the dedication and the outcome of his efforts.

Carol McMullen, daughter of Wendell Fish, said his work was very

important to him.

As for the bench, she said, “My dad would’ve said it was too

much.”

* CORAL WILSON is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at coral.wilson@latimes.com.