The Reverend Susumu Ando
The Reverend Susumu Ando
Let us remember with thanksgiving the life and ministry of Rev. Susumu Ando, 70, who entered his eternal Home peacefully in Allentown, PA, on December 6, 2022.
Susumu was born on May 26, 1952, to Minoru and Kazuko Ando in Nagoya, Japan. He graduated from Musashino Art University in Tokyo, Japan, as a design major. In 1979 he came to the United States to study at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York where he received the Master of Fine Art in oil painting. Following a job for practical training, Susumu returned to Japan to marry Yuri Mizuno. They were married in Yuri’s home church in Nagoya, Japan.
While Susumu worked as Fiscal Manager at Project Hospitality, a church-based nonprofit organization that feeds the hungry and shelters the homeless on Staten Island, New York, he became more involved in the ministry of Union Japanese Church of Westchester, where Yuri served as a pastor. His call to ministry came in 1994 when he heard God’s voice saying to him, “Feed my Sheep.”
Susumu graduated from Drew Theological Seminary in 1998 and was appointed to North Shore United Methodist Church, Wading River, New York, where he served for 17 years. The areas of ministry he was passionate about were spiritual growth, mission and healthy living. He led various small group studies, contemplative prayer and mission trips to Haiti. He participated in Maureen’s Haven, a ministry to the homeless, and offered workshops on health, diet and environmental issues. In his sabbatical year, he took a course on ”Plant- based Nutrition” from eCornell (Cornell University) and was certified as a Whole Food, Plant-Based Educator/Coach. He also became a fellow in Green Faith Fellowship Program, which trains leaders from diverse religious traditions for religiously-based environmental leadership. Susumu retired in 2016 to continue his health and environmental ministry in free and creative ways.
His lung illness led him to a lung transplant in August of 2018. Although his physical activities became limited, he took it as his ministry to write short essays to share his life-long learning and thoughts about health, the environment, animal welfare, climate change, peace and justice. Daily practice of Centering Prayer was the source of his faith and spiritual grounded-ness.
When Susumu was healthy, before his illness, he enjoyed yoga, various physical exercises, vegetable gardening and whole food plant-based cooking. He lived with the new lung for four years and four months and celebrated his 70th birthday, the 30th birthday of Kohei, his son, and his and Yuri’s 40th wedding anniversary in 2022.
He went in peace to his heavenly Home, surrounded by Yuri, Kohei, his close friend and a Hospice chaplain, while they sang his favorite hymns.
In addition to Yuri and Kohei in the USA, he is survived by his brother, Mamoru, and his sister, Kayo, and their families in Japan.
Susumu’s wishes, that in lieu of flowers, a gift may be sent to Helping Hand Ministry at North Shore United Methodist Church, Community Meal Program of East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, or Mercy for Animals.
The service of Celebration of Susumu’s Life will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 10:30am at North Shore United Methodist Church, 260 Rte 25A Wading River, New York 11792. .
The service will also be available via zoom, using the following link.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83688291937?pwd=bGM1R3JUcGVVaU9jRE5uNW5aWENTdz09
Blessings and prayers to the Ando family and to all who loved Susumu at this time of loss.
Grace and Peace,
Margaret Howe
Conference Secretary
