RIP Mitsuyoshi “Sam” Nishimura

This gentleman was one of my co-workers at Apple who handled Japanese calls. We all received the sad news of his passing this Monday late Wednesday afternoon (he had terminal cancer). I will miss him because he was a unique presence in the Enterprise work area on weekends, even if he was mysterious and quiet. Sam, as he preferred to be called, was always friendly when you approached him, always a smile on his face. In the beginning, I think many of us were baffled by him since he kept to himself and having a cubicle far away from the “action” also keeps one of the core interaction with my team. Since most Americans are more gregarious, some figured he was rude, others thought he was shy (I was in this camp) but I bugged my friend Doc who lived in Japan for three years about a guess. Doc’s answer was that the Japanese vary as much as Americans yet they’re probably more reserve so I can be misinterpreted for the previous theories. I took the chances to talk to him and I felt better I did. Sam’s smile came through and best of all, he never found my questions about his life in Japan or time in America annoying. I think he was also impressed I knew the picture he kept in his cubicle was Mount Fuji. Actually, it’s the only natural landmark I know of for Japan. 
 
Farewell Mitsuyoshi, aka Sam. It was great to know him and I appreciate his efforts to do his best supporting Apple’s Japanese customers with Mac OS X Server, no small feat in any language or culture.