Teddy's Mom's Flower Fund

My brother, Teddy Hiraoka, passed away on Sunday, September 12, 2021 of complications from COVID-19. He was fifty-three years old and vaccinated.

 

Anyone who knew Teddy, knew he was the first one to volunteer to help or offer assistance. If Teddy had met you even once or knew you were a friend of one of his friends, that was good enough for him. Without hesitation, he would have give you the shirt off his back and invited you to his annual dinner party.

As a kid, Teddy spent summers pushing a lawnmower in our dad's landscape and maintenance business. He learned humility, the value of hard work, what it meant to do a job "right" and was instilled with a strong work ethic. Teddy loved flowers and knew how much our mom, Ami, was a flower freak. He made sure she got flowers on special occasions because he loved being the reason someone else's face lit up.

 

Teddy had a huge heart and generous spirit. Family came first and he was always willing to drop everything to run to the aide of our mother. Teddy often made monthly trips to visit her in Las Vegas and helped with anything and everything she needed. He researched properties for her real estate business and acted as chauffer and translator for her Japanese clients.

 

Teddy lived a very active life and engaged in a variety of hobbies including deep sea fishing and racing. He would drive the 4+ hours to share his fresh catch with our mom and her friends, the Teddy Fan Club.

 

Needless to say, our mother is devastated, unsure of how to live without her eldest son. In lieu of sending flowers on the day of the funeral service, please consider contributing here  so that we might manage and spread out when she receives these loving and kind gestures. The money collected will be used to get her through the year of "firsts" (birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions and anniversaries) with a bouquet of fresh flowers or a potted plant. We hope this small kindness will help to fill the void she is so poignantly feeling during this time of transition and change.

 

Teddy's friend, David, at Scotty's Flowers (and Hawaiian Shaved Ice) in Whittier, is handling fulfillment. Teddy usually stopped by to grab a shaved ice and chat with David at least once a month. I went to David's shop recently and met David in person to break the news of Teddy's passing. David is a lovely and amazing human being, just like Teddy; David runs a local small business, just like Teddy. If you are local to Southern California and in need of a florist for any reason, please consider supporting Scotty's Flowers or just stop by and enjoy a frozen treat. Tell them Teddy sent you!

 

Our hearts are broken and we all miss Teddy terribly. May you find the strength to carry with you the impact of his sweet spirit. Please help us to honor and remember Teddy in the weeks and months ahead.