Sick, Struggling, a Tired Farmer Finally Let Go

Masao Fujishige spent his last day doing what he had done for more than 30 years: working on his family-owned strawberry farm in Anaheim.

He didn’t say much. But then again, he wasn’t a man of many words, his family and friends said Thursday. He just “worked very hard” on his land because “you have to work hard to hold onto it,” his wife, Carolyn, said.

But on Wednesday night, the father of four decided to let go.

Alone in his living room, Fujishige, 61, killed himself with a shotgun at about 6 p.m., police said. He did not leave a note, but family members Thursday blamed the suicide on his failing health and his despondency over the prospect of losing part of his land to the city, which last month began condemnation proceedings to help ease the way for a hotel, office and condominium project.

“It’s just that my husband was a little tired. And he had this pain--he couldn’t handle it,” said Carolyn Fujishige, who was visibly distraught. He also was “very despondent” over the legal battle with Anaheim, she said. Neither Carolyn nor Hiroshi Fujishige, Masao’s brother, blamed the city for the death.

“I don’t blame them at all. He was a sick man,” Hiroshi said. “Those people over there were doing their job--whatever their job is. (The condemnation) was a contributing factor, but my brother was sick.”

The Anaheim City Council on June 3 voted 4 to 0 to begin proceedings to take 3.92 acres of the 58-acre farm for access roads for a nearby development.

In essence, the city lent its power of eminent domain to the developers (Hong Kong-based Alexandra Ltd. and Becker Ltd.) to acquire the portion of strawberry farm which the farmers didn’t want to sell but which the developers needed to comply with city requirements.

Earlier this year, the city hired the developer’s attorney, Floyd A. Farano, who now represents both in the condemnation case.

Difference in Valuation

At various times, the Fujishige family has been willing to sell part of the land at 1854 S. Harbor Blvd. for $1 million per acre. The developer has offered the Fujishige family about $30,000 an acre.

When the family first began farming in the early 1950s, Orange County had many agricultural sites. But today, the Fujishige farm is wedged between two large hotels, faces more hotels and is only blocks from the Anaheim Convention Center and Disneyland.

On Thursday, handmade signs announced the farm was closed.

Family members, neighbors, farm workers and city officials expressed shock and sorrow over Fujishige’s death.

“I didn’t believe it because I just saw him yesterday morning,” said Amancio Jauregui, a supervisor in the strawberry farm where he has worked since 1961. “He told me he wanted to relieve me sometime soon and help me supervise the workers.”

Jauregui described the Californian native and his family as buena gente --good people.

Neighbors in the Anaheim neighborhood where the Fujishige family has lived since the early 1960s described him as a “very nice, very quiet, very likable” man.

Cared About the Land

Several, like Jean Dutch, said that they didn’t know him well but that he “he was a very dedicated worker. He was always working.” Nonetheless, Dutch said she knew him enough to know he was “a good family man” and that he cared about the land.

The city’s move to force the sale of some of that land, Dutch said, was “unjustifiable.”

City officials who were contacted said they grieved with the family. But Fujishige’s death is not expected to change current plans, Mayor Pro Tem Irv Pickler said.

“They’re wonderful people, and I’m sorry to see what happened,” Pickler said. But, he said he expected that a portion of the land will be used for access roads and that eventually family members will want to develop the land themselves.

Councilman E. Llewellyn Overholt Jr. agreed that no changes are expected. “We would be hopeful we could come up with peaceful negotiations. I think ultimately the property will be acquired for streets.”

At the Fujishige home Thursday, family members, friends and workers stopped in to give their condolences--but the good wishes could not erase the pain.

“You can never prepare for something like this. It’s not supposed to happen--especially to somebody who is so good,” Carolyn Fujishige said.

Funeral arrangements had not been completed Thursday evening.