Brother’s Death Blamed on Health : ‘Shouldn’t Feel Guilt,’ Fujishige Tells Council

In a brief, emotional address Tuesday to the Anaheim City Council, Hiroshi Fujishige--brother of the strawberry farmer who committed suicide last week--said city officials “shouldn’t feel any guilt or anything” for Masao Fujishige’s death.

Pausing often, and at one point choking back emotion, Fujishige reiterated what he said last week--that the council members were not to blame for his brother’s death last Wednesday night.

“I have no bad feelings for any of you,” Fujishige said. “He was a sick man. The only trouble was I didn’t realize how sick he was.”

Masao Fujishige, 61, who left no suicide note, apparently killed himself with a shotgun in the living room of his Anaheim home. Family members said he was despondent over health problems resulting from a stroke three years ago.

Worked in Fields

The day of his death, Masao Fujishige worked in the fields, much as he has done since the family began farming on the site some 30 years ago. Family members said he had a difficult time coping with his health problems, which left him feeling too weak to continue the fight with the city over the building of access roads across the family farm at 1854 S. Harbor Blvd.

The battle with the city apparently was a “contributing factor”--but not the only factor-- in his brother’s suicide, Hiroshi Fujishige said last week.

The city plans to use its power of eminent domain--or condemnation--to take part of the 58-acre farm to build roads for an adjacent high-rise development. The family and the developers have been at odds over the price of the land, which is surrounded by motels and hotels near Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center.

‘He Never Recovered’

Hiroshi Fujishige said Tuesday that his brother’s stroke apparently caused some brain damage and that “he never recovered from it.”

“I thought he was getting better,” Fujishige said. But, he continued, apparently his brother felt that “his time on this earth was over and he finished himself.”

Mayor Donald R. Roth thanked Fujishige for his “courage” to address the council and gave his condolences “from the bottom of all of our hearts.”

“We love you, and we love your family,” Roth declared.

Masao Fujishige is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and four grown children. Funeral services will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. today at the Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S. Dale St., in Anaheim.