DONALD RICHIE

[Peter Grilli]

To Members of Kine-Japan,

Some of you may have heard already that Donald Richie suffered a bad heart
attack while traveling in the U.S. last Wednesday.  Since many members of
this list know Donald personally and regard him as close friend, mentor,
advisor, guru, Original Pioneer & Foundation Builder of the field of
Japanese film studies, Prime Mover - or some combination of all of these
roles - I wanted to give you an update on the state of his health.

Donald is now in Ft. Myers, Florida, midway through one of his periodic
lecture-trips across the U.S.  His next stop was to have been New York City,
where he was to continue with the wonderful commentaries he has been
recording for Criterion's DVD reissues of Kurosawa films.  He was visiting
his sister in Ft. Myers, and was extremely fortunate to be there when he
fell ill.  His sister is a retired nurse and recognized his symptoms
immediately and called medical help speedily.  Since Florida is one of
America's retirees' paradises, there is a hospital on every other block, and
skilled medical professionals everywhere.  Donald was rushed to hospital
Wednesday evening, his heart condition was stabilized immediately, and he
underwent open-heart surgery yesterday afternoon, lasting nearly eight
hours.  I spoke to his sister today, and she reports that he came through
the operation very well, and is resting fairly comfortably now.  He is under
close observation and the doctors say his prognosis is good.

After leaving the hospital (in a week or so, if all continues well), he will
have to remain in Florida for several weeks (at least) of rest and
recuperation.  As those of you who know Donald well will imagine, this does
not please him at all - and he's already asking about how soon he can travel
back to Tokyo (where he has lived for more than half-a-century).  His sister
and her family (including several doctors) are great, and will be first-rate
care-takers during his recovery period.  He'll get antsy, of course, because
he's such a big-city person (and especially a Tokyo -person) and Ft. Myers
is - even his sister admits it! - a cultural "wasteland" compared to Tokyo.
Donald the workaholic is also eager to get back to work (surely that in
itself is a sign of health) - especially the Criterion project and other
writing that he's engaged in.  But that's not going to be possible for a
while.  Maybe, though, with plenty to read, even Donald might come to enjoy
lying around in the sun with nothing to do except recuperate.

April 17 - the day after his heart attack - was Donald's 79th birthday.  For
any of you so inclined, please send him a card or a letter.  Though Donald
is normally a fierce correspondent, don't expect a reply for a while.  But I
think he'd really enjoy hearing from his many friends all over the world.
Write to him care-of his sister:

Donald Richie
C/o Mrs. Jean Reuther
14720 Lake Olive Drive
Ft. Myers, FL  33919

I'm intentionally NOT including a phone number.  Jean is already overwhelmed
with phone calls fron Donald'd friends, and she really doesn't need any
more.  But get-well cards and letters of good cheer will certainly boost his
spirits.  Donald's close friends love him and those who know him only
through his writings about Japan and Japanese film admire him enormously!
To me, he's as close as a very dear uncle, since he's been a continually
important part of my life since I was about six or seven  (and that's a LOT
of years!).  I want him to get well fast and return to Tokyo (where he wants
to be) as soon as possible.  But not TOO fast or too soon!  Right now, he's
comfortable, and - if one has to have a heart attack - I guess he's in the
best place he could be.  What he needs most is a lot of rest - and I bet
that out of that rest and quietude will come a couple more mighty books on
Japan!

Those of you who know Donald...... write him, and cheer him back to health!

All best,
Peter Grilli

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Peter M. Grilli
President, Japan Society of Boston
One Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109
Tel:  617-451-0726
Fax:  617-451-1191
E-mail:  grilli at us-japan.org