Rochester, NY: Reiko Koide was born into the Koide family in Aomori, Japan in 1964. Since her first diagnosis in 2018, she courageously lived with stage III cancer, kept working until January 2020, and accepted death on August 31 at 11:45 AM.
After graduating from International Christian University in Tokyo in 1987, she worked for a newspaper company in Nagano Japan as a reporter for four years. She loved the occupation, but had to separate from it due to a work-related car accident in 1991. She decided to go back to school in 1992, and moved to Binghamton, NY to attend SUNY Binghamton and pursue a PhD in Sociology as a student of then International Sociological Association president Immanuel Wallerstein. She worked several jobs, raised a son, and eventually completed the degree in 2013.
In her last years she served the community as a Medicaid examiner at Monroe County’s Department of Human Services. She learned and mastered the job with an earnest desire to help those she could, shared her knowledge with other workers, paid close attention to her clients, and worked with other agencies to give back to the town that had in many ways become her second home.
She is survived by two brothers, Taro and Shiro, and her son Hugo Koide Keith.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Rochester Korean United Methodist Church in New York on Saturday, October 10 at 7PM Eastern Standard Time. In-person attendance of the memorial service will be limited to close family and friends due to COVID-19 precautions. If you would like to receive information regarding viewing the memorial service remotely via Zoom, please email Nobuko Wilson at nowilson@hotmail.com.
I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Reiko was an amazing, smart and funny woman. I worked with her in SSI-Medicaid and she really helped me to not only learn how to do my job but she helped me understand it. I’m going to miss Reiko. She is gone but she will never be forgotten.
My DEEPEST Condolences to the Family and Friends of Reiko Koide. I worked with Reiko at the Department of Health and Human Services, as a Clerk and then Reiko became an Examiner. A VERY SWEET LADY she was. 😊😉 My Prayers are with you all…. Marcia Gould
My thoughts and prayers go out to Reiko’s family. I worked with Reiko at Monroe County DHS and prior to her cancer diagnosis, she was always smiling, bringing in Apple Cider and donuts for the work team. She was a very hard worker, super smart and caring about the clients she served.
My heart is feeling heavy and sad by the loss of Reiko she was my desk partner in CDM for 3 years..Her bubbly personality made it easy to work alongside her..She will truly be missed..RIH🙏🌺🙏🌺🙏🌺❤❤❤❤❤❤
I am so sorry to hear of Reiko’s passing. She was a family friend and I have fond memories of her from my childhood. I’ll always think of her when I make gyoza. Much love.