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Long-time Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Remembered
Written by
Sara J. O'Brien
, Special to RedCross.org
Wednesday, February 08, 2006 — SAN JOSE, Calif. – Duffy Busch, South Bay Volunteer Coordinator for the American Red Cross, estimates that Ernie Kitazawa donated more than 66,000 hours to the Red Cross. A Red Cross Blood Services volunteer since 1967, Kitazawa was with the organization for 39 years before passing away on Jan. 31, 2006.
Ernie Kitazawa, an American Red Cross Blood Services volunteer in San Jose, Calif., is estimated to have donated 66,000 hours to the Red Cross in the 39 years since joining the organization in 1967. (Photo Credit: American Red Cross)
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If one were to equate his volunteer hours with a regular 40-hour work week, he would’ve put in nearly 32 years of continuous full-time service. His length of service put him far above any other local Blood Services volunteer during his lifetime.
“He loved the Red Cross and the Red Cross was his family,” said Kitazawa’s sister, Helen Komatsu of San Jose, Calif.
For many years he ran a family business – the Kitazawa Seed Company. In the last few years, he worked for the Valley Transportation Authority while continuing to volunteer for the Red Cross.
When Kitazawa began his volunteer career with the Red Cross, the San Jose Blood Center (SJBC) only had one car, and it was for the Medical Director. Kitazawa used it to deliver blood when needed. Before the center had computers, he also helped keep the donor records updated.
“They were kept on file cards which were color coded according to the donor’s blood type,” he had told Busch back in 2004. Kitazawa registered donors for many years and most recently labeled the blood bags for practically all the mobile blood drives in the San Jose/Santa Clara area.
“Ernie would not only give of his time, but anytime you mentioned something you needed in passing, Ernie would show up the next day with just exactly what it was you mentioned,” said Jeff Godell, SJBC Team Supervisor. “And, of course, every day Ernie showed up at the start of a blood drive, he would always bring a box of donuts for the staff.”
And it was every day. He volunteered at mobile blood drives on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and at the San Jose Blood Center on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“Ernie was a tremendous asset to the American Red Cross, and we’ll miss him greatly,” Busch said.
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