Like Father, Like Daughter—The Apple Didn’t Fall Far
Wesley resident and Board of Trustees member Ray Kanemori along with his daughter Aimee, an educator, both support Wesley Community Foundation.
Ray and Charlotte Kanemori were donors before they moved to Wesley Des Moines. Her father had dementia and was a resident here from 1996 until he passed in 2001. Being appreciative of his care, the new Gardens building will house the Albert W. Carr Memory Care Center in honor of Charlotte’s dad.
In 2014 when Charlotte was diagnosed with dementia, they both knew she would eventually need extended care. She and Ray moved in five years ago and anticipated her transition to the Carr Memory Care Center. However, Charlotte passed away in 2022.
Daughter Aimee visited Grandpa Carr and later spent time with her mother. “I really appreciated how the staff took care of my grandfather and mom. They treat residents with kindness and compassion,” she remarked.
Ray grew up in Hawaii and Charlotte was raised in Orting. He studied engineering while she focused on speech-language pathology. They met at Tacoma’s famed Top of the Ocean. Ray said he was fortunate to work for two good companies: Intel and Microsoft. They lived in Redmond then in Kirkland for 27 years.
Ray believes in being part of the solution to problems. He remarked, “Charlotte influenced my giving, as she was generous with her time and money.” He also credits his father, “When I was little, he sent care packages after WWII to our relatives in Japan… on his meager salary as a postal clerk.”
Ray suggested giving to Wesley to Aimee. They supported building the Carr Memory Care Center and donating to the Skywalk, spanning S. 216th Street. “This project is important because I want people to be safe when crossing the street. Mom was hit by a car in 2017 and seriously injured. I don’t want anyone else to feel the same pain that she and my family felt,” said Aimee.
She feels it’s important to honor her parents and their causes, and that intergenerational giving is a way of clarifying and reinforcing values held as a family. She added that it is meaningful to discuss as a family where you give and why. Clearly the apple didn’t fall far from the tree!