Kristine Tsujimoto

Kristine Tsujimoto, 83, died peacefully, in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 18, 2024, at her home in Victoria, Texas. Kristine, the daughter of Olga and William Keyes, was born on July 27, 1940, in Lorain, Ohio.

In 1958, Kristine graduated with distinction from Lorain High School in Lorain, Ohio, where she participated in all-things music, Pep band, marching band, a cappella choir, orchestra and operetta. In the fall of that year, she began undergraduate studies at Ohio State University majoring in music, which she completed in 1969 at Lamar State College of Technology, attaining a Bachelor of Science in Music with special recognition in performance of the violin. Kristine continued her studies in violin performance at the University of Houston, earning a Master of Music in 1972.

In 1975, Kristine moved to Victoria, Texas where she taught music on faculty at the University of Houston – Victoria and directed the Orchestra Program for the Victoria Independent School District. In addition, Kristine performed with The Victoria Symphony as its first concertmaster, and always eager to play chamber music, she performed frequently at The Victoria Bach Festival. Kristine eventually stepped aside from working in public schools to open her own music studio. She took private students and taught Suzuki violin until her very active retirement when she enjoyed bicycle touring, baking artisan bread and reading voraciously.

Kristine’s was a life devoted “An die Musik”. While she loved performance, having played with symphony orchestras in Oklahoma City, Baton Rouge, Corpus Christi and Victoria, nowhere was her devotion to music more apparent than when she was teaching the art of performance to her many, many students.

Kristine is preceded in death by Olga and William Keyes, her mother and father, and by Koun Tsujimoto, her husband of 59 years. Kris is survived by her brother David (Judith) Keyes and by her children Susan (Greg Espersen) and John, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

A private Buddhist service, presided over by Junsho Tsujimoto of Hounji, in Osaka, Japan, was held on July 21, 2024, on the news of Kristine’s passing. Namu Amida Butsu.

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