Obituary of Dr. Shigeko Matsumura

Dr. Shigeko Yamashiro, married name Matsumura, passed away on August 14^th, of 2024 at the age of 76, at her home in Plainsboro, after battling stage 4 colon cancer for 5 years. 

Shigeko was born in Japan in 1947, during a time that was extremely difficult for women to be educated and independent. Nevertheless, Shigeko managed to save enough money working at Hitachi Corp., and paid on her own to obtain a PhD at Nagoya University. 

After immigrating to the US in the year 1980, she rejoiced in the culture at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory that allowed her to speak her mind freely. She enjoyed her freedoms so much that she obtained citizenship, making the US her permanent home. In 1985, she moved to NJ to work at Rutgers University. She continued working there until her very last days with her partner of 44 years, Dr. Fumio Matsumura.

Shigeko reveled in constantly learning cutting edge science and would spend every day asking, “What’s new?” in the lab. Yet she was unique in that she respected old traditions. Her family would joke that she had a spirit of the samurai for her ability to endure even the toughest times. She was a wonderful person with a strong will and big heart.

Shigeko is survived by her husband Fumio, daughter Aya, and sister Chikako.

Cremation services will be held privately. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel, 136 Morrison Ave., Hightstown, NJ.