Theodore Watanabe

Theodore Y. Watanabe, the original "International Man of Mystery" entered into heaven on June 24, 2017, after complications from a stroke. He was lucky to celebrate his 93rd birthday a week prior with his nieces and nephew from California. Ted was born in Harrington, Washington, to parents, Kinu Hosaka and Shigeji Watanabe. He was the eldest of three boys, with twin brothers, Ronald and Donald (preceded him in death). He graduated from high school in Harrington and received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Washington State University. He continued his education at Carnegie Mellon where he received a Master’s Degree in Physics in 1955. Upon graduation, he came to Idaho to work at the Site as a Physicist with Phillips Petroleum Company at the SPERT (Special Power Excursion Reactor Test) Program at the NRTS (National Reactor Testing Program). He worked at several other areas during his career including the Nuclear Physics Group at the Material Test Reactor. He retired from the Site in 1992 after 38 years. Ted is survived by his nephew, David Watanabe; nieces, Nancy Watanabe and June Watanabe; great-niece, Allison Crisler; and great-nephew, Jonathan Crisler, all from California. Every Christmas Ted would fly to California to visit his family and occasionally continue down to Mexico for a sunny, warm vacation. He loved to go hunting with his friends in Lolo, Montana, every fall and also enjoyed backpacking with his wonderful longtime friends, Kathy and Russ Buckland and their children. Many thanks to the incredible staff at Fairwinds-Sandcreek and hospice care for their love and support. A celebration of Ted’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 5, 2017, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 237 North Water Avenue in Idaho Falls.

Celebration of Life