WILMINGTON — Hiroshi Sueyoshi, 78, of Wilmington, passed away Friday, March 7, 2025, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.
He was born November 5, 1946, Ishikawa, Japan, to the late Tozo Sueyoshi and Yoshiko Sueyoshi.
Hiroshi grew up in Tokyo, Japan and later began his studies in aeronautical engineering but eventually made the bold decision to try a more creative career. After studying Industrial Design for two years, he found his passion for working with clay in Mashiko, Japan, a renowned pottery town north of Tokyo. In 1971, he moved to the United States. He first came to Asheboro, NC to help his American friends build a Japanese kiln and studio. He also spent time in Warrenton, VA studying and working with Teruo Hara, a renowned ceramic artist with whom Hiroshi developed a lasting friendship.
In 1978, he moved to Wilmington as a visiting artist and made his life there. He met his wife Jane Tierney in Wilmington and they had two sons who became the center of his universe. He gave so much to the arts community in Wilmington and developed a huge network of loving friends through all the classes he taught at Cape Fear Community College, Orange Street Pottery and the Cameron Arts Museum.
His artwork will be cherished forever by family, friends, students and so many people he touched throughout his life. Hiroshi’s work is in many private, corporate and institutional collections including the Cameron Art Museum, the Mint Museum in Charlotte and the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery.
Survivors include his wife Jane Tierney, son Tadashi Sueyoshi (Meredith); sister, Yoshie Sueyoshi (Yushi) and brother Tosaburo Sueyoshi (Akiko); sisters-in-law, Maureen Baron (Paul), Ellen Tierney and Terri Tierney and many cousins, nieces and nephews both in the United States and Japan.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm, Sunday, March 16, at the Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC.
Memorial donations may be made to Cameron Art Museum, Michael J. Fox Foundation or Lower Cape Fear Hospice, Wilmington, NC.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Kamitsuka and Michelle Stough for their excellent medical care and to all the wonderful caregivers for their compassionate support.
Hiroshi was a loving father and husband who cared very deeply about his family. He was a protector, a teacher and a cheerleader for his two sons. For every birthday as they grew up, he bought his boys a tool so that he could pass his knowledge on to them for when he wouldn’t be there to help. The list of things he did to make sure his family was equipped for life goes on and on. He treated his friends the same way. There was never a favor too big or too small if a friend was in need. But on top of his generosity, possibly the most special thing about Hiroshi was his zest for life. He believed every day was meant to be celebrated and when you saw that sly grin come across his face you couldn’t help but smile yourself.
His positive energy and passion for the arts touched so many people and he will be missed dearly by so many friends and family.
