Linda Lee Vecchio Passes Away

Posted 2020-08-23 21:54:11 by Jun Akiyama
News URL: https://www.gofundme.com/f/official-...vecchio-aikido

I just got word that Linda Lee Vecchio (7th dan) has passed away. Vecchio received her shodan in 1969 and continued to train and teach aikido for over 45 years. She was a long time student of Yoshimitsu Yamada.

From this <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/official-funeral-funds-for-linda-vecchio-aikido">GoFundMe page</a> to help fund her funeral, her family writes, "She lived her life only to do better, be better, and show the world a woman can be strong and handle any task a man can do. She loved to prove that point.  She never turned away from anybody asking for help.  Not only did she teach martial arts, she taught how to live life; how to be strong in mind not just body."

My condolences go out to her family, friends, students, and loved ones.

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I strongly echo Jun's condolences. I have vague memories of Linda training in Kanai Sensei's Cambridge dojo during visits from Yamada Sensei. This was the old dojo in Central Square, before the move to Somerville. Linda gave as good as she received and in this she was a strong support to female students in the dojo. There was simply no sign of the male sexism that sometimes blights aikido dojos. Some older folk might remember Sharon ("the two hips of death"), Carol, and Marjorie Chasset.

Hi Peter,

Thank you so much for sharing your memories! They're so invaluable in connecting the present to the past.

Best,

-- Jun

Hi folks,

I have received the following from James Vecchio, Sr, who is Linda Lee Vecchio's son:

My name is James Vecchio, Sr. This is the official link to support my moms funeral. The old link was taken down and this new link from Sharon day is tue only office link. Please change so people can see and read funeral times. Thank you so much for all you have done for my mom and our family. https://gf.me/u/ytjcpq

-- Jun