Judith Setsuko Fujito

Judith Setsuko Fujito, 86, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2026, in Sunnyvale, California, lovingly surrounded by her family. Judy was the devoted wife of Roland Fujito for 64 years and the beloved mother of their three children, David (Lori Lee), Diane (Gary Suplick), and Barbara (Dan Fritschen). She was a doting grandmother to Christina and Allison Fritschen and Scott and Sarah Suplick, as well as a cherished “Auntie” to many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Joanne Kobori (George Kobori).

Judy was born to Masayo and Natsuko Furuta on March 22, 1940, in Los Angeles, where she spent the first two years of her life. In 1942, Judy and her family were forcibly removed from their home and incarcerated at Manzanar War Relocation Center during World War II, along with thousands of other Japanese Americans. After the war, Judy’s family resettled in Chicago before eventually moving to Watsonville, California, where they farmed strawberries.

Judy graduated from Watsonville High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from San Jose State College in 1962. That summer, she and Roland married. Judy taught for a year in Milpitas before moving with Roland to Long Island. The following year, they returned to California to raise their family.

Judy stayed home to raise their children for 12 years before returning to the workforce in 1976 as a secretary at Harman & Shaheen Associates, a polygraph agency. Five years later, she completed formal training and certification to become a polygraph examiner. In 1993, Judy purchased the business and rebranded it as Harman & Shaheen Polygraph Services, which she successfully owned and operated until her retirement in 2008. Independent, determined, and hardworking, Judy forged her own path as an Asian American woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession.

Although the outdoors was never quite Judy’s passion, she good-naturedly joined Roland in taking their children on numerous camping and backpacking trips to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, and many other wilderness areas of California. She and Roland enjoyed many trips to Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and England over the years. Judy’s willingness to give things a try led her to climb Half Dome in her 30s, rappel into Moaning Cavern in her 50s, and zipline in Costa Rica in her 70s.

Judy delighted in being a grandmother and was fondly called the “Cookie Grandma.” She and Roland loved attending the many activities of their grandchildren and extended family and were a constant presence in the cheering section at sports events, music concerts, and theater performances. Judy had a wonderfully matter-of-fact way of looking at life, and her straightforward observations and ability to laugh at herself often had her family laughing right along with her.

Judy faced breast cancer in 2008 and its metastatic return in 2021 with strength and resilience. When it became clear that treatment could no longer give her the quality of life she desired, Judy chose to take control of her final chapter and ensure that her passing would be quick, peaceful, and on her own terms. Judy remained steadfastly herself to the end, facing death as she faced life: with determination, courage, and conviction.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 24, at 1:00 p.m., at the Sunnyvale Senior Center Orchard Pavilion, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale. Judy requested attendees wear their favorite color. In lieu of flowers, donations to your favorite charity in Judy’s memory would be appreciated.