With sadness, we announce the passing of Ms. Midori Buchanan on June 5, 2026. Her daughter Lori and son Marcus were honored to be by her side as she quietly passed away. Her death was preceded by her second husband Oscar Marcus Buchanan (1977) and her daughter Susan Kay Buchanan (2010).
Midori, which means green in Japanese, was affectionately called Ms. B. by friends and colleagues. She lived a full and at times colourful life. Born on April 30, 1938 as Midori May Iwamoto, to Mitsuye and Ryohei Iwamoto in Los Angeles, CA. Midori was the second of four children.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and despite being U.S citizens, the Iwamotos were relocated to the Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Wyoming. After World War II, the family returned to downtown Los Angeles where they owned an apartment complex and a couple of buildings in Japan Town. Eventually, the family moved to Rosemead, CA as it was converting from orchards to houses. Midori had memories of picking strawberries there. It was during this post war period when she learned the chemistry of cooking and developed her passion for it. Also
during the 1950’s-60’s Midori became aware of the importance of stewardship of the environment made apparent by the air pollution in Los Angeles would hurt her lungs and eyes.
Midori started her university studies at University of the Redlands then transferred to University of Los Angeles after two years. Her major was Biology because she loved the field trips! After graduation, Midori, ever the one for an adventure, got a job as a tutor for an affluent family’s children on a yacht, called the “Via Vida” bound for Hong Kong. The owner was a Big Band leader and his wife was from an oil family. During this trip she met her first husband Larry (Lawrence) Brown. They disembarked in Hawaii when she got fed up with the “spoiled kids”. Guess this created a bit of consternation with the family and within the ship. Midori and Larry got married and had their
first daughter, Susan, in Honolulu in 1962. Their second daughter Lori followed and was born in Los Angeles in 1964.
Eventually, Larry, a merchant marine, left for Asia and never returned.
With the assistance of her family, Midori was able to return to Los Angeles and continue at UCLA for her Masters in Zoology.
She rekindled a friendship with Oscar Marcus (Marc) Buchanan and when Marc got a job offer on Trinidad at Simla Field Research Station Midori, Susan, and Lori went along. In Trinidad, Marc and Midori got married and their son John Marcus Buchanan was born in 1968.
In 1971, the family moved to St. John in the USVI where Marc ran Virgin Island Environmental Research Station (VIERS) at Lameshur. Midori began working as a kindergarten teacher at the Benjamin Franklin School in
Coral Bay later renamed the Guy Benjamin School. Then Midori ran the Cruz Bay Public Library. Marc was preparing to get anther PhD when he was diagnosed with and succumbed to lung cancer in 1977. Midori was a wonderful and devoted caregiver to Marc during his illness.
Midori Buchanan’s Bio
Once again, Midori, more commonly called Ms. B. now, had to remake herself. She started working as the Julius E Sprauve School in Cruz, Bay St. John as the School Librarian. She also went to night school at the College of the Virgin Islands and would work weekends at the Caneel Bay Resort, and occasionally at a local boutique store
Wireworks. She moved temporarily to Columbia, South Carolina for the University of South Carolina to get her Masters in Library Science. When she returned she became the Head Librarian for the Virgin Islands. Eventually Ms. B. left the public library to return to be the School Librarian at Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas where she stayed until her retirement.
Post retirement, Ms. B. became a doting grandparent to her daughter Susan’s children traveling frequently to North Carolina to care for them and often traveled with friends. After Susan was diagnosed with cancer, Ms. B quickly devoted her time to caring for Susan and her family. After Susan passed away, Ms. B. retreated to her beloved St. John.
Whereas Ms. B. would have loved to stay on St. John for the rest of her life, health issues required her to move back to California to be closer to family. Eventually her daughter Lori assumed care of Midori and moved her to North Carolina. After COVID, they moved to Orlando, FL. Unfortunately dementia and scoliosis took a toll on Ms. B. the last few years of her life. Through it all, Ms. B. was always pleasant, grateful, and gracious.
Midori will always be remembered for her positive spirit, quiet perseverance, child-like inquisitiveness, a caring /compassionate attitude towards others, and the wonderful meals she would whipped up for visitors! The dignity she carried through life is present in her daughter Lori, now retired. Her adventurous spirit lives on with her son Marcus, an airline pilot. And her soul lives on in her three grandchildren Jordan Owen, Marcus Owen, and Robert Buchanan as they engage with the world around them through travel, art, and their love of nature.
Moreover, Midori would have liked every one of her friends to know that she had a good life despite the hardships. She was able to travel, make friends, and able to enjoy time with her grandchildren. Our family is eternally grateful to all of Ms. B.’s friends who welcomed, accepted, and assisted her as she navigated her way through life!
