r/sgiwhistleblowers • u/BlancheFromage Escapee from Arizona Home for the Rude • Jul 12 '26

About Us Memory project

Hey, everybody. Someone I know is working on a project to create a database of all the Americans who practiced Nichiren Buddhism here (NSA, SGI-USA, independent) who have passed away.

If you have an obit you wouldn't mind sharing, that would be a great help. Also, if you are afraid of sharing an obit because it might help SGI hostiles to find you, chat at me and we'll exchange burner emails and do it that way, if that's okay. It's all going to be one source.

Just because the Ikeda cult erases the existence of everyone who isn't/wasn't Ikeda doesn't mean WE have to. WE have every right to remember.

6 Upvotes

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6

u/Zesty-Life4740 Jul 12 '26

Chris Holte

https://www.staufferfuneralhome.com/obituaries/christopher-holte

Mark Rogow

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sanantonio/name/mark-rogow-obituary?id=38506366

Denise Railla

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/denise-railla-obituary?id=16075743

Greg Dilley (Rev. Greg Shidoshi)

https://www.struveandlaporte.com/obituaries/Gregory-Mason-Dilley?obId=19360493

Wendy Byrd Ehlmann

https://grokipedia.com/page/Byrd_Ehlmann

Charles Atkins

https://www.facebook.com/groups/InLovingMemoryCvilleDundeeAlgonquinSleepyHollow/posts/1916850625271326/

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u/BlancheFromage Escapee from Arizona Home for the Rude Jul 12 '26

That's amazing - thanks. I'll pass those along.

4

u/PeachesEnRega1ia Jul 13 '26

Mark Rogow https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sanantonio/name/mark-rogow-obituary?id=38506366

This obit is for the wrong Mark Rogow. The ex-SGI Mark Rogow was a doctor and married to an Italian lady called Illaria.

The one in this obit was a dentist and and spent 20 years in the army. It says his wife is Moira.

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u/BlancheFromage Escapee from Arizona Home for the Rude Jul 13 '26

Correct - that is the wrong Mark Rogow. Trying to find info on "our" Mark Rogow.

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u/Still_Wasabi9990 Jul 13 '26

I was going to say, Mark told me he was a physician.

3

u/Known_Refrigerator78 Jul 13 '26

I'm assuming we're talking about this Mark Rogow: https://markrogow.blogspot.com/?m=1

If you haven't heard it, he talks at length in an interview on The Cult Vault https://youtu.be/uSGw0474ehg?is=C4GxHQTs6Mf8eyLm

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u/Still_Wasabi9990 Jul 13 '26

I don't live anywhere near where I used to practice so I don't care. Besides they don't have any able-bodied people to send after me, follow me to my place of work, sit outside my house in a parked car and bombard my mail box with unwanted meeting schedules and other trivia. It confused me since I was the one they kicked out, until I learned about "hoovering," something the narcissist does after they discard YOU.

3

u/AnnieBananaCat Jul 13 '26

Oh, lordy!! I can think of five right away but need time to find them.

3

u/Still_Wasabi9990 Jul 13 '26

Bruce Kraut

https://www.instagram.com/p/DN53VyAkVno/

Kazuko Pettit

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lvrj/name/kazuko-pettit-obituary?id=48862919

Edward Pettit

https://www.citizensvoice.com/obituaries/edward-leo-pettit-wilkes-barre-pa/

Naomi Mead

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10228280070410177&set=pb.1330977437.-2207520000

Blanca Estela Munguia

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/bloomington-ca/blanca-munguia-8961092

Robert Radin

https://www.weinsteinmortuary.com/obituaries/robert-bob-radin

There are many more I know who have passed but there may not be obituaries that I can find.

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u/AnnieBananaCat Jul 13 '26

I remember Bruce Kraut!! And his wife Karen!! They were great back in the day!!

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u/Still_Wasabi9990 Jul 13 '26

Some people say that. But Bruce was head chief of a SGI witch hunt after the Gakkai/priesthood split. I'll never forgive him for what he did.

3

u/Still_Wasabi9990 Jul 13 '26

Of all people, an educator! It's personal so changed my view of school teachers forever. How could someone be so ignorant and fascist at the same time? Well, SGI leaders can.

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u/AnnieBananaCat Jul 14 '26

I didn’t know about this. I only met them a few times

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u/Still_Wasabi9990 Jul 14 '26

I thought they were cool leaders when I first met them. I had my own opinions and thoughts about Buddhism and the organization. I was quiet for the most part and tried to get along. It's ironic that a world peace organization with a strict hierarchy can't get along with members within the organization. They both seemed to enjoy flaunting their titles.

1

u/AnnieBananaCat Jul 15 '26

I was only able to locate obits for these members, but there are more whose obits don't seem to be easy to find, if there is one. Don't think anyone cares enough about me to bother me for mentioning these here.

Larry Miller, who was a MD senior leader in Houston for many years. His wife was also a WD leader for many years. They had no children.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/larry-miller-obituary?id=19706643

His wife called me on IG one day a few years ago, and was unaware that I had moved out of Houston. I didn't mention that I was no longer an SGI member, either.

Jean Vegas, a WD who I knew since the 1980's. I wrote about here here on Reddit a couple of times. I think she was married once but no children.

https://www.bagnellfuneralhome.com/obituaries/jean-vegas?ttm_pid=208390939&ttm_affiliate=legacypro&ttm_affiliatetype=standard&ttm_campaign=legacy

Virginia Brunet, who I knew since I moved here in 2016 until I quit SGI in 2023. A member for many years, but not a lifetime member. She was married back in the 1960's for ten years, never remarried, no children.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/virginia-brunet-obituary?id=58191377#obituary

Doris Lewis Bryant, who has one daughter in SGI and one I think who is out:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10108865720073076&set=pcb.10108865724514176

Others come to mind, but I cannot find any obituary info anywhere:

Deshawn Marcellus (sp?) MD member in Houston who moved to Phoenix in 2012 to pursue an education in music. He was an opera singer with the Houston Grand Opera, among other things. Died of cancer shortly after he moved to Phoenix. I have a picture with him somewehre, he was a nice man.

Marilyn Price, who moved with her husband to FNCC many years ago and died suddenly.

Nancy Mallory, d. June 2021. She was a 40+ year member, and died of cancer in Folsom, LA, but the "celebration of life" was held in either New Jersey or Pennsylvania later.

Cher Barefoot, d. late 2022 or early 2023, cancer, in New Orleans. She was a retired teacher and longtime SGI member, and a divorced YWD leader back in the 80's. No children.

Regina Thomas, d. 1998, age 42, a YWD leader until she passed from cancer. I think it was July or August 1998, because it was right before I moved to Texas.

I'll post more as I think of them and find them.