Remembering Vicky Vaughan

The Saipan International School campus today. The building on the left is Akiyama Hall, named after Vicky Vaughan’s parents. It is now used to hold classes for grade schoolers. (Bea Cabrera)

Vicky Akiyama Vaughan was a child of the islands, a woman for others, and a mother of noble things.

Born on Saipan in 1933 to a Japanese father and a Chamorro mother, “Saipan was my entire world…I was happy,” according to Vicky, as quoted in the book Saipan: Oral Histories of the Pacific War by Bruce M. Petty.

That fragile happiness was shattered, first by a personal tragedy, then by World War II itself. Vaughan, who was born in Garapan, lost her mother when she was only 5 years old. Then the war came to the islands when Vicky was 11. She then lost her father and seven out 10 siblings.

Vaughan finally succumbed on July 14 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. She passed away in Aurora, in Chicago, where she worked at the Chicago Housing Authority and managed senior living facilities.

After retiring, she went back to Saipan and became instrumental in the many lives of individuals, families and the community. She is mainly credited with helping build the Saipan International School.

One of her friends, Milagro Saiki, who is business manager of Saipan International School, said that Vicky made sure that SIS was going to be built because she was a big believer in education and loved children.

“SIS was a different school before. The owners then had to leave the island so a new board of directors took over and officially called it SIS. The school was just a simple house at the back of a gas station on Beach Road and it could only accommodate 45 students,” Saiki said.

Vaughan would volunteer her time to come in for a few hours to read to the children and play with them. She was their Miss Vicky.

Another friend, SIS director emeritus Roland Johnson, said, “Vicky was never a regular classroom teacher at SIS. She offered her services as an assistant, an aide, a bake sale cashier, and a thousand other roles. If SIS asked, Vicky was willing to pitch in her time. Vicky loved kids and they loved her in return.”

Soon after, the school grew and there wasn’t enough space to accommodate the students. SIS needed a new location. Vaughan offered to help the board with funding and to look for a place to build the school.

Vicky offered to help the board to find a new location by saying she has the land and the resources. “Vicky paid for the clearing and landscaping and the first building on that property, then leased the property with those improvements to SIS at a very reasonable rate. Vicky stepped in and fronted the money for that new building on her property,” Johnson said.

The first building of the school is called the Akiyama Hall, named after Vaughan’s father. To date, it holds classes for grades 1 to 5 students, a mini library, a computer room, and a mini hall.

Saiki believes that without Vaughan, SIS wouldn’t be what it is today.

“She would never ask for anything back. She just comes and do her thing, with great ideas for fundraising. Anything we needed, we would call her. Whenever you need her, she will come,” Saiki added.

“I knew Vicky as a friend. I did not know her before the formation of SIS, but we became friends as she, along with many other parents, put their heads together to start and grow SIS. Her smile was contagious. Those that knew her will miss her greatly,” Johnson said.

Many of the school’s teachers, students, and parents who were involved with SIS 16 to 18 years ago have fond memories of Vaughan.

“Vicky loved to entertain and she was very organized. She would invite all the teachers, parents, and the board—just to have all these people with her. She would open her house to different group of friends. Like a mother to her cubs,” Saiki said.

Vaughan is believed to have left Saipan six years ago to move back to Chicago to be with her children and to take care of her health. Saiki remembers that it was close to Thanksgiving before she left.

“Once in a while, I would receive a postcard from Vicky and I will always send her a Christmas card with some news about the school or a newsletter. But I have always been in touch with her children and so around February-March I knew that her health wasn’t good. One day I received a message to let me know she has left us,” Saiki recalls.

After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, Vaughan passed away last July 14, 2017, with her family in Chicago. She was 84 years old.

Johnson said: “Vicky’s legacy should be that service to others is the highest form of human expression. Vicky gave of herself freely, without thought of return, financially or otherwise….She always wanted to help others first.”

“Vicky’s expectations of high standards in others forced those around her to be better people. That is a lesson that younger generations should take to heart,” he added.

“Everytime she has the opportunity to talk to children about the war, there was not a hint of tragedy. She won’t tell you how much she suffered and how difficult life was. She will always say, ‘you have to appreciate what you always have. You never know when you are going to lose it. Embrace your family and friends,’” Saiki said.

A lot were taken away early in Vaughan’s life but all throughout her life she gave more of herself for service, outreach, to share a laugh, friendship and love.

Saiki recalls Vaughan saying, “The war was a difficult time… but I consider myself lucky. I have beautiful children, healthy grandchildren, and my love for Saipan never faded.”