Yoshihiro "Mappe" Matsudaira

Yoshihiro “Mappe” Matsudaira, LCSW, 55 of Cornwall, was called home to be with the Lord on Jan. 10, 2025, after a courageous 2-year battle with stomach and colon cancer. He was the beloved husband of Rachel (Migliacci) Matsudaira for 30 years.

        Born on Aug. 11, 1969 in Matsumoto, Japan, Yoshi grew up in Tokyo and graduated from Hosei University. At Hosei he first heard and believed the Gospel of Jesus through YWAM missionaries. Soon after, he met his wife on a train in Tokyo. They were married at Friendship Baptist Church, Litchfield, and lived in Tokyo where 5 of their children were born. Yoshi worked for the mission Asian Access, and led the music for the International Community Chapel of Saitama (ICCS) for many years. He attended the Holiness Seminary and was ordained as a pastor to the Japanese Congregation of ICCS.

        In 2006 the family moved to Cornwall, where their 6th child was born. Yoshi lived for his children! He loved watching them play sports, especially soccer and baseball. A talented athlete himself, he coached youth sports for Cornwall Rec leagues and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. He loved doing things with his family, including cooking Japanese cuisine, doing jigsaw puzzles, crabbing on Cape Cod, playing video games, watching movies, cheering for Ohtani and other Japanese sports stars, playing ping pong and pool, break dancing, and caring for his chickens. He had a huge heart, and dedicated his life’s work to counseling “his boys” at CJR, Litchfield.

        All who knew Yoshi knew he had the love of Christ living in him. He never complained, served everyone above himself, and was always cheerful and positive. His smile and spirit lit up the room. Whether in Japan or CT, he loved his church, teaching Sunday School, leading the music, and enjoying the men’s fellowship. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Rachel, son Matthew and his wife Falyn of Winter Garden, FL, daughter Marina and her husband David Muench of Litchfield, daughter Manuella of Jamestown, RI, son Micah, daughter Melody, and son Manasseh. His 2 grandchildren Judah and Harbor Muench will miss their Ojiichan.

        Yoshi will be greatly missed by his wife’s family Hector and Helen, Naomi, Mimi, Hector B. (Carmen), and Nicola (Tracy) Migliacci, as well as by his many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Yoshiyuki and leaves behind his mother Hiromi and sister Kazumi (Takeshi) of Tokyo.

        The family would like to thank the generous team of men connected to New Hope who drove Yoshi to his doctor appointments and befriended him during his cancer battle. The family is grateful to CJR for hosting a dinner in Yoshi’s honor in 2023, and to everyone who has bolstered the family with prayer and support.

        A Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00pm  at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington, CT. Burial is private. A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 2:00pm at New Hope Baptist Church, 371 Pinewoods Rd., where all are encouraged to wear a Hawaiian shirt in Yoshi’s honor.

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