I just read the article about John O'Donnell (obituary, July 20). I started new classes for Mt. Airy Learning Tree this spring. John wrote an excellent article about new classes, Japanese cooking and Japanese language classes. Yes, I talked to him in Japanese! He also wrote a referral letter for me to apply for graduate school this winter. I was accepted by Columbia Graduate School, Japanese Pedagogy Program, in March. I'm in NYC this summer with my daughter, who just graduated from Princeton University with a Creative Writing, English Major.

It was very surprising that he passed away. The last time I saw John was at the garden tour in June. He was smiling and seemed very healthy.

I also believe that there was a fate to meeting John. I moved to Philadelphia from the West Coast with my husband, who needs special medical care at Penn Medicine, last fall. I have been looking for the oldest horticultural therapy garden in Philadelphia. The obituary article about John told me that he used to be the executive director of the medical nonprofit organization that started the first horticultural garden. I often drive to the North Wilmington area to visit Dupont's gardens for my lifetime passion. Now I know that John was the person to open the door to advance my life.

Makiko Goto-Widerman

Makiko Floral Design Garden Club

Chestnut Hill