Mary Fumie Schmidt

Mary Fumie Schmidt, better known as “Fumi” was a badass matriarch and influential pioneer. Fumi was a mother-grandmother-daughter-wife-partner-artist-dancer-fashion designer and friend. Just shy of hitting her 95th birthday, Fumi was born on August 1, 1928, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and died on July 26, 2023, in New York City. The fourth of five children by Mitsuko and Eiji Akimoto, Fumi grew up in a working-class household in Honolulu. Early on, Fumi navigated her identity, living through WWII and the Pearl Harbor attacks as a Japanese-American.

Yet she never let her identities or societal normalities define her. Fumi went on to major in English, minor in French, and took extra classes in dance and pottery at the University of Hawaii. With her powerhouse mindset, that education wasn’t enough—she wanted to see more of the world and decided to go to Los Angeles.

Fumi was a BABE, and LA recognized it. A famous story of hers was about movie star Clark Gable drunkenly hitting on her when she waitressed. But what made her a real babe was her charm, intellect, and drive.

From LA she decided to move to New York City. Upon arrival, she auditioned for The Juilliard School and got accepted into their first dance class on scholarship. Under the directorship of Martha Hill, Fumi studied with dance history heavy hitters Martha Graham, José Limón, and others. While at Juilliard she met the love of her life, Kenneth Schmidt—a spunky flutist from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Young, spontaneous, and in love (and only knowing each other for a month), Fumi and Ken eloped on April 5, 1953, and moved to New Orleans. Fumi recalls navigating the segregated South as an Asian American, just on the cusp of the Civil Rights movement—again confronting her identity and placement in society.

Fumi and Ken soon moved back to New York City where they would reside the rest of their lives. I normally don’t give ANY credit to folks who say they’re “New Yorkers” if they weren’t born there but Fumi and Ken earned it over the 50+ years. They were bold, didn’t take anyone’s shit, and had their fair share of apartment hopping from window-less spots to eclectic apartments with a swing—they moved everywhere from the Bronx to the Greenwich Village. In NYC Fumi began her career as a professional dancer. She was in prominent Broadway shows such as Flower Drum Song, and The King and I, while also becoming a member of Jean Erdman’s dance company, a modern choreographer of the time.

On May 2, 1955, Fumi and Ken had their first and only child Rie Schmidt. Fumi and Ken didn’t change their lives for Rie, but instead, immersed her in their world(s). Rie was left to play backstage at their shows and rode along on their tours. Rie, the opposite of her wild parents—reserved and pragmatic, couldn’t resist being bit by the artistic bug. Fumi could not be more proud of the accomplished flutist, teacher, and mother Rie has become.

Later in her dance career, she transitioned to assisting with jewelry making. The jewelry making led to clothing making, which led to studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She started working for and collaborating with Sara Penn, the founder of Knobkerry, an innovative shop and gallery on E 7th St. where artists like Lena Horne and Jimi Hendrix shopped and bought Fumi’s makings. It was here where Fumi found her love for intermixing cultures—this feels like the moment also when Fumi’s identity settles. Through fabrics from Africa, India, Japan, Pakistan, and more, and with her designs, she was able to make what she wanted, how she wanted. In an interview with Svetlana Kitto she shares, “I loved putting together things that were totally unrelated culturally, because it would be startling.” She wanted to push boundaries and get people to sit in eccentricity. Fumi soon got her fashion into Bloomingdales and Henri Bendels, and established her own store on Spring Street, later moving to E 6th Street until 2013.

Beyond her inspiring career trajectory, Fumi was the utmost present grandmother to her grandkids John and Mitsuko. She influenced them through her artistry, wisdom, and hilarious banter. Fumi spent the latter years of her life as an avid reader, swimmer, basketball fan, and health nut for anything Gary Null recommended. She spent her last years living with her daughter Rie and son-in-law Ben. Never fully admitting it, Fumi enjoyed being with them, and how they were able to care for her with wine, cheese, and their company.

Fumi today exists through her works-of-art clothing shared with many and her impactful memories left with loved ones. I see her spirit eternally connected to NYC and Honolulu and in reunion with her soulmate Ken.

Written by Fumi's granddaughter Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery