In Fall 2004, Dr. Keiji Tachikawa (center), the Chairman of NTT DoCoMo, toured Tateuchi Hall and the entire Finn Center facility with Dr. Gary Cleary (left) and Nobuko Saito Cleary.

Donor Spotlight on Dr. Gary and Nobuko Saito Cleary

The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center is honored to have the international advocacy, friendship and support of "Great Givers" Mrs. Nobuko Saito and Dr. Gary Cleary.

"As long time friends of the school, it is our deep honor to be a part of CSMA's programs and events," said Nobuko Saito Cleary. "My family's involvement has greatly enriched our lives, and promotes cultural understanding and academic excellence for children in our schools."

"As someone who works in pharmaceutical business," said Gary Cleary, "I was glad to learn from the College Entrance National Report Board that students in music appreciation score 63 points higher on the verbal and 44 points higher on the math section of their SAT exams than those who have had no prior arts participation experience. As an artist, I personally feel fortunate that students excel a great deal in the visual arts, too!"

Nobuko Saito Cleary is a member of CSMA's Board of Directors and was the dedicated volunteer who helped secure a $1 million gift from the international Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation. A native of Japan, Nobuko was a child singer on the NHK radio, TV network and had her own show in Japan. She also studied under composer and conductor Maestro Jiro Nakano, and recognized his talents in memoriam by making a major gift with her husband to permanently name the Ensemble Room at Finn Center. Nobuko is Board member and Co-Chair of the Japan Society of Northern California's 100th Anniversary Gala, and is assisting CSMA with programming plans for both traditional and classical Japanese musicians in Tateuchi Hall.

Dr. Gary Cleary is a former member of CSMA's Board of Directors and one of the distinguished Bay Area artists who had the opportunity to display their work in the inaugural year of exhibitions in our venue for artwork from all around the world, Mohr Gallery. A scientist with a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics, Gary Cleary has developed and manufactured drug delivery systems for products such as contraceptives and nicotine patches. But he discovered his love of art much earlier in life, as a student. Gary has attended drop-in life drawing sessions at CSMA, and employs an expressionist style in his landscape as well as his figure oil paintings. Gary Cleary, a Pharm.D, PhD, MBA and Rutgers and UCSF alumnus, is President and Chief Technology Officer of Corium International. He holds 30 patents, along with many others pending. Moreover, Gary received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Life Sciences for Northern California and Biomaterials Entrepreneur Award in 2004. Congratulations from CSMA!

Thank you as always, Nobuko and Gary, for your generous investment as Cornerstone Program members of the project to build our first permanent home. Your dedication and drive has made a significant difference in CSMA's ability to expand our reach - across cultural borders and broad seas - to significantly brighten the lives of tens of thousands of our music and arts education students throughout the region.