▁seeing ▁more ▁than ▁twenty ▁such ▁p iles ▁against ▁a ▁back drop ▁of ▁Mount ▁Ever est ▁as ▁the ▁most ▁exc iting ▁experience ▁of ▁his ▁life . ▁ ▁After ▁an ▁earlier ▁heart ▁attack ▁left ▁him ▁weak ened , ▁Ts ut ak awa ▁died ▁at ▁his ▁home ▁in ▁Seattle ▁on ▁December ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 1 9 9 7 . ▁ ▁George ▁and ▁Ay ame ▁Ts ut ak awa ▁had ▁four ▁children : ▁Ger ard ▁( b : ▁ 1 9 4 7 ), ▁May umi ▁( b : ▁ 1 9 4 9 ), ▁De ems ▁( b : ▁ 1 9 5 1 ), ▁and ▁Marcus ▁( b : ▁ 1 9 5 4 ). ▁Ger ard ▁Ts ut ak awa ▁app r entic ed ▁under ▁his ▁father ▁and ▁is ▁himself ▁an ▁accomplished ▁sculpt or ; ▁May umi ▁Ts ut ak awa ▁is ▁an ▁author ▁and ▁editor ▁who ▁has ▁worked ▁for ▁the ▁Washington ▁State ▁Arts ▁Commission ▁and ▁the ▁Wing ▁Luke ▁Museum ; ▁Marcus ▁Ts ut ak awa ▁is ▁Music ▁Director ▁at ▁Gar field ▁High ▁School ▁in ▁Seattle ; ▁and ▁De ems ▁Ts ut ak awa ▁is ▁a ▁well - known ▁North west ▁jazz ▁music ian . ▁ ▁Awards ▁and ▁recogn itions ▁Honor ary ▁Doctor ate ▁from ▁Whit man ▁College ▁Honor ary ▁Doctor ate ▁from ▁Seattle ▁University ▁Order ▁of ▁the ▁R ising ▁Sun ▁Dec oration ▁from ▁the ▁Emperor ▁of ▁Japan ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁ ▁Cent enn ial ▁F ount ain ▁( Se attle ▁University ) ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Rad ford , ▁Georgia ▁and ▁Warren