Kei Okada Joins National Widowers’ Organization Board

The National Widowers’ Organization, a nonprofit founded in 2009 to support grieving men, has appointed Kei Okada, MDiv, BCC, to its Board of Directors.

A New Vision for Grief Support

Dr. Sherry Schachter, Vice-chair of the organization, shared her excitement:

“I am so pleased that Kei joined our Board. He brings fresh and insightful experiences.
As we move forward, we are expanding support for men grieving a parent, sibling, child, or other significant loss. These individuals and their families often face serious challenges after the death of a loved one. Kei’s knowledge and compassion will help us respond to their needs.”

A Unique Path to Chaplaincy

Kei Okada was born in New York and raised in Kanazawa, Japan. Initially, he planned to study in the U.S. for one year. However, this turned into a much longer journey.
He attended three art schools and worked for four years with post-modern dancers in New York City. His love for language led him to study biblical languages at Union Theological Seminary.
During his training there, he discovered a deep calling to chaplaincy through Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

Decades of Compassionate Work

Mr. Okada has dedicated much of his career to supporting people facing serious illness. He worked at NY Presbyterian Cornell Medical Center’s Program for Children with AIDS.
In addition, he served at Housing Works Adult Day Health Care, assisting homeless individuals living with HIV.
Later, he joined the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. For more than 15 years, he focused on palliative and end-of-life spiritual care. He retired from his position as Program Manager in 2021.

A Life of Meaningful Dialogue

Now, Mr. Okada is writing his first book. It focuses on how to hold meaningful conversations with people nearing the end of life.
He is a Board-Certified Chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and an Associate of the Columbia University Seminar on Death.
As both a Christian mystic and artist, he teaches and writes in the U.S. and Japan. His work blends art, spiritual care, and medicine to deepen end-of-life communication.

Looking Ahead

Mr. Okada shared his thoughts on joining the Board:

“Thank you so much for your generous appointment. I am honored to join your sacred and much-needed community of support, learning, and research. I look forward to learning from you and working with you.”