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| George S. Nakano |
George Shigeyuki Nakano (Poston 27-13-AB) was born December 21, 1928 in Venice, California to Minokichi and Kima (Hamada) Nakano. He was raised in Oceanside, California.
Following the attack at Pearl Harbor, his father, Minokichi Nakano was picked up by the FBI and detained in the Department of Justice detention prison in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
George, his mother and six siblings were evacuated to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 27-13-AB on May 15, 1942 from Oceanside, California. His father was given parole and joined the family at Poston, Arizona on June 2, 1942. His brother Ben Tsutomu Nakano found work near Alamosa, Colorado and left Poston on November 30, 1943. George and the rest of the family returned to Oceanside on August 20, 1945, except his brother Bob, who stayed at Poston until October 3, 1945 when he finally left and traveled to Detroit, Michigan.
George, his mother and six siblings were evacuated to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 27-13-AB on May 15, 1942 from Oceanside, California. His father was given parole and joined the family at Poston, Arizona on June 2, 1942. His brother Ben Tsutomu Nakano found work near Alamosa, Colorado and left Poston on November 30, 1943. George and the rest of the family returned to Oceanside on August 20, 1945, except his brother Bob, who stayed at Poston until October 3, 1945 when he finally left and traveled to Detroit, Michigan.
George graduated from Oceanside-Carlsbad Union High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, then attended Oceanside-Carlsbad College. In 1954, he moved to Caldwell, Idaho on a football scholarship and attended The College of Idaho, where he was also on the boxing team. He met Elaine Lutes, and they were married on August 29, 1959 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Caldwell, Idaho, and they raised four children.
George was an instructor and sports coach at Middleton High School, and Caldwell Jr. High School. At Caldwell High School, George coached football, wrestling, and track. He spent 19 years as an instructor and coach at Borah High School. George received the Charlie Alvaro Athletic Award, the A1 and A2 Track Coach of the Year, the Gary Comstock Memorial Award, the Idaho High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame "Lifetime Achievement to Wrestling". In 1982, George opened the Nakano Driving School and ran the business for 23 years, while teaching many to drive using his patented wheel.
George Shigeyuki Nakano passed away July 18, 2010 at the age of 81. He was preceded in death by his parents, Minokichi (1952) and Kima Nakano (1975); brother, Henry Tadashi (1989); and sister, Marion Katsuko.
George is survived by his wife of 50 years, Elaine; son, Tad (Juli) Nakano; daughters, Nikki Nakano, Karin (Jeff) Loffer, and Kristin (Charlie) Finley; brothers, Ben T. Nakano, and Bob (Sue) Nakano; and sisters, Frances Carvajal and Iris Imoto.
Published in Idaho Statesman on July 21, 2010
