Zitsuo Kawashima March 18, 1922-Sept.
26, 2010
Zitsuo was born in Brawley, CA. During WWII, he and his family of Japanese descent were
incarcerated at the Poston, Arizona concentration camp 1 (59-5-D). He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Military Intelligence
Service.
After the war, Zitsuo graduated from Wayne State University and the
University of Detroit Dental School in Michigan. He joined the U.S. Public
Health Service, which sent him to Oregon, Washington and New Mexico. Zitsuo
then enlisted and served in the US Navy for 20 years, including a tour of duty
on the U.S.S. Ticonderoga. He completed his professional life as a
periodontist.
Zitsuo was an expert marksman, had a black belt in Kendo, and enjoyed
swimming, fishing and photography. In his later years, he wrote a charming,
soon-to-be published memoir.
Resident of Pleasant Hill Zitsuo Kawashima passed away September 26, 2010, at home in Pleasant Hill, where he lived for four years.
Zitsuo is survived by his daughters, Yvonne and
Vita; brothers, Takeshi and Keiji; sisters-in-law, Chiyeko, wife of brother
Kiyoshi, Sadako, wife of brother Hiroshi, and Fumi, wife of Keiji; and
granddaughters, Mieko and Mariko. Sadako, his beloved wife of nearly 60 years,
preceded his death in April 2009.
Published in Contra Costa Times on
Oct. 2, 2010
