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Masaru Odoi Obituary
Masaru Odoi, 92, died July 28. Born to George Teiichi and Chikaye Odoi, July 12, 1921 in Mukilteo, he was interned in WWII, but became a decorated veteran of the 442nd RCT. Survived by wife Frances, son Gary; son Richard (wife Yukie); & granddaughter Anna. Donations requested for the Japanese Presbyterian Church of Seattle and the Mukilteo Historical Society. Sign Masaru's on-line Guest Book at www.Legacy.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Masaru Odoi
Sponsored by Nori Odoi.
3 Entries
Dwight Chuman
September 23, 2013
Saw Mr. Odoi's obituary in the Rafu Shimpo, Japanese America newspaper. I met him in person several times and grew fond of whip smart nature and as EIC of the old Rafu, looked forward to his frequent letters to the editor. They don't make em like Mas anymore.
Takasumi Kojima
September 21, 2013
To the family of Mas Odoi; our condolence for the passage of Mas.
Our family was friends at the Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho. We lived in the same Block 29, where his mother and my mother both worked in the same shift in the mess hall. His younger sister Miriam and I were classmate at school.
I followed Mas's writings in the Japanese American presses and in his historical society's recording of the town layout of Mikilteo's Japanese settlement adjacent to the lumber mill.
I admired Mas's letter to the editors, and comments regarding civil rights matters.
With his passage, most of his generation who were spirited and provided leadership are gone. May the good Lord bless you and keep you until we meet again.
Mas (on right) with me (Nori) and his dear friend Fred Nakagawa
Nori Odoi
September 9, 2013
Masaru Harvey Odoi, 92, passed away July 28, 2013. Born to George Teiichi and Chikaye Odoi, July 12, 1921, in Mukilteo, WA, he and twin brother Hiroshi were joint valedictorians graduating from Ilwaco High School in 1939. Masaru completed two years of college at the University of Washington, before he and his family were interned at the Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho. From the Camp, he joined the Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He was awarded both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart and participated in the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to the 442nd RCT, MIS, and the 100th Infantry Battalion in 2011. In 2008, Masaru was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Washington with other Japanese American students forced to drop out because of internment.
After the war, Masaru married Frances Abe in Chicago, IL, and had two sons, Gary and Richard. Pursuing careers ranging from haberdashery to electronics, he was also active in community affairs, the JACL (Japanese American Citizens League), Mukilteo Historical Society, Nisei Veterans Committee, and more. He was an outspoken contributor to local newspapers and newsletters as well as a poet, contributing the haiku that will be posted in the Mukilteo Pioneer Cemetery by the graves of Japanese Immigrants. He was instrumental in the creation of the Mukilteo Japanese Heritage Monument. Masaru was Mukilteo's Pioneer of the Year in 2008 and twice a Mukilteo Light House Festival Parade Grand Marshal. A profoundly devout Christian, he was active in his church the Japanese Presbyterian Church of Seattle.
Mas is predeceased by his twin brother Hiroshi, brother Roy, and sisters Sue and Miriam. He is survived by wife Frances and two sons Gary; and Richard (wife Yukie); and granddaughter Anna. Donations in his name are requested for the Japanese Presbyterian Church of Seattle, 1801 24th Ave S, Seattle, Washington 98144 and/or the Mukilteo Historical Society, 304 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101, Mukilteo, WA 98275.
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