Jiro Sugidono

Jiro Sugidono Resident of Watsonville Jiro Sugidono, a WWII U.S. Army Veteran, died peacefully at the VA Medical Center in Livermore on January 19, 2013. He was 89. Mr. Sugidono was born in Watsonville on October 25, 1923 to Saichiro and Asa Sugidono. He graduated from Watsonville High. From 1944-1946 he served in the US Army 442nd Infantry Regiment, Company L and in 2012 was awarded Congressional Medal of Honor. Before starting his own successful gardening business, Mr. Sugidono helped grow strawberries with Henry J. Tsutsui whose daughter, Jane, he married on February 12, 1956. Mr. Sugidono loved to play Bingo and was a great bowler. He also used to coach basketball for the Westview Presbyterian Church of which he and his wife are longtime members. Mr. Sugidono is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jane Sugidono; sons, Doug (Candace), Steven, and Ron Sugidono; daughter, Lori (Peter) Zaloumis; brother, Ichiro Sugidono; sisters, Grace Fujita and Alice Okine; and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at the Westview Presbyterian Church, 118 1st St., Watsonville. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Westview Presbyterian Church. Arrangements were entrusted to Mehl's Colonial Chapel.