Peter T. Sagara

Peter T. Sagara Longtime resident of New Mexico and Colorado, passed away on March 26, 2012 in Albuquerque at age 80. Cherished husband to Amanda, devoted father to Kevin and Pat, beloved father-in-law to Deborah and Stephanie, and adored grandfather to Kyle, Kate, Geoffrey and Lindsey, Peter left an indelible mark on his family and the world of advertising photography. He was born in Sacramento, CA, where he lived until he and his family were sent to a concentration camp for Japanese Americans in Rohwer, AR, during the Second World War. Upon release the family moved to Michigan for a short while before returning to CA, where not long afterward Peter joined the Air Force during the Korean War. It was during this time he first experienced the excitement of photography, so upon his discharge he enrolled at The Art Center College of Design where he graduated with honors in 1960. Peter married his first wife, Chiyo Yoshida, and after their two boys were born, moved to Chicago where he set up his initial photography studio. After six years of a successful business there, the family moved back to CA where Peter established himself as one of the outstanding advertising photographers in Los Angeles. After retiring in 1987, he and Amanda lived for a short while in northern CA before moving to Santa Fe, NM, where they have lived for 22 years. He was able to pursue his two greatest pleasures, photography and fly fishing, wherever he lived, and has been a memorable mentor to those he met. Peter was preceded in death by Chiyo; his brother, Frank Sagara, and his sister, Grace Kurisu. He is survived by his wife, Amanda Moore; his sons, Kevin Sagara (San Diego, CA) and Pat Sagara (Escondido, CA); four grandchildren; sister, Alice Yamate (San Diego, CA) and brother, Norman Sagara (Garden Grove, CA); and two brothers-in-law Cyrus Moore (New York, NY) and Pickens Moore (Gallup, NM).