Roderick Y. Kobara

1925 - 2015

Roderick Y. Kobara
Sept. 19, 1925 - Aug. 20, 2015
Saratoga, CA
On August 20, 2015, Roderick Y. Kobara passed peacefully surrounded by his family in Hawaii, after a sudden bout with pneumonia. He would have been 90 in September.
His life was the classic Japanese-American/Nisei story. Rod was born and raised on a poor farm outside of Watsonville California in 1925. He and his family were interned in Poston Arizona during World War II. While his dream of being a doctor was interrupted by the inadequacy of the internment camp schools, he joined and served in the US Army and studied business. He ultimately graduated from UC Berkeley where he met his wife Tomi.
He became one of the first Japanese-American CPAs in California, overcoming post-war discrimination. He loved accounting and helping other people navigate and negotiate the American tax system through his own firm. He maintained his accounting practice near and around the J-Town area of San Jose for 5 decades. He helped hundreds of families realize their dreams. He was a self-made man who succeeded by valuing his Japanese-American heritage, education, hard work, service to the community and his family.
He was married to Tomi Kobara for almost 64 years. He raised four children John, Mitch, Katie, and Tomi in Saratoga California. He loved his eight grandchildren Jenna, Gia, Malia, Anna, Bobby, Joe, Izumi, and Brisa. All of his immediate family thrives because of his support.
Rod was an avid golfer and loved the sport. He taught his sons how to play and was able to play many of the best courses around the world. He supported his artist wife Tomi by becoming a critic and an amateur art valuator. He always volunteered in the community. He helped start a senior center for Issei, served as a leader with the Lion's Club, the YMCA and a proud member of the Japanese American Citizen's League (JACL). In his retirement he became a SCORE counselor for the SBA and served on the board of directors of the Windward Artists Guild on Oahu.
In lieu of any gifts and flowers we ask that you send a donation in Rod's honor to support the JACL.