Harry Yoneo Sekigahama

Harry Yoneo Sekigahama
July 28, 1915 - January 9, 2013
Resident of Fremont
Harry passed away peacefully from natural causes in Fremont where he spent most of his life. He was proud to be 97 years old and was joking and laughing until the end. Harry was born in Watsonville to Sakuichi Sekigahama and Shinayo Nagata who were immigrants from Japan. Harry graduated from Washington High School in 1934, having lettered in track, tennis and basketball. As a San Jose State student, he played basketball and worked at Leslie Salt Co. He then farmed strawberries and ran Harry's Fruit Stand in the late 1930s. For fun, he played basketball with the San Jose Zebras. Shortly after WWII broke out, he and his family were interned at Tanforan Race Track before relocation to Topaz, Utah. He left the camp to join his brother Frank in Chicago, but enlisted in the army in 1945. After his discharge, he returned to the Bay Area, finding employment with Simmons Company where he worked for over 30 years. He married Emiko Ezaki in 1948 and had four children, Marlene, Donald, Roy and Karen who all survive him. Harry bought his first home in Berkeley in the 1950s and moved to Piedmont in the 1960s. He was promoted to plant manager and moved his family to Hawaii in 1964. "Amy" his wife died in Kaneohe in 1967. Harry made his last move to Fremont in 1969. He continued to enjoy life playing golf and drinking with friends. He traveled around the world in 1978 with his childhood friend, Jim Fudenna, to play on some of the world's most famous golf courses. Marlene married Robin Ellis, giving birth to Harry's two granddaughters, Erin and Megan, the two biggest joys of his later life. Harry lost his older brother Frank (Hiroshi) in 1953 and his sister Emi (Masako) Saito in 1989 but is survived by his sisters, Sadako Noto, Grace (Shizue), May (Yoshiko) Tenma, and his brother Robert (Yoshiaki). He also is survived by many nieces and nephews. Harry did not want to be mourned at a funeral; instead his life will be celebrated in a private party. See "Harry Sekigahama" on Facebook.