Seitaro MIYANO

April 22, 1939 - September 19, 2024 A son, father, uncle, brother, husband, friend, and coach, these were all hats Sei wore throughout his 85 years on this earth. His parents Reverend Giichi and Yukiko Miyano established the first Tenrikyo Mission Church in the U.S. in 1934 in East LA and Sei was born in 1939 in Boyle Heights.
Following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Reverend Giichi was arrested by the FBI and taken to the Tuna Canyon Detention Station and the family went to the Santa Anita Racetrack where brother Masao was born. Subsequently, the family of 6 went to Rohwer, Arkansas until the end of the war.
In 1946 the family returned to East LA where Sei attended Hammel St. Elementary School, Belvedere JHS, and Garfield High School. He was proud of his East LA roots and his many compadres. It was at Garfield HS where Sei's athletic prowess began to be noticed. He wanted to play halfback but the coach made him play linebacker and quarterback. He played at East LA College with Ben Davidson of Raiders fame and was recruited by Don Coryell for Whittier College. When Coryell went on to the NFL, the new WC coach John Godfrey gave Sei a call to see if he was still interested in being a Poet.
The 1961 Whittier College football season was one for the ages. Among the many all star players, Sei was voted MVP. The Poets went 9-0 in conference play and was the only Whittier football team to do so in fifty years so they were inducted into the Whittier Hall of Fame in 2011. Some of his teammates were from Hawaii so he learned to eat, drink, and party with the best. He later became an Honorary Iolani Hawk, class of '58.
Sei graduated in 1962 and was promptly drafted into the US Army. He served in Germany when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. He was a proud veteran.
Sei's teaching career began at Ralph Bunch Junior High School and led to being hired by Principal Aaron Wade to teach and coach at Compton High School. He brought a new sense of pride and discipline to the Tarbabe's program and a mutual sense of trust developed. He loved the young boys who became men under his watchful eye.
Sei next went to teach and coach at Belmont High School upon the insistence of Coach Yosh Arima. He had an immediate impact on the young people he met through Gymnastics, Football, and Basketball. With Coach Mike Maio, these athletes developed pride and skills that lasted a lifetime. The students loved him and he developed lifelong friendships with some faculty members, namely Colleen Kunitomi.
In 1982, Sei and Colleen were married. Corey was born in 1985 and Brandon was born in 1989. Sei coached and taught at Gardena High School until his retirement in 2000. He experienced the history and pride of the Mohican football program, one of the best in the Marine League.
Outside of school, Sei enjoyed watching the UCLA Bruins play in the Rose Bowl, playing the horses at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita, and going to Las Vegas to play Craps at the tables. He also found time to join the Gardena Evening Optimist Club and play slow pitch softball in the Hawaiian league.
Sei's greatest love was fishing off the Ventura coast for Calico Bass and going to the Eastern Sierras to fish trout. He also found joy in watching Corey and Brandon with their involvement with the North Torrance High School athletic programs.
Sei was grateful for having a loving family in the Miyanos. Christmas time was extra special with great food and singing of caroles, plus belting out harmonious renditions of the Garfield High School Alma Mater. He also was appreciative of the closeness of the Fujioka clan of Hollywood, who gathered for Easter egg hunts, Super Bowl parties, and January 1 celebrations.
Sei is preceeded in death by his brother Jim and Bobbie Jean Miyano, sister Mary Sakae and brother in law Ken Masamitsu, nephew JR Masamitsu, and brother in law David Beadles.
He is survived by sister Ruth Tamaki Beadles, niece Lisa and Tom Shuck, Thomas and Elisabeth Shuck, niece Noriko and Eric Moser, nephew Eric and Diana Masamitsu, Hunter and Tabitha Masamitsu and niece Lori and Yume Delegato; Brother Masao and Harue Miyano and nephew Thomas Miyano, and niece Carylann and Jake Elleri,
A Celebration of Life service will take place Nov. 9, 2024, 3 PM,
Faith United Methodist Church 2115 W. 182nd St., Torrance – casual attire
"So, raise a glass of Merlot or Sake or Gin to Sei, your friend, uncle, dad or coach!"
www.fukuimortuary.com
(213) 626-0441