Akiko May Shirai

SHIRAI, Akiko May
Born in Florin, California, on July 27, 1908. Passed away on October 25, 2004. Wife of the late Noboru Shirai, Akiko is survived by daughters Eucaly Shirai of Sacramento and Carlene (Mitzi) Naito of Madera, son-in-law Dick Naito, son Toddy Shirai of Sacramento, grandchildren Aya and Jin and their mother Mayumi Shirai of Irvine. Akiko attended Lincoln School, Sacramento High School, Sacramento Junior College and the University of California at Berkeley, receiving her BA (1930) and MA (1933) in History. Returning from the Tule Lake Internment Camp after World War II, Akiko managed her parents' hotel in Japantown and then briefly worked for the Sacramento Public Library, McKinley branch. She assisted Noboru at the Nichi Bei Times and the Asahi Homecast Corporation of Los Angeles and with him hosted many journalists and television executives from Japan. An avid reader and advocate of higher education, Akiko supported the Japanese American Citizens League Scholarship Program for many years. She was a gentle and loving mother and grandmother. A Witness to the Resurrection Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 13, 2004, at the Parkview Presbyterian Church, 727 T Street, Sacramento, CA. The family respectfully requests that remembrances be made to your favorite charity.