Elsbeth "Lisa" Kanemoto

Elsbeth 'Lisa ' Kanemoto
April 28, 2021
LA JOLLA
Elsbeth "Lisa" Kanemoto of La Jolla, California, daughter of Selma Moser Nees and Max Ludwig Nees, passed away on April 28th at the age of 89 years.
She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, retired Col. George Kikuo Kanemoto, daughters, Anne Marie Doyle and Eva Marie Kanemoto (Mike Sten), and son, George David Kanemoto; grandchildren, Soleil Intrabartolo (Cesar Comanche) and Gino Intrabartolo and great-grandchildren, Sophia Rivas and Olivia Comanche.

Lisa was born in 1931 in Idar Oberstein, Germany. Her father, a goldsmith by profession, went missing on the Russian Front when she was only nine years old. A free spirit right from the start, after high school, she went to school to learn to be a goldsmith, like her father. She was the only female in the class. Her career as a jewelry maker lasted a few years until she landed a job as a telephone operator at the US Army Base in Baumholder, Germany. As fate would have it, she met and fell in love with George Kanemoto, an Army private, while helping him make his long-distance phone calls. They soon married and welcomed their first child, Anne.

Army life meant they were often on the move. Their son David was born in El Paso, Texas. After a stint in Aberdeen, MD, their third child Eva was born in Oakland, CA. Subsequent moves included making their homes in Hawaii, Germany, Nebraska, and Michigan, where Lisa was given her first camera by her son, David. This little gift started her passion for photography.
Lisa was a non-conformist and relished the family's moves to new locations. It was a constant adventure and chance to feed her talented and distinctive artistic side. The Kanemoto homes were lovingly decorated with her antiques from Germany, mixed in with beautiful thrift shops and garage sale finds. Searching for "street finds" was one of her favorite hobbies, one she passed on to her daughters, Anne and Eva.

The last military move was to San Francisco, CA, where the family lived for 24 years. Lisa took this time to really concentrate on her passion for photography. Her unique eye led to the publication of several books as well as exhibitions of her work in galleries and museums in the US and abroad. She became an advocate for the gay community during a time when it was not a popular thing to do. Lisa was a rule-breaker, always thinking "out of the box" and befriending an interesting assortment of people. Her first book, "We Are" was a gift to the gay community. Her second book "Dark Mirror" was a visual autobiography.
Lisa also advocated for the mentally ill and the underprivileged. She shied away from praise and loved to quietly listen to conversations interpreting her work at the many galleries that exhibited her photographs. In her hands, the camera was a lens into the heart and soul of those faces she captured.

Lisa and the love of her life, her husband George, made one last move to La Jolla, CA, where they could be closer to their daughter Anne and grandchildren. She continued with her photography. Her camera lens led her to the "street people" of Pacific Beach, where she became very involved in helping and encouraging "her homeless" on the Boardwalk.
Everyone who met Lisa knew they had met their best friend. She was very approachable, someone you took an instant liking to. There was something kind and giving in her demeanor and spirit. It was always about "you." She was modest about her own accomplishments and more curious about the person she was talking to.

Lisa loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved her daily walks to the beach, some longer than others. When walking with friends, they would solve all the world's problems and always feel better afterwards.

We will remember you mom, Lisa, when you are gone. We will always remember.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations may be made to any organization of one's choice serving the needy or disadvantaged.