Frank Hirahara was born in Yakima, Washington and has been an Anaheim resident for over 50 years. He died on February 7, 2006 and was 79 years old. An active community leader in the Japanese American community, he was president of the Suburban Optimist Club of Buena Park From 1995-1996, during their 30th Anniversary Year. He was twice named Suburban Optimist of the Year from 1993-1994 and 1998-1999, received the President's Award, and was a lifetime member of Optimist International. He was still active on the club's Board of Directors and was a member for 32 years. He was Lt. Governor of Zone One of the Pacific Southeast District of Optimist International from 1998 & 1999 covering the communities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cerritos, Garden Grove, and Huntington Beach. He worked in many managerial positions at Rockwell International on the Apollo, Space Shuttle, Skylab and Star Wars projects and retired in 1988. After retirement, he became VP of computer store development for GST, Inc. He was the recipient of the Orange County Nisei Coordinating Council's 2001 SOC Community Service Award and was currently a member of the Coordinating Council Board. Frank Hirahara was also an Advisory Committee Member to the Anaheim Memorial Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors from July 2005. He served a three year term as board member of the Anaheim Memorial Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors from 2002 & 2005 and was named a Lifetime Member of the Medical Center's Double Eleven Club.

He is survived by his wife Mary and married daughter, Patti.