Mitch was born Masahiko Kodama on January 3, 1944 in Hiroshima, Japan to Masayuki and Kazue Kodama. He was born in the home of his grandparents in the area of Hiroshima called Fujimicho. His grandfather was especially delighted with his birth since he was the first male heir to be born to the main branch of the Kodama family in many generations. Unfortunately, his grandparents were victims of the Atomic Bomb a year and a half later on August 6, 1945.

After the war, family settled in their ancestral home in another area of Hiroshima called Mukainada, not far from the future home of Mazda Motor Company. It was during this time that his sister Sachiko was born in 1946. When Mitch was six years old, the family moved to their newly constructed home in central Hiroshima. He completed his grammar school education in Hiroshima. When he was twelve years old, his father was able to regain his American citizenship. After regaining his citizenship, his father decided to return to United States and in 1956 moved his family to their new home in San Diego.

Mitch completed his intermediate education at Pacific Beach Junior High School and Mission Bay High School. He received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering from UCLA. In 1970 he started working for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. His initial intention of working there for couple of years until he found a suitable consulting job in a private sector turned into a thirty three year career. He was fortunate in having been assigned to a number of jobs he enjoyed including management of litigation involving Mono Lake; in charge of Los Angeles Aqueduct System; in charge of Los Angeles’ water distribution system; and Director of Labor Relation. He completed his career as the Assistant General Manager and retired on January 1, 1999.

In 1973 Mitch married his college sweetheart, Esther Mamiya and took up residence in West Los Angeles. Two years later, they moved to Hacienda Heights and in 1979 were blessed with an arrival of their daughter Nicole (Nikki). From that day forward Mitch and Esther’s life pretty much revolved around raising their daughter. To their delight Nicole provided them with many happy memories including graduating as Valedictorian of her high school class; graduating with honors from UCLA School of Engineering; landing a job with Northrop Grumman Corporation and been crowned Nisei Week Queen.

After retiring in 1999, a friend introduced him to fly fishing and this activity turned into his hobby or more correctly, obsession for remainder of his life. Also starting in 1999, he along with two other friends formed a charitable foundation, Eagle, Globerman and Kodama Foundation. The Foundation has been able to provide annual grants of $200,000+ to various worthy causes in each trustee’s respective communities. Mitch also served on the board of La Puente Valley Educational Bridge Foundation and Keiro Nursing Home.

In 2017 Mitch and Esther made their final move to Gardena to be near Nikki and her husband, Arnold.

Mitch passed away on September 28, 2026. He is survived by his wife Esther, daughter Nikki (Arnold Yniguez) Kodama, and sister Sachi (Robert) Yoshimura along with his nephew, nieces, and their children.