Nancy Kikuchi, 52, passed away peacefully at home in Torrance, Calif., on Sept. 10, after a 17-month battle with ovarian cancer. Nancy was most recently the facilities manager at Upper Crust Enterprises, but was best known as a volunteer extraordinaire around Little Tokyo for various organizations and committees, including the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association (Koban), the L.A. Tanabata Festival and many more. She also was active in the Nanka Ehime Kenjinkai as well as the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program and co-founded the JET alumni association in Southern California.

Kikuchi was born on July 15, 1962, and earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Political Science from UCLA in 1984 and a Masters of Business Administration from Pepperdine University in 1994.

She is survived by her parents, Yasuo and May Kikuchi; sisters, Donna (Marty) Hernandez and June (Lonnie) Akers; and nieces and nephew Marissa and Alana Hernandez, and Janna and Jake Akers. Extended family members include uncle and aunt, Yasao and Chiyoko Kinomoto; cousins, Don (Grace) and Steven (Lisa) Kinomoto; and their children Jade, Tyler, Skyler, Brooke and Aspen Kinomoto. She also leaves behind hundreds of friends.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 1:30PM at Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple, 505 E. 3rd St. in Los Angeles. Donations are requested in lieu of flowers to Nancy's favorite Little Tokyo non-profit organizations: LTSC, JACCC and the Koban.