IN LOVING MEMORY OF
William Sato,
M.D.
August 10, 1921 – August 12, 2013
Obituary
Long time South Pasadena resident, William Sato, MD passed away at the age of 92 on August 12, 2013.
Dr. Sato was born on August 10, 1921 in Carlsbad, CA. The family moved to South Pasadena in 1924 where his parents operated Fair Oaks Florist and Nursery. The oldest of three children, Dr. Sato graduated from South Pasadena/ San Marino High School in 1939 where he excelled both academically and in sports. He enrolled at UCLA as a premed student but his college career was interrupted by the outbreak of WWII.
In 1942, the family faced expulsion to the relocation camp at Gila River, Arizona along with more than 13,000 people of Japanese descent. Two weeks before relocation, Dr. Sato married his sweetheart, Irene at St James Episcopal Church on April 26, 1942.
From the camp, Dr. and Mrs. Sato moved to Chicago, IL, where Dr. Sato finished his college education at Loyola University. He fought in Italy with the legendary all Japanese American 442/100th Battalion earning a bronze star for valor. After WWII, he had difficulty finding a medical school who would accept Japanese Americans but ultimately, he enrolled at Northwestern University where he earned his MD in 1951.
Being the oldest son, he felt a responsibility to help care for his parents and in 1953, returned to Southern California where he started his practice in the Japanese American community in Little Tokyo.
In 1963, he moved his family back to South Pasadena where his parents had returned in 1945 to live and work.
A highly dedicated physician, Dr. Sato was well loved and respected by his patients, colleagues, family and friends.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Irene Kiyoko Sato, his brother Dr. George Sato of St. Louis, MO and his sister, June Komoto of South Pasadena, CA. He is survived by his daughter Kathryn Lynn Sato and his son Dr. David Sato (Barbara) and three grandchildren, Matthew, Melissa and Alex Sato.
The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers or koden donations be made in the name of Dr. William Sato to the JAMA Medical Student Scholarship, C/O Gordon Sasaki, MD, 800 S. Fairmount, Suite 319, Pasadena, CA 91105 or to the Go For Broke National Education Center (310) 328-0907 or the Japanese American National Museum (213) 625-0414
Memorial services will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 1325 Monterey Rd., South Pasadena, CA., on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 11:00 A.M.
Dr. Sato was born on August 10, 1921 in Carlsbad, CA. The family moved to South Pasadena in 1924 where his parents operated Fair Oaks Florist and Nursery. The oldest of three children, Dr. Sato graduated from South Pasadena/ San Marino High School in 1939 where he excelled both academically and in sports. He enrolled at UCLA as a premed student but his college career was interrupted by the outbreak of WWII.
In 1942, the family faced expulsion to the relocation camp at Gila River, Arizona along with more than 13,000 people of Japanese descent. Two weeks before relocation, Dr. Sato married his sweetheart, Irene at St James Episcopal Church on April 26, 1942.
From the camp, Dr. and Mrs. Sato moved to Chicago, IL, where Dr. Sato finished his college education at Loyola University. He fought in Italy with the legendary all Japanese American 442/100th Battalion earning a bronze star for valor. After WWII, he had difficulty finding a medical school who would accept Japanese Americans but ultimately, he enrolled at Northwestern University where he earned his MD in 1951.
Being the oldest son, he felt a responsibility to help care for his parents and in 1953, returned to Southern California where he started his practice in the Japanese American community in Little Tokyo.
In 1963, he moved his family back to South Pasadena where his parents had returned in 1945 to live and work.
A highly dedicated physician, Dr. Sato was well loved and respected by his patients, colleagues, family and friends.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Irene Kiyoko Sato, his brother Dr. George Sato of St. Louis, MO and his sister, June Komoto of South Pasadena, CA. He is survived by his daughter Kathryn Lynn Sato and his son Dr. David Sato (Barbara) and three grandchildren, Matthew, Melissa and Alex Sato.
The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers or koden donations be made in the name of Dr. William Sato to the JAMA Medical Student Scholarship, C/O Gordon Sasaki, MD, 800 S. Fairmount, Suite 319, Pasadena, CA 91105 or to the Go For Broke National Education Center (310) 328-0907 or the Japanese American National Museum (213) 625-0414
Memorial services will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 1325 Monterey Rd., South Pasadena, CA., on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 11:00 A.M.
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