From the The San Diego Union-Tribune May 28, 2020 By JOHN WILKENS
Joseph and Elizabeth Yamada
(Courtesy of the Yamada family)
Joseph Yamada and Elizabeth Kikuchi were born two days apart, but they didn’t
meet until they were both were sent to the World War II internment camp in
Poston, Arizona.
Joseph Yamada and Elizabeth Kikuchi were born two days apart, although
they didn’t meet until they were 11, when both were sent with their families to
the World War II internment camp in Poston, Arizona.
Then they became mostly inseparable. After the war, they went to San
Diego High School together, then UC Berkeley.
They got married, raised a family, left their marks on San Diego in landscape architecture and community service.
It almost seemed fitting when both died this month just days apart. He had a long battle with dementia, and she succumbed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
They had each recently turned 90.
“He liked sports and diner food, and she was all about art, culture and
refined food,” said son Garrett Yamada. “They raised us with a little bit of
everything.”