Aiko Jean Nakazono passed away peacefully on June 1, 2024 at the age of 103. She
was born Aiko Jean Kamada on August 13, 1920 in Seattle, Washington to parents
Asajiro and Tame Kamada. She was the youngest of 4 children; sister Masako and
brothers Jim and Kenji. She attended schools and business college in Seattle. Her
family had a produce stand at the Pike Place Market, and most of her free time during
childhood was spent helping her parents there. In 1941, Jean’s father passed away in
Seattle so she took his ashes to Japan for burial; however, she was not able to return to
America and had to remain in Japan throughout the war years. When the war ended,
she worked for the U.S. occupation in Japan for 2 years. In 1947 she moved to San
Francisco and worked for the U.S. Government.
In May 1948 she married Tad Nakamura. They lived in Berkeley, where Laurie was
born in 1949 and Glenn in 1952. They ran Nakamura Realty in Berkeley for several
years before Tad’s untimely passing in 1967 at the age of 47. In 1971, Jean married
Eichi Nakazono. They resided in Richmond and enjoyed social activities and traveling
throughout the U.S. until his passing in 1986. Her various jobs included working in the
accounting offices of Cal Ink, Crown Cork and Seal, and Adachi Florist. In 1989, Jean
moved back to the family home in Berkeley and stayed there until 2015 when she sold
her house and then moved in with her brother, Kenji.
Jean had a very active social life and was always curious to try new things. She
enjoyed playing mahjong, casino trips, ballroom dancing, tap dancing, golf, line dancing,
and hula. She was an active leader for the seniors of the Momijikai group at the
Buddhist Church of Oakland where she organized bus trips, luncheons, and arranged
for speakers for the group. She led the line dancing group for many years until the age
of 99.
In October 2022, she moved to El Cerrito Royale Assisted Living. She appreciated the
care and attention that she received there and participated in the many activities they
offered and especially enjoyed the social interactions. She was doing fairly well until
May 24, 2024 when she was taken to the emergency room. Her condition quickly
declined during the following week, and she passed away on June 1. She will always
be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, and generous mother and grandmother who
always took an interest in living her life to the fullest. She had an enormous impact on
so many people, not only within her church but others in the community. She is
survived by daughter Laurie Kho (Reggie) and son Glenn Nakamura; grandchildren
Tracie, Valerie, Derek, and Kristi; great-grandson Kekoa; and stepsons Glenn
Nakazono and Steve Nakazono.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 20 at 2:00 p.m. at the Buddhist
Church of Oakland, 825 Jackson St, Oakland, CA 94607
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