OBITUARY:Yoneo ‘Bo’ Yoshimura

Yoneo "Bo" Yoshimura

A celebration of the life of Yoneo “Bo” Yoshimura, who volunteered with several community organizations, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m., at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), 1840 Sutter St. in San Francisco’s Japantown. A reception will follow.

Yoshimura passed away on Oct. 12, 2010 at the age of 81.

“He leaves a legacy of community service and volunteerism that spans decades with so many organizations, and he helped a generation come of age through his guidance and counseling,” said JCCCNC Executive Director Paul Osaki. “Bo’s legacy is that through friendship, involvement and volunteerism you can change the world one person at a time.”

In recognition of his community volunteerism, Yoshimura was named the 2003 recipient of the Kay Okamoto Volunteer Award.

Yoshimura volunteered with various organizations, including United Japanese Community Services, Kimochi Inc., Nihonmachi Legal Outreach (now API Legal Outreach), Japanese American National Library, Japanese Community Youth Council, Japanese American Citizens League, Nikkei and Retirement, and Asian American Recovery Services (AARS).

Upon retiring from the College of San Mateo, where he served as a counselor from 1978 to 1998, Yoshimura became involved with Project Adapt, a program of AARS.

A photo collage of Yoshimura’s life and volunteerism is being prepared, and photos are being sought by the JCCCNC.