OBITUARY: Sumio ‘Sam’ Ogami

OGAMI, SUMIO “SAM,” 90, passed away peacefully at home in San Mateo on May 10, 2014. Sam was born to DENKICHI and IMA OGAMI on June 28, 1923 in Watsonville, Calif. where he spent his childhood years and where he graduated from Watsonville High in June 1941. After Pearl Harbor he and his family were sent to a wartime government concentration camp at Poston, Arizona. After a year in camp he relocated to Milwaukee and then to Chicago where he briefly attended Northwestern University. He later became a dental technician.

In 1955 he married Setsuko Asano and moved to San Francisco. Two years later he moved to San Mateo to open Tri-Dental Laboratories with two partners, eventually becoming sole owner. Sam was an avid golfer and his Lab became a popular hangout for his golf buddies, with even a barber chair for free haircuts.

When his two sons were young Sam was Cub Master and later Assistant Scout Master for many years.

With his creative hands Sam liked to make jewelry at the Lab and also enjoyed working with stained glass. He also shortened countless golf clubs, changed grips and otherwise took care of golf clubs for his buddies. He also enjoyed fishing.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years Setsuko, sons Gordon (Allison) and Mike (Edda), daughters Joyce and Nancy Ogami and grandchildren Nisha and Owen; a brother, Richard Ogami of San Jose and sister-in-law Mary Ogami of San Mateo and many nieces and nephews. He was the son-in-law of Shichinosuke Asano, former editor and publisher of the Nichi Bei Times of San Francisco.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, and many relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank the Mills DaVita Dialysis Center, Carlmont Gardens, Mission Hospice and his doctors for their loving and supportive care.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 2pm at Sturge Presbyterian Church, 25 S. Humboldt Street in San Mateo.