OBITUARY: Kevin E. Nagata

Kevin E. Nagata

April 5, 1959 – Jan. 3, 2021

After a valiant four-year battle with cancer, NAGATA, KEVIN passed away at home surrounded by his family on January 3, 2021 after watching his Warriors win their game earlier in the evening. Kevin was born in Fowler to Tom and Jane Nagata.  After graduating from Fresno State, Kevin embarked on several business ventures before being employed by the State of California Department of Emergency Preparedness.

For more than half his life, Kevin served as a Trustee to the Japanese American Citizen League’s Health Insurance program which later became the JACL Health Benefit Trust. This program initially assisted Japanese Americans who could not buy insurance due to discrimination. Kevin was the Vice-Chairman of the Trust at the time of his passing. In 2015, the Trust established the JA Community Foundation of which Kevin was a founding Director and served as Chairman of the Grants Committee. The JA Community Foundation supports nonprofits in the Japanese American and Asian American communities in fulfilling their missions to their communities. 

Kevin loved annual treks to the Giant’s Spring Training, exploring the world, eating at local hot spots and cooking and was usually found in the kitchens of the Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple and the Buddhist Church of Fowler, supporting their programs and activities throughout the year. 

Kevin is survived by his daughter Brayden, mother Jane, brother Brian and sister Colleen Alvarez (Jay).  Memorial services and a Gathering of Gratitude will be held after the conclusion of the current Covid pandemic.