OBITUARY: Isamu Sam Nao

Isamu Sam Nao

Aug. 29, 1928 – Nov. 21, 2021

NAO, ISAMU SAM, the last Nisei Nao, passed away on November 21, 2021 in San Francisco.

Sam, as he preferred to be called, was born on August 29, 1928 in San Francisco to Senri and Yoshino Nao. The youngest of eight children, Sam enjoyed all types of sports. His childhood was interrupted when he and his family were sent to the Tanforan Detention Center then the Topaz Internment Camp. Following WWII, Sam served in the Marine Corp in the Korean War. He later attended UC Berkeley where he majored in Civil Engineering. There he met Reiko Ouchida and they enjoyed 45 years of marriage. Sam worked for Southern Pacific Railroad and finally PG&E until his retirement in January 1987. Sam loved all sports, especially golf, but his greatest enjoyment was spent with friends and family helping them in any way possible. He loved walking/wandering and marveling at anything mechanical. He was known among friends as a quiet, soft-spoken, generous, and pleasant man.

Reiko passed away in 1997. Later, Sam enjoyed companionship with May Murata during the golden years of their lives. They shared a common love of friends and family and found comfort and enjoyment around the people they were close to. Sam is survived by his children: Karen (Warren Kashiwagi), Brian (Kathy Toy), Marvin, and Edie (Phil Nakamura) and grandchildren: Gordon (Ashley Page), Kyle, Michele, Jeffrey, Jeni (Jarrett Kelsey), Kenny, Eric, Kimi, Katie, and Kari, and great granddaughter, Aria along with many nieces and nephews.

Services will not be held in light of the pandemic.