SEKIGAHAMA, TADASHI (TAD) passed away peacefully at home in El Dorado Hills, CA on July 13, 2024.

Tad came from an immigrant farming family and was the second of six kids. He was born in Oakland in 1932. Life was different back then. He had to find time to pick strawberries in addition to school. As a boy, he became a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. When asked if it was from the radio broadcasts, he said that he didn’t get to hear the games. It was only through the box scores.

1942 brought World War II and with it the incarceration of all the Japanese on the West Coast. They could only bring what they could carry. First, the family was housed at Tanforan Race Track where a monument was erected recently. Five months later they were transferred to Topaz (which was hastily built). Topaz was Tad’s home from age ten to thirteen. Life in the camps was hard with no privacy and exposure to extreme temperatures in arid, empty lands. Tad never spoke with any bitterness about this time, though he did use variations of “prisoner of topaz” in his passwords. Tad was remarkably positive and upbeat in his outlook toward life.

After their release, the family moved to Centerville, CA. Tad went to San Jose State and eventually earned his CPA. He joined H.T. Yamate & Co and was made partner two years later. In 1972, the firm incorporated under the name Yamate & Sekigahama Accountancy Corporation (in downtown San Jose). He was a long-time active member of the California Society of CPAs, serving on Board positions (including President) and several State level committees. His civic activities include a 20-year membership and past Presidency of the North San Jose Optimist Club.

An avid, lifelong golfer, Tad and his wife Kiyo played golf around the world – Scotland, South Africa, Turkey, Portugal, Spain and Japan just to name a few. Tad also loved the 49ers, St. Louis Cardinals, and hot dogs.

Tad loved to spend time with his family. Playing with his grandchildren and later with his great grandchildren always delighted him. He would never pass up an opportunity to coach them on how to hit and throw a baseball. He loved experiencing foods from many different cultures. He often asked to have sashimi dinners with the whole family, a highlight in his later days. He always told his kids and grandkids “try everything once. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it again”. He exposed his kids to escargot and sweetbreads in Yosemite while he served as president of the CSCPA.

Upon retiring, Tad and Kiyo moved to Santa Cruz and lived at Pasatiempo. They so enjoyed playing golf on this exquisite golf course well into their 80s. Eventually, they moved to El Dorado Hills to be closer to family.

Tad is survived by his wife of 66 years, Kiyo, son Gary (Sonja), and daughter Lisa Lempko (Greg), four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. We will remember him as being upbeat, kind and always concerned about others.

No services are scheduled per Tad’s wishes. The family asks for happy thoughts and memories in Tad’s honor.