OTSUKA, SASAKI

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 14:50:27 :

Marin Independent Journal
Saturday, April 30, 1994
Section B, page 2

AKIRA OTSUKA
San Rafael resident

Akira “Ike” Otsuka of San Rafael died at home from complications of cancer on April 27. He was 73.

Mr. Otsuka was born in Colusa and later moved to Oakland, where he graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1940. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served until 1946, when he received an honorable discharge.

During the late 1940s, Mr. Otsuka worked with Mr. Sakurai, the famous landscape designer of the Japanese Imperial Gardens, on numerous projects around the San Francisco Bay Area. In the 1950s, he moved his family to Marin County and started his own landscaping business.

He was active in the Nakayoshi Club of Marin, the Wanto Fukuoka Kenjinkai and the Genshinryu Ginkonkai. A lifelong Jodoshin Buddhist, he was one of the founders of the Buddhist Temple of Marin in Mill Valley. He was elected to the board of directors of the Buddhist Temple of Marin from its inception and served as the president of the board for two terms.

Mr. Otsuko also served as superintendent of the Japanese Language School, Buddhist Darma School and the Buddhist Education Committee.

He is survived by his wife, Kie Otsuka of San Rafael; a daughter, Akemi Otsuka of San Rafael; a sister, Mrs. Sachiyo Sasaki of Tracy; and two brothers, Makoto Otsuka and Takashi Otsuka, both of Oakland.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Buddhist Temple of Marin, 390 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Visitation is today between 3 and 6 p.m. at Russell and Gooch Funeral Chapel in Mill Valley.

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A Death Notice in the same paper adds that inurnment services were held Monday, May 2, 1994 at 10 a.m. at Fernwood Cemetery, 301 Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley.