NikkeiWest--Northern California Japanese American Newspaper

Kaz Izumi, born Aug. 9, 1923, in Monterey, California, passed away on June 2, at the age of 86, in Sacramento, where he resided since 1946. Kaz moved from Monterey to Terminal Island at the age of 10. Kaz attended San Pedro High School until he was forced by the U.S. Government to relocate to Sacramento, CA, due to World War II and Executive Order 9066, and ended up at the Walerga Assembly Center, then assigned to the Tulelake Internment Camp. During this time, Kaz was very active in weightlifting. In 1952, he was a member of the Yarick’s Gym Barbell Team of Oakland, and won the California State and Junior National Weightlifting Championships in his weight division. Unfortunately again because of the internment, although he completed high school in 1942, he did not receive his diploma until the year 2004 when the State law passed for Californians removed from high school during World War II and sent to internment camps were to be granted diplomas. After spending an undeserving 4 years there, Kaz returned to Sacramento and married his wife of 63 years, Louise; and, accepted a position with the State of California Employment Development Department. Kaz became a supervisor in the Computer Operations Unit, until his retirement 38 years later. Survived by his wife of 63 years, Louise Matsuye; son, Eric Akira Izumi (Irene), and daughter, Sharon Akiko Cynthia Izumi-Matsuhiro (Ronald); grandson, Damiano Akio Izumi Lanoza, granddaughters, Dominique Sachiko Midori Izumi Matsuhiro, and Kianna Mitsuko Izumi Matsuhiro; nephew, Hiroshi Izumi (Louise); brother and sisters-in-law, Bessie Hatsuye Nakano, Dorothy Misuye Kunisaki, Toshio James Matsuura (Betty), Sumi Honda, Jean Matsuura, Phyllis Haruko Matsuura, Labelle Matsuura, and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by Kaz’s parents, Kunigoro and Kosan Izumi; brother, Kiyoshi Paul Izumi and sister, Shizu Izumi; sister and brothers-in-law, Hisako Izumi, Eddie Nakano, Fred Kunisaki, Shiro Matsuura, Setsu Harvey Matsuura, and Tokio Ronald Matsuura; and nephew, Isamu Izumi.