Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa

At the age of 93, Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa passed peacefully on April 7, 2023, at the home of his daughter, Francine Baker, in Whittier, California. He was born on January 25, 1930, in Honolulu, Hawaii to Seiichi and Tsuyono (Matsuura) Tomosawa, the youngest of three sons.

At the age of eleven, his mother took Francis and his brothers to Hiroshima, Japan, for cultural education. While there, World War II started, and they were unable to return to Hawaii where his father was working to support them. On the morning of August 6, 1945, Francis experienced the first atomic bombing in history and survived. Since then, he has been a proponent of peace and nuclear disarmament. He spoke of his experience with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima at many universities, schools, churches, city organizations, television stations, radio broadcasts, and newspaper interviews. He served as the President of the Committee of Atomic Bomb Survivors in the USA from 1994-2004 to help survivors living in the United States. He was also a delegate for the North American Atomic Bomb Survivors Association.

Francis served in the United States Army from 1951-1954, during the Korean War, as a translator. Following the war, he finished college and optometry school, and settled down in Watsonville, California, with his wife, Lillian, and two children, Francine and Calvin, practicing as an optometrist for 35 years.

Francis enjoyed traveling, reading, and watching movies. His favorite foods were sukiyaki, sashimi, chocolate, pastries, and pies, especially lilikoi pie.

Francis was predeceased by his parents Seiichi and Tsuyono Tomosawa, and by his brothers Robert and Charles. He is survived by his wife Lillian, daughter Francine of Whittier, son Calvin of Highland, and three grandchildren.

Private service held at Miller-Jones in Moreno Valley, California, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, followed by a committal service at the Riverside National Cemetery.