Alice Katsuko Tano

Alice Katsuko Tano passed away peacefully in Gresham, Oregon on February 6th, 2025, at the age of 88. She was born to Yukiye and Tom (Noboru) Nakano on October 20th, 1936, in Kent, Washington. Her mother, Yukiye insisted the record of her birthday was listed wrong as the 20th and it was actually October 19th, so every year Alice celebrated her birthday on October 19th. The name Nakano translates from Japanese to English as “central field” and Alice, along with her parents and her eight brothers and sisters cultivated fields in Kent and after several years, the family moved to the Vale/Ontario, Oregon area and continued to raise crops of potatoes, onions and sugar beets on land in which they owned. Alice attended Ontario High School where she met the love of her life, Benny Tano.

Alice's parents sent each of their children to college or trade school and Alice chose the beauty profession and attended beautician school in downtown Portland after graduating high school. Upon completing her beautician's certificate, she married Benny Tano who returned from the Army in 1959. They celebrated 56 years of marriage together until his passing in 2016.

Alice and Benny settled their home in Portland and Alice began a 44-year career working in the Portland area as an independent hairdresser. She lent a kind and gentle ear and would charm every person who sat in her beautician’s chair. Alice cut and styled hundreds of community members in the Portland area and would often offer friends and every family member a free haircut. She took great joy in seeing people leave her swivel chair at the salon or a home kitchen chair feeling more confident and more radiant than when they sat down.

In addition to running a strong independent business, Alice raised three daughters and made lifelong friends among the Portland community, including the Oregon Buddhist Temple, where she was a dedicated and active community member since 1959, and the Ikoi no Kai community center which she frequented. Alice was a true Buddhist. She lived giving loving-kindness and compassion generously to everyone she met. Alice would take several years off from her profession to give full time care for each child and would only go back to work after they entered kindergarten. When each daughter had their own children, Alice would offer time generously to care for each of them and attended most every sports game or performance her children and grandchildren were a part of, clapping enthusiastically and beaming with pride.

Alice loved entertaining in her home - creating new and delicious recipes for her family and friends. When her daughters moved out of the home, it was important to her to have them and their families gather for weekly Monday night dinners. She was so proud of her family and it gave her such great joy every time she could get together with them. Making crafts was also a part of Alice’s life. For years she would crochet kitchen scrubbies to give out to family, friends and even strangers at the supermarket or to anyone she met. A beautiful garden was important to Alice and she spent many days outside, along with Benny, beautifying the outdoors where she lived. Alice was an unwavering Portland Trail Blazers fan, even in their toughest seasons. She would make every effort not to miss watching a game on television, or on occasion, in person. She would get very excited after each basket made by her beloved Trail Blazers.

Alice was preceded in death by her father, Tom (Noboro) Nakano, her mother, Yukiye Nakano, sisters Sanami, Mae and Amy Nakano and brothers Hiruki and Jim Nakano. She is survived by daughters Nanette (Brad) Magee, Cynthia (Doug) Tathwell and Kim (Dave) Tano Weaver; grandchildren Sean (Katrina) Magee of Arizona, Chanell (Jordan) Brown, Trace Tathwell and Max Weaver of Portland, Oregon; great-grandchildren Ava and Bryson Magee; and her brother Donald Nakano and sisters June Miura and Colleen Grant. Alice Tano will be deeply missed on this earth, but those who met her, or were encouraged by her, are better people because of her kindness, generosity and love. Her giving spirit was vast and all-encompassing. Alice Tano was laid to rest alongside her beloved husband Benny Tano at Willamette Cemetery in a private family service. A Memorial Service will be held at Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 S.E. 34th Ave., Portland, OR on March 8th, 2025 at 1:30pm.