Gen Miake

 Gen Miake, whose career was dedicated to managing enterprise Information Services and Information Technology Development for organizations that demanded minimal disruption and maximal return on investment, died in a mid-August hiking accident at Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark that claimed his life and that of his wife Kathie Barber. Their deaths were a tragic truncation of this year’s carefully planned and detailed backpacking adventure that annually marked the occasion of the anniversary of their August 21, 1983 wedding. He was 60; she was 58.  “Gen hired me here and was very much like a father to a lot of us,” said Jessica Matsukawa, e-commerce manager for Clarion Corporation of America.  “Gen will always have a warm spot in my heart,” said Chris Storer, Senior Applications Engineer at Quality Software Systems, “He was my first boss and hired me at 18 [into Clarion]. He took a chance on a ‘kid’ and helped grow me professionally and personally into the person I am today.”  Gen Miake was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 10, 1955, the son of Taizo and Lillian K. (Yamada) Miake. He attended public schools in southern California (Santa Ana and Laguna Beach), as well as Don Mills, Ontario, Canada.  He attended University of California, Irvine, where he met Kathie doing a group project for ICS 195. When their classmate settled for a “B” effort, Gen and Kathie recognized the opportunity to exceed expectations together. He graduated in 1980 with a major in Information and Computer Sciences.  As Senior Project Engineer at Endevco Corporation, Gen project-managed the commercial avionics product line and increased its sales. Notably, he was awarded US Patent (#4935846) for airborne avionics system design. The "Personality Module" he invented mass-customizes a hardware chassis; by changing the Personality Module, a single hardware chassis can be used on any aircraft. The Personality Module still flies today in Boeing aircraft. His talent was recognized with a promotion to Manager of Information Technology Development in 1994.  Further promotions to Director and Senior Director of Information Services accompanied his move to Clarion Corporation of America in 1997, where he was responsible for Information Services operations across US, Canada, and Mexico. In addition to significant budget and multisite responsibilities, Gen’s ability to communicate effectively and cultivate talent were recognized by his role as liaison to Clarion’s corporate IS in Japan and his staff receiving 3 “Employee of the Year” awards. Gen was known for leading information services and technology development for the North American enterprise of Japanese multinational corporations, including Noritsu America Corporation and Citizen Watch Company.  Gen’s was a lifetime of active exploration. He was active in sports from track in high school, to skiing, diving, racquetball, and adult volleyball leagues. An avid climber, hiker, and biker, he traveled solo across the US on a bicycle to mark the 1976 bicentennial.  Gen explored ideas voraciously. He read through volumes of books, magazines, and trade journals and was an early adopter of all forms of technology. Complex games and puzzles were a consistent avocation, ranging from contract bridge tournaments as a student to the Ingress/hiking community in recent years. He had a passion for learning something new, and learning it completely.  Gen did not ever give up on having fun, “which is unusual for adults”, notes his granddaughter. He kept in touch with his inner mischievous child and fully enjoyed the pranks she played on him. He was excited to have a grandchild as an excuse to unlock at last the secrets of Legoland and took her as soon as she was old enough to go on rides together. In addition to his granddaughter, Gen leaves an extensive diaspora of family in several locations.  Grateful for the kindness and support that Gen’s and Kathie’s colleagues and friends have shown, the family has selected two organizations that represent and honor distinct facets of their lives. Donations in their memories may be made at: https://www.generosity.com/memorial-fundraising/kathie-barber-gen-miake-memorial-fund  The family has found that sharing stories and conversations about Gen and Kathie is a gentle way to recognize the lives they lived so fully. Family and friends are holding a Celebration of Life to honor Gen and Kathie on September 22, 2017 in Yorba Linda.