Mike J. Emizawa

Juichi “Mike” Emizawa On the evening of April 16, 2015, Mike passed away after a battle with esophageal cancer. He was being attended by his hospice caregiver Ludy in his hometown, Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike was 84-years old. Mike Juichi Emizawa was born in Mukden (Dairen) Manchuria, China on January 8, 1931. Mike was the first child of seven born to father Kizo and mother Akiko (Kurumada) Emizawa. His father was a photographer. He was drafted into the Japanese army in World War II. His father was captured and sent to the Siberian salt mines when Russia overwhelmed Manchuria. Mike was deported to Japan with his mother and siblings, until his family was reunited with Kizo five years later. As a young man, Mike dreamed of becoming a Kamikaze pilot for Japan. Unable to enlist because he was color blind, Mike became employed as an assistant and chauffeur in Tokyo for George I. Purdy and Company, an American export and import firm. He worked as a House Boy for Major Hacker, who was a public relations man for the U.S. Air force in Tokyo. Major Hacker told Mike that he would take him to the United States after his tour of duty ended. Mike wrote him a heartfelt letter that was published in the Denver Post that eventually led to his “adoption” by John V. Souder and his family. Mr. Souder, who ran the hotel, the Belvedere, in the small southwestern Colorado town of Montrose, was touched by this interview and offered Mr. Emizawa what he wanted the most…an American education. On October 24, 1951, at the age of 19, Mike arrived in San Pedro, California aboard a freight ship. He joined Major Hacker and the Souder family in Denver where he attended and graduated from Montrose High School, Class of 1955. He kept in contact throughout his life with love for his Souder “sisters” Lina, Mary Ann, and Trudi. At Montrose, Mike participated in wrestling, boxing, and track. His classmates elected him Class Vice President. He was a talented musician, playing saxophone and drums, and an avid artist for the school newspaper. He attended Western State College in Gunnison for one year, then transferred and graduated from the Hotel and Restaurant Management with a BSBA in 1963 from the University of Denver. While in college, Mike was very proud of being an active member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Mike met Harumi Hashimoto and the two wed on April 2, 1960 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Cromie of Boulder. “Sister” Trudi Souder served as Maid of Honor and LeRoy Cromie was the Best Man. The couple welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Jumi, in 1960 and their second daughter, Kimi, in 1967. Shortly, thereafter, the Emizawa family moved to Foster City, California. Mike was proudest of his 43-year work history with Trader Vic’s and knew the founder Vic Bergeron in his early years. Mike, who has been officially recognized as the Ambassador for this well-known Polynesian restaurant chain, managed several of the chain’s properties, including San Francisco and Emeryville in California; Portland, Oregon; Tokyo, Japan; St. Louis, Missouri; Scottsdale, Arizona; and most recently Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike also worked in management for United Airlines and Quantas Airlines (San Francisco), Hotel New Otani (Japan), Kyoto at the Wilshire Grand Hotel and the Omni Los Angeles Hotel (Los Angeles), Adobe Creek Golf Club (Petaluma, California), Saisai (Los Angeles), Golden Nugget and Bellagio (Las Vegas). A hopeless romantic, Mike Emizawa wed his second wife Stella Leung of Hong Kong, China on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1993. The two lived in the Bay Area until they made Las Vegas their home. Mike was by her side when she passed away from Pancreatic cancer on February 25, 2004. She is survived by her son Stanley So. Mike retired in 2010, when Trader Vic’s at Planet Hollywood closed its doors but he remained very active in his community. Mike could be seen walking everyday and greeting the dogs at the dog park in his Las Vegas neighborhood. His favorite pastimes were visiting with friends, having lunch at his beloved Stella’s gravesite, sneaking into the VIP Lounge at the Bellagio for a glass of vino and taking pictures of the beautiful floral decorations, going to the free Jazz in the Park concerts, and seeing ALL of the latest movies with a cold beer and a hotdog at his favorite hot spot, the South Point Hotel Casino Movie Theater. Mike held friendship very close to his heart. His neighbors Angel and his mother Zoraya, Denise and Joel Pool were a source of great companionship and love. With their friendship and help, Mike made close to a full recovery from a stroke suffered in September 2011. It was in the intensive care unit that Joe and Charlotte Cartwright, who until his passing, remained extremely close to Mike, blessed our family. His strong will and independence also helped make him a prostate cancer survivor. Mike Emizawa was preceded in death by: Stella L. Emizawa (wife), Shizuko Emizawa (sister), Emiko “Hisako” Emizawa (sister), Toru Emizawa (brother), Kizo Emizawa (father), Akiko Emizawa (mother). Mike Emizawa is survived by his two daughters Jumi O’ Brien of New Jersey and Kimi Slater of Lacey, Washington. His four grandchildren: Haley and Jalen Slater, daughter and son of Kimi and Lanny Slater; Lily and Holly O’Brien, daughters of Jumi and Michael O’Brien; ex-wife Harumi Hashimoto of Olympia, Washington; sister Kiyoko Low of Woodbridge, Virginia; and brothers Nobuyoshi Emizawa and Kideaki Emizawa of Japan. Mike was of Christian faith and attended the Calvary Chapel Green Valley Church in Henderson, Nevada. His funeral service will be held Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm at Palm Eastern Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada. Visitation will be between 12-2 pm with the Memorial Service immediately following. He will be cremated and laid to rest in the “Garden of Meditation” next to his beloved Stella at site #3938. We celebrate our father’s life and invite you to post family condolences, post pictures, or make personal comments to or about our father, Mike Emizawa, on his online memorial website at http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/dignitymemorial/guestbook.aspx?n=mike-emizawa&pid=174661302 Special thanks to Calvary Chapel Green Valley, Joe and Charlotte Cartwright, Dr. and Mrs. Naval, Denise and Joel Pool, Kendall Adams, Pastor Frank Plummer, Palm Eastern Mortuary, Angel and Zoraya, Lisa Cuccia, “Ludy” (Suthinee Laoniyomthai) and Jemma of Passionate Care, MSA Hospice, Creekside Hospice Hospital, Eduardo, Dr. Nancy Hsiao, Michael and Jen Williams, friends and extended Slater and O’Brien families.