Sally Ritsuko Ishihara

Sally Ishihara was born on February 23, 1934 in Kamuela, Hawaii to parents Masaru and Shizuko Sakamoto. She was the youngest of two children. She spent her formative years in Hawaii before moving to the “mainland” (Pasadena and then San Diego) in 1951 to pursue a degree in teaching. She graduated from San Diego State University in 1955 with a B.A. in Education. While attending SDSU, she met the love of her life, Mits Ishihara, at a Buddhist church function. Sally and Mits were a stunning couple on the dance floor as they glided across the floor with elegance and style. Sally married Mits on July 9, 1955 and enjoyed 65 wonderful years of marriage. She went on to raise four children including daughters Gail, Shari, and Vicki and son Mark. She was a loving and dedicated mother and wife who became a “stay-at-home mom” instilling values of hard work, discipline, kindness, gratitude, and respect in her children and making education a priority. She worked tirelessly at home, cooking and cleaning and making ends meet on a single salary. She had a strong belief that music stimulated mental acuity and a balanced life so she invested in piano lessons for all her children and had each learn a second instrument (clarinet, violin, flute, or saxophone). After her children graduated from college, got married, and started careers and families of their own, her guidance and strong influence transitioned over to her seven grandchildren as she and Mits graciously took on babysitting duties for each one until old enough to attend school. Sally’s greatest passion outside of raising the family was playing bridge. She was an avid, skillful, and competitive player who continued playing recreationally after she reached her most sought after goal of becoming a Gold Life Master.

Sally will most be remembered for being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, being frugal and disciplined, yet fair, making the most delicious meals, and being honest, reliable, and true to her heart in her thoughts, actions, and words. She repeatedly told family and friends that her four children and seven grandchildren were her greatest achievements in life. She is survived by her loving family in San Diego, daughters Gail Wakabayashi, Shari Skinner, and Vicki Pineda, son Mark Ishihara, in-laws Jim Cain, David Skinner, Loren Pineda, and Lisa Ishihara, and grandchildren Amy Wakabayashi of Pasadena, Ken Wakabayashi of San Diego, Shelli Skinner of San Bruno, Michael Skinner of San Diego, Ryan Pineda of Denver, Steven Pineda of San Diego, and Kyle Ishihara of Newark, CA. She was predeceased by her husband Mits, her parents Masaru and Shizuko Sakamoto, and her brother Douglas Sakamoto.