Thomas Katsuro Takizawa of Los Angeles, CA earned the title of “Ancestor” on Friday, June 26th at 1333 pm. A celebration of life service will be held in private for the immediate family on Thursday, July 9th at 1300 at Valley Funeral Home in Burbank, CA. To protect our extended family and friends from COVID-19, and include all who loved him, a graveside service will be held when his cremated remains are interred at Rose Hills Memorial Park at a later date.
Tom was born on February 16, 1945 in the Tule Lake Internment Camp. Because his family lost everything in Los Angeles, they started over in Seattle, Washington upon their freedom. He returned and completed his education at LA High School and his Bachelor’s in Accounting at CSULA. He was drafted into the Vietnam War and given his aptitude results, he served as an RM3 (Radio Man 3) in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in 1972. He then backpacked through Europe and traveled the world. He worked at USC and as a Financial Consultant for several companies to help them prevent bankruptcy. In 1987, he became an entrepreneur and opened Encino Camera (a full-service photography lab, studio, and rental equipment store) with the support of his family. It was burned to the ground in 1992 which prompted him to freelance his photography skills. Later in life, he continued to work part-time for the LA City Department of Parks & Recreation, including Travel Town, LA Zoo, and Friendship Hall & the Visitors Center. It was his way of avoiding retirement, staying active, meeting people and helping to “save the planet”…just like when he bought his first family car without AC, which drove us nuts! 😊
Tom’s story is one of resiliency over hardship, through which he sometimes struggled but always found joy, love, inspiration in his family. He passed on is love of the ever-expansive possibilities of outer space resulting in a family obsession with Star Wars, Star Trek and all things SciFi. 😊
Tom often said comments such as “How’d I get to be so lucky to have such a great family?” We call ourselves a “Cubanese Family” – Cuban and Japanese, and we created our own unique traditions, especially with food! 😊 He put a lot of effort into Sunday dinners to get everyone together. Above all else, Tom’s true legacy is his loving family who has made him proud by sticking together through thick and thin. • Aida Takizawa, his wife, who learned photography with him, how to make sushi and Japanese floral design from his mom, Ayako Takizawa, and has become a successful and talented entrepreneur in her own right. • Mari (Galindo) Takizawa, his daughter, who took to heart Tom’s sense of curiosity and motto of try everything at least once, and infuses that spirit in her teaching style as a College Professor. • His twins, Justine and Etienne. • Justine Takizawa DuBon, who took to heart Tom’s values of do what makes you happy and never settle for less. Tom actually followed in her footsteps and worked at Travel Town/Parks & Rec! She is married to Rob DuBon (of the good) who Tom knew as a dedicated family man (with cool tools). • Etienne Takizawa, who took to heart Tom’s sense of honor to serve and protect, and after 2 tours in Iraq/Afghanistan, he was Honorably Discharged as a Sergeant from the US Marine Corps. He originally signed up as a reservist for aid to go to college and today he supports educators through IT/media services. He is married to Tammy Takizawa who Tom always said was a great mom and very patient person. • Derek Takizawa, his youngest son, who took to heart Tom’s love of history and food, and whose green thumb and culinary genius connects family, friends, and community because he cooks with love to feed the soul. • Amaya and Vanessa Takizawa, his granddaughters through Etienne & Tammy. Tom loved to go on walks with them in the neighborhood, would attend their softball games, and musical performances. He loved how beautiful, creative and talented they are, that they are close to each other and their gentle way of melting your heart. • Kaiden and Rylee Takizawa, his grandson and granddaughter through Justine & Rob. Tom was always impressed with how sharp they are – from knowing difficult dinosaur names to math to art. He would often say how cute they are and how well they connected with others. • and more grandchildren and great-grandchildren yet to come!
Tom helped us all become more of who we really wanted to be. We will cherish his lessons and pay them forward. He told us to come find him when it’s our turn to become ancestors, but until then we should live a long life filled with great stories to tell him when we get there. We will see you again, but not yet.
We will be starting some new “Cubanese Family” traditions to do the things we planned to do before the pandemic took him from us way too early. We will… • transform his clothes into quilts so we can all have more of his hugs • make mini-zen gardens/bonzai for each home for relaxation and meditation • travel to Japan, Alaska, Seattle, Delphi, Sequoia/Kings Canyon • complete the family video and donate copies of his unique photos from inside the Tule Lake Internment camp to the museum.
Tom’s Memorial Card is a quote he liked that was in his journal. It relates to his meditation practice.
“Show me a sign today that you
(the Creator/ Universe)
paid attention to
any one of these things I created.
Bring the sign in a way I won’t expect,
so that I am surprised at my ability to
manifest and experience these things,
and make it so I have no doubt
the sign has come from you.”
“Live long and prosper”
until we meet again in a
“galaxy far, far away”.
Eternally Yours,
Tom
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