Frank M Sunada

2/9/1920-9/12/2010

San Jose resident

Frank passed away at home following a short illness with loving family members at his side. He is survived by adoring wife of 61 years, Clarine, children Gayle Yasutake (Robert), Craig Sunada (Yi) and Les Sunada (Carolyn), brother Chico, sister Toshiko Sutow, five grandchildren, Ryan Yasutake (Marylou), Darren Yasutake (Christel), Amanda Yasutake (fiancé, Anthony Ingua), Jonathon Sunada and Emily Sunada, three great grandchildren, Royce Yasutake, Olivia Agatep and R.J. Yasutake, nephews Wayne Sutow and Roy Sutow and niece Jan Sutow. He is predeceased by his father, Ichitoku, mother, Hana Doi and niece Cathy Sasaki.

Born in Heramura, Hiroshima, Japan, Frank, at the age of 8, arrived in Seattle, Washington where the family briefly made its home. The family eventually moved to Oakland where they made their permanent home. Frank the eldest, and his family showed great resilience, surviving the financial meltdown of the Great Depression, the untimely early death of their father in 1936 and their internment during World War II. With the help of his younger siblings, Frank ensured that his beloved mother was well taken care of and that the family would remain whole.

Following the war, Frank met the love of his life, Clarine, in New York City. They married on June 12, 1949. After settling in Petaluma (Clarine’s home town) to raise the family, Frank along with Clarine worked tirelessly in the family poultry business until the early 1960s when most of the small chicken ranches in the area were squeezed out of business by the corporate owned farms. Frank had already started to work as a clerk at PAM (Park Auto Market) in Santa Rosa in 1957 to supplement the family income. For the better part of the next fifteen years, Frank worked in the grocery business, eventually owning a small store in the late 1960s. He also distributed bakery goods throughout the Bay Area for a number of years.

By the late 1970s, Frank and Clarine, newly empty nesters, made a major change in their life, moving to the Santa Clara Valley to be near Gayle and Robert’s home. They would soon make San Jose their permanent home. While initially residing in Sunnyvale, Frank took great joy in caring for his first grandson, Ryan. His love and devotion were well chronicled by the hundreds of pictures he took. After buying their home in San Jose, Frank, with the help of good friend, Byron Honda, found employment at Olympus Corporation in maintenance operations. Frank was 60 at the time and no one in the family would have believed then that he would be at Olympus for 24 years! Like Clarine, when it came to working, Frank was the Energizer Bunny- he just kept going and going. Being busy and working with the young people at Olympus kept Frank happy and healthy. He loved the people working with him and his co-workers in turn were attracted to his kindness and sense of humor. When Frank told stories about what the “kids” at work did that day, how someone used ten paper towels to wipe their hands or the mess someone else made in the cafeteria, he spoke in fatherly tones. He recognized good things in everyone, even those who made more work for him. The Olympus chapter was an extremely happy period for Frank.

Frank retired from Olympus in 2005. While in retirement, Frank continued to enjoy photography, family trips to Disney World and Hawaii, occasional jaunts to the casinos, the horse races, rooting for the Giants and 49ers and spending time with friends. Being with his family, however, was Frank’s greatest joy.

Frank will always be remembered as kind, friendly and unselfish person who placed family first and foremost. His life was never centered on himself. He will be greatly missed by all.

A memorial service to honor Frank will be held on October 2, 2010, 2:00 pm, at the Lima Family Milpitas-Fremont Mortuary located at 48800 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont. In lieu of flower offerings, the family appreciates donations to the San Jose Buddhist Church (640 N. 5th St., San Jose 95112) or Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service (588 N. 4th St, San Jose 95112).

The Sunada family would like to extend special thanks to the wonderful people at Hospice of the Valley and his compassionate caregivers BeBe Opaon and Shirley Bacalso.