Thomas Katsuo Minami died peacefully at his home on April 27, 2021. He was 89 years old.
Thomas was born in Osaka, Japan in 1932 and attended Kwansei Gakuin University where he sang with the Glee Club. He came to the United States in 1958 and is a 1960 graduate from the University of Washington.
He worked for many years with Hamlin International Corporation from its early days as a small stereo store importing consumer electronics from Japan to its pioneering contributions to cable television. He married Yasuyo Yamaguchi in 1964 and they both naturalized as U.S. citizens in 1972. Thomas sang with the Seattle Chorale, was active with the Rainbow Chorus, the University of Washington Japanese Speaking Alumni Association, the University of Washington Foundation for International Understanding Through Student (FIUTS), and the Seattle Chapter of the Kwansei Gakuin Alumni Association.
Thomas is survived by his wife of 57 years, Yasuyo, his three children, Philip (Linda), Ann and Richard (Jennifer), and five grandchildren, Ryan, Brendan (Maria), Rachel, Aidan and Reagan.