Dorothy Michiko Hiura

She was born to a Japanese immigrant father and picture bride mother on Nov. 14, 1923 in Alameda, CA. Living there but briefly, the family of now five with Dorothy, the baby of the family coming along 9 years after her sister, Hazel, moved to San Pedro, CA where despite the racial tenor of the times, went to integrated schools all the way through high-school.

Music played an integral part of family life where her older sisters, Mary and Hazel, played the piano and sang. Dorothy took to singing like a fish-to-water and learned to play piano well-enough to accompany herself.

After just a year at Compton Junior College, World War II forever changed her life. She being of Japanese ancestry, and her entire family were unceremoniously ousted out of their homes, forced by US armed soldiers to take only what they could carry, and were sent to Santa Anita Race Track Assembly Center. She was given a number and was directed to a horse stall to live in. The family later took up more permanent residence in a concentration camp in Jerome, Arkansas. At 19, Dorothy was coming of age, and camp proved to be a springboard to womanhood with dating, dancing, and singing. She worked as a time checker and dental assistant.

Having been called out of camp by her brother-in-law, now a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Chicago, she once again tasted freedom. There she met and married Tom Hiura, a dentist, fresh out of Washington University in St. Louis, MO. A few years after the kids were born, Jerry and Barbara, she and Tom returned to California setting up his dental practice in Japantown, San Jose. Here the family flourished and their new-found liberation enticed Dorothy to move outward from the isolationism of Japantown. She tried out and got the part of Cho-cho-san in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in the newly formed San Jose Opera Company in the early 60’s and continued receiving accolades for her portrayal of Mimi in La Boheme and for Bastienne in Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne for the West Bay Opera Company of Palo Alto under the direction and tutelage of Henry Holt. She also starred in San Jose’s musical, “Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen.”

Her God-given talent was often heard on Sundays as a member of the Willow Glen UMC choir. A Christian from her youth, Dorothy was nurtured in faith by Rev. Jitsuo Morikawa, her sister’s husband, first in San Pedro and later in Chicago. In her later years, she became a member of Wesley UMC in San Jose’s Japantown.

An avid bowler, bridge player and golfer, she excelled in all activities. She carried a 150 average in Nikkei Bowling Leagues, quite popular during the 50s and 60s. She and Tom often came home having won numerous JACL duplicate bridge tournaments. As a passionate golfer, she played a lot. She was a member of Almaden Country Club women, Santa Teresa Women’s Golf Club, Royal Dots and Ladies’ Tee Club. Dorothy was 5 ft. and 98 lbs, but had an impeccable short game. She held onto a remarkable14 handicap most of her golfing life. Being such a straight hitter, it’s no wonder that she had 8 holes-in-one.

Suffering a stroke and later a fall in 2015, led to her relationship with Kathy Hurst, a loving and supportive caregiver who was with her five-days a week for the next 6 years. They walked the mall, worked on and completed 125 jig-saw puzzles, and laughed a lot during that time. Barbara, her daughter, also lived with her mom since 2006 and both shared a loving and close-knit bond, doing everything together, traveling, golfing, shopping, and just hanging out. “We were more like sisters,” Barbara would say. “I cherish all my memories of my mom and fully acknowledge that she was part of the greatest generation this world has ever known especially in their pursuit of honor and excellence in spite of injustice as American citizens. I miss her every minute of every day.”

Dorothy is predeceased by her husband Thomas Asao Hiura, her son Jerrold (Lucia Cha) Asao Hiura; her siblings, Mary (Kenji) Shikuma, Arthur (Ruby) Takii, and Hazel (Jitsuo) Morikawa. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Hiura.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Wesley UMC in San Jose.

A visitation is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 26 from 1–5 p.m. at Willow Glen Funeral Home. Family members are encouraged to attend between 1-3 and friends between 3-5. Because this is an indoor event, we respectfully request that all visitors be vaccinated and wear masks. A private burial and Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.