Eugene Tsutomu Yamada

Eugene “Gene” Yamada passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 22, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 83 years old.

Gene was born on February 7, 1943, in a Japanese American relocation camp based in California to Alice and Nick Yamada. He was raised in San Mateo, California, where his magnetic nature took root and grew into a life defined by service, generosity, and a genuine desire to help others, both in his career and in the countless ways he made people feel welcome and connected.

After a year of college, Gene enlisted in the United States Army, where he served for three years and was stationed in Germany for the duration of his tour. Following his military service, he returned to school to complete his bachelor’s degree—an experience that would shape the rest of his life, as it was there he met his beloved wife, Lillian.

Gene often described himself as a “jack of all trades,” but at the heart of his varied career was a deep commitment to protecting and helping others. Over the years, he worked as an investigator for the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, a probation officer in Santa Clara County, and an insurance agent in Willow Glen. Later, he brought his curiosity and problem-solving skills into the tech world, working with antivirus and computer companies as the go-to “fix-it” expert. In his later years, he found joy working as a golf course marshal, combining his love of the outdoors with his natural ability to connect with people.

A truly social and warm-hearted man, Gene had a gift for striking up conversations and turning strangers into friends. He found great joy in golfing (sinking a hole in one halfway into his golfing career), fishing, camping, playing games, and making music. Music, in particular, was a lifelong passion—he played multiple instruments from his youth and continued nearly until the end of his life. He also loved to sing, beginning with a group in high school and continuing well into his later years. Alongside his wife and friends in their senior community, Gene helped establish an ukulele group and a sing-along group, bringing people together through music and laughter.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents (Alice and Nick), his two sisters Barbara and Fran, his brother in law Allen and niece, Julie.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian, of 59 years, his daughter Laura (her husband Alan), his grandkids Brooke and Lukas, his sister-in-law Edie, brothers-in-law Melvin and Stanley (JoAnn), his nieces and nephews: Kathie (Bret), Robbie (Jennifer), Cathrina (Myron), Ronson (Shannon) and his many grand nieces and nephews.

A private service will be held for immediate family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Sutter health hospice at

https://give.sutterhealth.org/campaign/730779/donate (go to Sutter Care at Home and choose ‘SCAH Hospice’ to go to the correct organization)

or to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) at

https://bcan.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/