Yutaka Joseph Hirayama

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Etsuko, son Patrick (Donna) of Seattle, daughter Tina Wong (Grant), grandchildren Ciara and Kana Wong, all of Renton, and brother Yuji Hirayama, sisters Sachiko Ando (Naoji) and Yoko Hirayama, all of Japan.

He graduated from Seattle University in 1960 with a Bachelor in Commercial Science. He attended graduate school at the University of Washington, but had to withdraw and return to Japan when his father became ill. While in Seattle, he met his future wife, Etsuko Tamaki. They married in 1966, and eventually decided to live in the US. He worked at Northwest Airlines for 31 years with positions in passenger sales in New York and Chicago, and cargo sales in Seattle. Upon returning to Seattle, he was active in the local Japanese-American community, serving on the boards of Seattle Japanese Language School, Japanese Community Service, and Nippon Kan Heritage Association, as well as president for both the Seattle Japanese Language School and Japanese Community Service. He was awarded The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, from the Emperor of Japan in 2005. A believer in lifelong learning, he embodied this personally by taking Mandarin Chinese and watercolor painting classes at Highline Community College after retirement. He enjoyed traveling, cruising, classical music, opera, painting, watching the Seattle Mariners and spending time with his family.