He adored his grandchildren and they were the light of his life. He loved watching WNBA games with Lala, eating Sarah’s baked creations, looking through old family photographs with Alli, learning Gen Z lingo from Koji, drinking boba with Mei Mei and playing golf with the grandkids. He would never pass up pepperoni pizza and a diet coke. Our family will miss his famous Thanksgiving stuffing, his playful teasing, snappy sense of humor, quirky pranks and his ability to make us laugh. His cute smile and subtle acts of love are ingrained in us forever.
When Ted’s family was young we did a lot of trips and gatherings with friends and family. He enjoyed teaching friends, nieces and nephews how to ski and fish. Canyon lunches and fishing after church were common outings, as were family gatherings up City Creek Canyon. Thanksgivings in LA and summers were spent with the Tanaka cousins. We had many fun dinners and trips to the Uintas with the Nishijima family. For years he worked out several days a week with Doc Matsukawa and Kay Nakashima swimming and playing racquetball at the YMCA before work. He was active with the Japanese Church of Christ for many years, serving various roles. He bowled in the Nisei league. Golfed many Sundays with Beehive Golf Club. He even trained and completed the St George Marathon in 1982! Ted was an avid Utah Jazz fan and a Utah man! Ted enjoyed traveling with friends on golf trips, playing golf at Alpine CC with his buddies, traveled to Europe with longtime friends Bruce and Judy Bell, and loved hosting annual Christmas parties. In his later years, he enjoyed writing his human interest newsletter for 6 years. He discovered a great talent creating digital watercolor portraits for many of his friends and family. He created over 400 portraits until he became ill in 2020. Ted was a good bowler, golfer, basketball player, racquetball player and loved to drink with his golf buddies while settling their bets. The tee times in the sky are getting full with his buddies Frank Nakashima, Harry Imamura, Bill Mizuno, Jimi Mitsunaga, Gene Sato, Dick Shiba, Speedy Shiba, Al Oshita, & Ray Uyeda... keep hitting them long and straight guys!
Home
Early Life
Love
Career
Service
Gpa