Sam Akiyama

Sam "Isamu" Akiyama, age 93, passed away on October 16, 2024, at home after a long illness.

Sam was born in Chiba, Japan and lived in Japan for 32 years. He was one of ten children (seven sisters and two brothers) and the last surviving sibling. He met his wife, Kiiko, in Yokohama and lived in Tokyo until they moved to California. In Tokyo, they raised two young daughters.

Sam moved his family to Sunnyvale in 1963, where he worked for Yonemoto Nursery and learned how to grow carnations. His third child, a son, was born in Palo Alto. Then he moved to Watsonville in 1972 to start Akiyama Nursery. He loved farming on the property and was working until the day he had a stroke.

Sam enjoyed being a member of the Watsonville Kayo Club, teaching ballroom dancing at the JACL Hall in Watsonville, and learning Tea Ceremony in Saratoga with Sensei Tauchi. Most of all, he loved to golf at Pajaro Valley Golf Course and was a member for over 45 years. He loved to travel and play golf in Japan, Hawaii, Nevada, Florida, North Carolina, and various courses in California.

He had a great sense of humor, and we were lucky to share some side-splitting laughs even while he was recovering from his stroke.

Sam leaves his wife of 64 years, Kiiko and children, Noriko Ragsac, Yoshiko (Josh) Adler, Benjamin (Patty) Akiyama, and eight grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the caregiving team of Elvia, Isabel, and Miryam for the wonderful and loving care they provided for Sam. We would also like to express our appreciation to Bridge Hospice for the outstanding care he received.

Sam will be dearly missed by family and friends, and we hope you can join us for his memorial service which will be held at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 11:00am.

Mehl's Colonial Chapel has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Published in The Pajaronian · November 18, 2024