George Kitazawa

Age 93 of Monroeville, died on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. He was preceded in death by brother Edward, sister Hannah, his parents Buemon and Kiyo of the Kitazawa Nursery, and his wife Fumiko nee Makino. He is survived by his daughters Susan Kitazawa of San Francisco, CA, Dr Margaret Johnston-Kitazawa (Kiko) of Pahala, HI and Katherine Ostrozovich (Dan) of Crown Point, IN, and grandchildren Man Duy, Mika, Ka’u, Kona, Kimiko and Daniel. He will be missed by many other relatives, friends, associates, and by his special friend Masae Morisue. George was born on May 2, 1917 in San Jose, CA. He worked at his family’s nursery business and as a Sea Scout, sailed in the San Francisco Bay. He constructed his own ham radio as a teenager. He earned his Bachelors degree from the University of California in Berkeley. Executive Order 9066 and his subsequent incarceration at the Manzanar Relocation Center interrupted his pursuit of higher education. It was there that he married Fumiko Makino. He later completed his Masters and Ph.D at the State University of New York in the College of Forestry. He was employed as a research physicist at the Gillette Safety Razor Company in Boston, as a laboratory head at Borden Chemical Company in Philadelphia, and as a manager of the Forest Products Research Section in Monroeville for the Koppers Company, Inc. After his retirement he continued to work as a consultant/interpreter for U.S.- Japan technical partnerships and especially enjoyed his time working in various steel mills. Although George had many interests including fishing and whitewater canoeing, none surpassed his love for the amateur radio. Better known by his call letters “NS30”, he belonged to Two Rivers Amateur Radio Club, Quarter Century Wireless Association, and the Japanese American Amateur Radio Society. He had contacts across the U.S. and Canada, and as far away as Brazil and Japan. His children knew not to give him a call when he was ‘on the net’. A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, August 8th, from 1-4 p.m. at the the GENE H. CORL INC. FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATION CENTER OF MONROEVILLE, 4335 Northern Pike (1 block East of Mosside Blvd.-Rte. 48) (A Golden Rule Member). Private funeral arrangements are being made with a memorial service to be held at the Wesley Methodist Church in San Jose, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Habitat for Humanity or your favorite charity.