Rikio Kumagai (91) passed away in Los Angeles on January 16, 2014. Rik was born in Seattle, Washington on June 10, 1922, the eldest son of Hisa and Kin Kumagai. He attended Broadway High School and University of Washington before being evacuated to Minidoka internment camp during World War II. After serving in the Military Intelligence Service with the U.S. occupation forces in Japan, he graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemical engineering.
He worked primarily for DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware and Tokyo, Japan before retiring to Costa Mesa, California. He was an accomplished pitcher in his youth and enjoyed participating in ping pong, golf and tennis. Rik was also a member of the American Chemical Society and President of the Washington D.C. JACL (1952). Rik is survived by his wife, Sadayo, his sons Wesley (Kathleen), William (Linda) and Robert (Laura), grandchildren Derik Sam Kumagai, Zugey Kumagai, Zoe Kumagai and Jerald Kumagai, his siblings Teruo (Mary) Kumagai of Gig Harbor, Washington and Atsuko Inatome of Estero, Florida and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at Hollenbeck Palms chapel, Boyle Heights, on January 25 at 11 am.