SAN FRANCISCO — Attorney and actor Kent Satoshi Hori passed away on Feb. 3, a day short of his 63rd birthday, surrounded by his family and close friends.
Born on Feb. 4, 1952 to Helen Nitta and Kei Hori, he grew up in San Francisco’s Japantown, attended Washington High School, and graduated with a business degree from UC Berkeley in 1974.
After University of San Francisco Law School, Hori volunteered at Legal Aid and co-founded Nihonmachi Legal Outreach, now known as API Legal Outreach, a community-based social justice organization, in 1975 while also acting with the Asian American Theatre Company, appearing in such plays as Philip Kan Gotanda’s “A Song for a Nisei Fisherman,” “Bullet-Headed Birds,” and “The Avocado Kid.”
He practiced plaintiff law for over 35 years, but devoted time to his family first.
Pastimes included golf, target-shooting, singing, and reading, but he loved competitive games like Scrabble, backgammon, and no-limit poker.
Hori is survived by his wife Barbara, daughters Kellyn and Kelty, mother Helen, and brother Keith.
A memorial celebrating his life will take place on Sunday, March 29, at 11 a.m. at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, 1840 Sutter St., San Francisco.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Kimochi, 1715 Buchanan St., San Francisco, CA 94115.