May 21, 1925 — April 19, 2023
Don was born in Oceanside, Calif. on May 21, 1925, to Masu and Reigu Miyada. He passed away peacefully at his home in Westminster, Calif. on April 19, 2023.
Don spent his childhood in Corona del Mar, Calif., where he helped with the family farm by Crystal Cove. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, while he was still a senior at Newport Harbor High School, he and his family were sent to an internment camp in Poston, Ariz. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, and served his country honorably in the 100th Infantry Battalion “A” Company, 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Europe.
After the war, he earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA and PhD from Michigan State University in biochemistry. A career in clinical chemistry followed, and he retired in 1991 as an associate adjunct professor in the Department of Pathology at UC Irvine.
In retirement, he was active as a board member for the Suburban Optimist Club of Buena Park, a member of VFW Post 3670, and the Go for Broke 100th Battalion Club. In 2011, for his military service in the 442nd RCT, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington, D.C. He was an avid golfer and belonged to several local golf clubs. He enjoyed spending time with his family (and dogs), gardening, fishing, and cheering on the UCLA Bruins and Angels baseball.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Setsuko, and their four children, Roland (Desiree), Marianne, Pamela, and Cynthia.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 3, at 11 a.m. at Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S. Dale Ave., Anaheim, CA 92804. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Go For Broke National Education Center (goforbroke.org) or Suburban Optimist Club Foundation, P.O. Box 727, Placentia, CA 92871.