June 30, 1925-November 22, 2025
A Celebration of Life for Yoshio “Yosh” Nakamura will be held at the Whittier High School Vic Lopez Auditorium, 12417 Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA 90601, Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. It is open to the public. The Auditorium is actually located on Whittier Ave. near Bailey St. The parking lot is to the north of the Auditorium.
Whittier High School is where Yosh Nakamura started his teaching career as an art teacher. An Arts Building is named in his honor at the school.
Please wear colorful clothes or Hawaiian attire to reflect Yosh’s cheerful attitude. Yosh was a snappy dresser and was known for his bright purple jacket.
Nakamura was born in Rosemead, Calif. and attended El Monte High School before being evacuated from the West Coast pursuant to Executive Order 9066 and eventually placed in Gila River concentration camp, where persons of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated. From there he joined the Army to prove his loyalty as an American. He had faith that the country would eventually realize that what they did was wrong.
Yoshio “Yosh” Nakamura was a World War II veteran and served in the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the Army, composed of Americans of Japanese ancestry, that became the most highly decorated unit in U. S. military history for its size and length of service.
Nakamura received his B.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of Southern California. He then went on to teach art at Rio Hondo Community College and eventually became a vice president of the College before retirement.
An accomplished artist, his etching “Flight Three” is part of the collection of the Joseph Hirshhorn Museum of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Nakamura Oberholtzer; his son, Daniel Nakamura (wife, Paula Stinson), son, Joel Nakamura (wife, Kathleen Nakamura); grandchildren, Kai and Paloma Nakamura; and sister, Shigeko Yoshimura; along with many nephews and nieces. His wife, Grace, predeceased him.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite charity or the Go for Broke National Education Center, goforbroke.org.
www.fukuimortuary.com (213) 626-0441