December 27, 1954 – March 15, 2026
Robert “Bob” Dean Kitagawa, 71, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2026. He was born on December 27, 1954 to George and Lillian Kitagawa. Bob grew up in Los Angeles and attended Wilson High School. He lived a busy life building ties within communities all throughout Southern California, where he pursued his passion for food, volunteered for many organizations, and spent time with family.
Bob began his career in the seafood industry when he started working for American Fish in his early 20s. He later worked for Fish King Seafood in Glendale, where he made lifelong friends in his 20+ years of working there. After his time at Fish King Seafood, he utilized his knowledge of seafood to help open Peppercorn Marketplace, then later worked at Bristol Farms as their seafood buyer. There, he was inspired to form his own company selling Brudah Bob’s poke mix. In his later years, Bob worked for Hilo Fish, a company that his family holds close to their hearts due to their unwavering support for Bob as he struggled with health issues.
Bob poured his love and care into the industry in which he worked for 50 years. And every so often, his work gave back: he met his wife Dale at American Fish, where they both worked. Bob was supported in his work by Dale through every turn.
Outside of work, Bob loved fly fishing and watching sports, especially when the Dodgers, Lakers, or Vikings were playing. He experimented with smoking meats in his backyard smoker by using wood logs of different varieties. He was a black belt in Shotokan karate and taught with the karate group at the Southeast Japanese School and Community Center (SEJSCC) in Norwalk. He enjoyed coaching youth baseball and, later, coached his younger son’s youth basketball team. Bob spent endless hours volunteering with his eldest son’s Boy Scout Troop 54, organizing Court of Honor and other troop events. Bob always took quiet pride in the achievements of his sons.
The final days of his life were spent with Dale by his side, holding his hand, and at peace. He joins his older brother Mike, who passed away three years prior. He is survived by Dale and their two sons, Kyle and Owen; along with his siblings, Colleen, Darryl, and Paul. His memory also lives on through his nieces, nephews, cousins, and many more.