Neighbor News
Rio Hondo College icon still teaching lessons 22 years after retiring
Yoshio Nakamura, a Rio Hondo College educator for 29 years, remains active at age 89, with a full schedule.
WHITTIER, Calif. – Rio Hondo College ‘s Yoshio Nakamura taught high school and college students about creating art for more than four decades – sharing the alone perspectives that drove the dramatic images he created on canvas tent, on newspaper and through sculpture.
now, 22 years after retiring as Rio Hondo ‘s vice president of community services and institutional development, Nakamura continues to partake important lessons on life and art. Nakamura and his wife, Grace Shinoda Nakamura, are among a twelve Angelenos ages 59 to 100 whose philosophies and tips for aging graciously are featured in the November edition of Los Angeles Magazine. “ The Rio Hondo community knows well that ‘Yosh ‘ inactive has much to offer all those who know him, ” said Rio Hondo College Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss. “ He is, has been and will continue to be a force storm for excellence for our students and staff. This recognition and his many early honors are well deserved. ” In the article, Nakamura, 89, cites a quote Chelsea Clinton in go attributes to her grandma : “ It is n’t what happens to you that is important. It ‘s what you do when something happens to you. ” Grace Nakamura, 87, an artist and retire educator, adds to that : “ I believe that you can have a fulfilled liveliness if you try to think positively and make the most of situations, if you try to live by the Golden Rule, if you ‘re accepting of people, if you try to give avail to others, ” she told the magazine. It ‘s a lesson Yosh Nakamura learned early on. At senesce 16, he was interned with other Japanese-Americans at the Tulare Assembly Center, a convert racetrack near Fresno. He was late relocated to a camp in Arizona, where he reported for active duty in the U.S. Army in 1944. Nakamura was sent to France and Italy, where he served with the 442nd Regimental Team, a unit made up of Japanese-Americans. He was assigned to a fleshy weapons group, using deafening mortars and machine guns to engage war. In 2000, 20 members received the Medal of Honor, the nation ‘s highest military honor. In 2011, the unit was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest U.S. civilian honor and Nakamura received the Bronze Star.
“ All of us have been through unvoiced times, ” Nakamura said. “ I ‘ve been identical fortunate to have people who have been there to help me out and give me a more positive mentality on life. ” In 1952, Nakamura earned his knight bachelor of fine arts from USC and began teaching at Whittier High School while he worked to complete his passkey of finely arts. In 1960, he was named teacher of the year by the Whittier and the San Gabriel Valley Federation of Woman ‘s Clubs. In 1963, Nakamura joined the beginning staff as fine arts president of the newly opened Rio Hondo College and, in a very real smell, found his home. Over the adjacent 29 years, he added a series of administrative duties to his teaching function, becoming a dean and finally a Rio Hondo College frailty president. His stamp can be seen across the College community, from the all right arts plan to the Learning Assistance Center, from the seaworthiness center to the campus gallery. All three of his children have attended the College. These days, Nakamura does n’t seem to have slowed much. Since retire, he has dedicated himself to his artwork, but besides found clock time to volunteer for a count of art-centered community groups, including Whittier ‘s Art in Public Places Committee and Cultural Arts Commission. In January, he will join a handful of other veterans atop the City of Alhambra float in the 126th tournament of Roses Parade. The Go For Broke float honors the Japanese-Americans who served during World War II while their family members were interned. In February, Nakamura will be one of two have artists at the Hillcrest Congregational Church ‘s fifty-fifth annual Festival of Fine Arts – an event he has been involved with since its origin. In April, he will be inducted into the Whittier High School Hall of Fame – an honor that recognizes the scope of Nakamura ‘s impact – a character so strong students even stop him to say how a lot his classes influenced their lives.
Nakamura is besides focused on an issue close to home plate. His grandson, Kai Nakamura, is struggling with a heart illness that is presently untreatable. But, in keeping Grace and Yoshio Nakamura ‘s trademark positive mentality, the family has turned to YouTube to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure. See their video recording appeal at hypertext transfer protocol : //www.youtube.com/watch ? v=2C8LMga8BRU .
