Obituary

AYAKO HAMAMOTO

Ayako Hamamoto, age 89 passed away on April 1, 2011 from complications of a broken hip.

A true Japanese lady, mannered, polite, elegant, literate and cultured, an accomplished Haiku poet, she wrote for Fuka, a Japanese literary journal and was an Ikebana instructor.

She was born in Vacaville, CA, in 1921 but returned to Wakayama Japan as a young girl with her family and attended Kyoto Women’s University and later taught Japanese history at Ohtani Girl’s Preparatory school in Hakodate Hokkaido, Japan.

Emigrating to California in 1955 then later to Chicago where she resided until her death, her esteemed career as an otology researcher at University of Chicago Medical School spanned over 30 years conducting studies of the ear and hearing. Proud member of the University of Chicago community and called Hyde Park her home since 1957.

She is survived by her brother, Kiyomi Hamamoto and wife Kiyoko of San Mateo, CA,, sister Michiko Odama and husband Isamu of Wakayama Japan, and sister-in-law Tomoko Hamamoto of Berkeley, CA. Nephews, Steve Hamamoto, Tony Hamamoto, Tadashi Odama, and Yas Hamamoto (departed). Nieces, June Cassman, Mikazu Itahashi, Mariko Roberts and their respective families, as well as lifelong friends in Japan. She is predeceased by her dear friend and longtime companion Hiroshi Nakaguchi, and brother Kiyoaki Hamamoto of Berkeley.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to the Midwest Buddhist Temple or Japanese American Service Committee.

Visitation at 1 p.m. and memorial service at 2 p.m. will be held at Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 W. Menomonee St., Chicago on Saturday, April 9, 2011. for information: (312) 943-7801