 Rotarians of Amateur Radio |
Goro 'George' Asaki Pasadena, MD QCWA # 16190 Chapter 20 First Call: WN3MPN |
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Goro "George" Asaki died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes on October 31, 2018 in Ellicott City, Md. Born on December 25, 1923 in Hanford, California near Fresno, he was one of thirteen children of Japanese immigrant parents, Masuji and Mine Asaki.
He was predeceased by his parents and by siblings Shichiro "Tom" Asaki, Teruko "May" Ishimoto, Teiko, Nobuko, Fumiko Inada, and Hiroshi.
He is survived by siblings Aiko Imagawa, Kiyoko "Koko" Wittenburg, Yoshiko "Yo" Seltzer, Isamu "Sam" Asaki, Yutaka "Jack/Skip" Asaki, and Sei "Stephen" Asaki.
After high school and some college, he and his family were relocated to a Japanese internment camp in Jerome, AR after the outbreak of WWII.
He later enlisted in the US Army in 1944 and sharpened his existing Japanese language skills at the Military Intelligence Language School at Ft Snelling, MN. Although he was qualified to be an officer, he was restricted to the rank of Technician 3rd Grade during WWII because of his Japanese ancestry. As an Interpreter, he was assigned to the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in the Philippines and Japan. In addition to interpreting in Japanese villages, he was an investigator for military and civilian courts in Tokyo. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Congressional Gold Medal among other awards.
After Honorable Discharge from the Army at the end of 1946, he returned to the University of Illinois, and earned a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1951 and became a certified Professional Engineer. He worked for Westinghouse Air Arm Division next to then Friendship Airport (now BWI) for over 30 years until he retired.
He married Nobu "Nobie" Sekiguchi of Seattle in 1950 in Chicago while a student at U of Illinois. They and their children, Arthur, Howard and Esther, lived in Glen Burnie, MD then in Sillery Bay, Pasadena, Md. Eventually they had grandchildren, Sarah Yukiko, Rebecca, Andrew, Samuel, and Miriam.
Goro continued his radio hobby becoming an amateur 'ham' radio operator (W3MPN) making contact with other 'hams' in every foreign country except one, and was instrumental in forming a chapter of the Quarter Century Wireless Association.
He was a member of the Japanese American Citizens League, and the Cub and Boy Scouts. Goro was a longtime member and one-time president of the Lake Shore Rotary Club. From the mid 1960's to late 1980's he was active in public school education. After being president of Lake Shore Elementary and Northeast High School PTAs, he served as president of Anne Arundel Co. Board of Education as well as MD State Board of Education. He was a member and a Director of the National Federation of Urban and Suburban School Districts. He was later appointed to the (MD) Governor's Task Force on AIDS in 1987 regarding fairness and safety of students at school during an early, scary period of the epidemic.
Although he was 94 his mind was sharp to the end. His last act of service was to donate his body to the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences for research. Goro was well-liked and took his family on educational outings and vacations.
He picnicked with his extended family, and for relaxation he liked to go fishing, though sometimes without a hook.
Published in The Capital Gazette from Jan. 10 to Jan. 12, 2019
At the Friday night 'Meet n Greet'
I don't know what 'Door Prize' George won.
Nobie on Saturday afternoon
At the Saturday night banquet.
2008 Convention in Virginia Beach
Watching the operating at W2MM
Nabu and George with long time friend John, W3BE in the QCWA Break Room
Saturday night banquet
Pictures from Bob, NØUF and Larry, WA9JMO