Harry Hideo Hatasaka
May 9, 1929 – June 12, 2022
The Hatasaka, Blackburn, and Ainsley Families, with sadness and love, share the passing of our dearly loved husband, father, grandpa, brother and uncle, on June 12, 2022 in Palo Alto, his treasured hometown for over 60 years.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Sadako (Matsushita); beloved children Leslie Lynne Blackburn (Stuart), Harry Hideo, Jr. (Julia), Mark Teizo and Kimberley Anne Ainsley (Matthew); adored grandchildren Michael Blackburn, Matthew Blackburn, Megan Hatasaka, Bryan Hatasaka, and Alyssa Ainsley; as well as loved siblings Lorina, Sam, Stanley, and many nieces and nephews.
Harry was born in Fort Lupton, CO and was humbly raised on a farm in Brighton, CO with seven siblings. He was the first of the family to attend college and after graduating from the University of Colorado in 1950, he crisscrossed the country in pursuit of higher education. Upon completion of dental school at Northwestern University in Chicago, he met and married Sadako “Cyd” Matsushita in 1954. Together they moved to Baltimore, MD, Honolulu, HI, and San Leandro, CA while Harry served in Public Health Services with the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1958, the family moved to Seattle, WA, where Harry completed an MSD in Orthodontics at the University of Washington School of Dentistry.
In 1960, Harry and Cyd set roots in Palo Alto, where Harry became one of the city’s first orthodontists. In that wonderful community, they raised their four children and lived in the same house for the next 60 years. Harry enjoyed a successful and productive orthodontic career spanning 40 years, of which during the latter 11 he specialized in treating Myofascial Pain Disorders (including TMJ). He was dedicated to the advancement of orthodontics and ongoing education and lectured internationally. As a clinical associate professor, he taught and mentored students at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry for 50 years, starting from the inception of the program in 1970. He was a member and/or served with numerous orthodontic societies: American Association of Orthodontists, the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists (President 1988-89), Peninsula Orthodontic Research Group (PORG, founding member), Tweed International Foundation of Orthodontics, just to name a few.
Harry loved the outdoors, zealously pursuing his favorite pastimes with family and friends, including snow skiing, camping and fishing. He arranged numerous fly-fishing adventures to the Caribbean, Amazon, Mexico and Alaska. He spent countless hours cultivating vegetables and flowers in his expansive garden. In addition, he was active in community service and coached Little League & Babe Ruth Baseball teams; he volunteered with the Optimist Club; he served as Governor of the Japanese American Citizens League (NorCa/W-NV region), and he participated in the annual “Mochitsuke”. He was THE quintessential fan of all the Bay Area sports teams, holding season tickets for the San Jose Sharks and the San Francisco 49ers. He attended many games at Candlestick Park and was present when the Giants played the Oakland As during the 1989 World Series playoffs when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck. He witnessed the SF Giants win three World Series games and excitedly cheered the Golden State Warriors to the 2022 NBA Championship during his last days.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Aldersgate Methodist Church, 4243 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto, CA. Casual “Hatasaka Hawaiian” attire (Hawaiian aloha/fishing shirts and/or favorite sports or team jersey & caps). Bento box lunch will be served following the service. This is a gentle reminder that masks are required when indoors. Outdoor seating will be available; however, due to the highly-contagious COVID variants, masks are recommended outdoors as well. A live feed will also be available via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85152277818 – Meeting ID: 851 5227 7818
Please RSVP attendance to [email protected]
At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, please send memorials to:
Aldersgate United Methodist Church [5243 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306] or
The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni Orthodontic Endowed Scholarship Fund, dentalgifts.org.
Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Aug. 13, 2022.
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