Mayme Iijima Harris

Mayme Iijima Harris died peacefully at home on March 19, 2022 of a recent illness. She was born on June 10, 1923 in Oakland, California, the youngest of six children of Tokuhei Iijima and Tomono Hayakawa. The parents and children all worked hard to support a modest life in Oakland. While Mayme was a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941 and she had to leave school.

Mayme, her parents and her two sisters were relocated to a Japanese

internment Camp, Topaz, in Utah, while her three brothers and two brothersin-law fought for the U.S. in the decorated Japanese regiment, the 442nd, in the European stage. She and her family were eventually allowed to leave Topaz and Mayme and her sisters relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. Mayme finished her undergraduate education at Drury College and went on to graduate work at the University of Chicago. There she met her husband, John Harris, while living in the International House dormitory. John and Mayme wed, and John went on to graduate college, serve for two years in the military, and then complete medical school. Following his medical training in San Francisco

and Boston, they settled in Marin County and raised three children. While her husband was alive, they passionately worked for the betterment of the Black community through their work with the Peace and Freedom Party.

Following John’s death in 1973, Mayme went on to discover her love of hiking and traveling the world. Her local hikes were with fellow Sierra Club members and she loved to surround herself with these fascinating people. Some of her favorite gatherings were on Mt. Tamalpais at the Alpine Club, where she enjoyed tending bar for parties. She traveled the world with many of her hiking friends, and some of her favorite places to visit were Africa, Cuba, Vietnam, China and the Galapagos Islands. She continued to hike until her early 90s.

Mayme loved fun people, good food, a vodka tonic and her family. She devoured biographies and the newspaper. As her health declined in her final six months, she never complained and always had a smile to share. The family is grateful for her caretakers who gave her comfort and honor.

Mayme is survived by her brother, Shori (Yoshiko); her children Harry (Linn), Steve and Audrey (Chris); six grandchildren and one great-grandson, Ryan.

The family is planning a memorial service later this summer.