Alice Nakahata

May 30, 1935 - February 27, 2023

Alice Kiyomi Kajitani Nakahata, of San Francisco, passed away peacefully on February 27, 2023, at the age of 87. She succumbed from complications of heart surgery, in the company of and after visits by her family and friends. The daughter and granddaughter of Central Valley shopkeepers, Alice was born and raised in the farming community of Selma, California, except during World War II when she was incarcerated at Gila River, Arizona and then lived for a time in Denver until her family was allowed to return to California.

She was a proud alumna of UC Berkeley and UCSF. She met the love of her life, Donald Nakahata, shortly after graduating. They embarked on a lifelong partnership which continued beyond his passing in 2012. Together they raised a family while fighting for civil rights, social justice and redress for Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. They spent many Saturdays cheering on their beloved Cal Golden Bears, and backpacked just about everywhere in the High Sierras. With Don, she raised, educated and launched three sons, and later was a proud, affectionate and inspirational grandparent to six grandchildren. She shared her World War II experience with many social studies classes, and interested students.

In her professional career, Alice was a thoughtful friend and mentor to many. She worked first as a physical therapist. As her children got older, she became a Lamaze childbirth instructor and trainer. In 1971, she joined San Francisco City College in the Parent Education division, where she taught early child development. Many San Franciscans attended and were nurtured by her parent-child observation classes, which became popular and gained a large following. She then became a nationally recognized educator in Early Social Emotional Development, Early Brain Development and Culturally Responsive Care with the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC). She was especially skilled at prenatal and neonatal development and was an avid supporter of the rights of infants and toddlers, and the need to understand their amazing skills and capacities. She conducted professional development workshops around the country, continuing her work with PITC well into her 80s. In addition, she was a founding member of the Bay Area Network for Diversity Training and worked with the Roots of Empathy program through San Francisco Unified School District. She also served for many years on the Board and as President of Japanese American Women Alumnae of UC Berkeley, the Bishop’s Committee of Christ Church (Sei Ko Kai), and on the Marin JACL Board, among many other organizations.

She is survived by her sons Andrew (Alison), Peter (Laura) and John (Pam), and grandchildren Eileen, Maura, Dashiel, Paxton, Kevin and Darren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that donations in Alice’s memory be made to the National Japanese American Historical Society, https:// www.njahs.org/Donate/, or to the Japanese American Women Alumnae of UC Berkeley Endowed Scholarship Fund, https://jawaucb. org/donate or by check payable to “UC Regents” with the note “For Fund number R06329000/In Memory of Alice Nakahata” and mailed to JAWAUCB, PO Box 816, Sacramento, CA 95812. Visitation will be held Friday March 24, 2023 from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy & O’Hara Co, Geary Blvd. at 10th Ave, S. F., CA. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 1:00 pm at the Christ United Presbyterian Church, 1700 Sutter St., San Francisco.