Ryo Hashiguchi

Ryo Sugaya Hashiguchi passed away late on May 30th, 2017 at home after dealing with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and a brief battle with cancer. Ryo was born on January 6th 1933 in Lemon Grove, San Diego County, California. She lived on a farm with her seven siblings and mother and attended elementary school up to the fourth grade. In 1942, she and her family were sent to Santa Anita Race Track to live in the stables while waiting for their final destination to be readied. They spent the rest of WWII in Poston Arizona, Relocation Camp III. After the war, Ryo’s family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Ryo graduated from Jordan High School in 1950. She attended the Henager School of Business receiving a certificate for completing the Clerical Course in 1954. In 1955, Ryo moved to Los Angeles, where she worked for Pacific Mutual Life Insurance and the Veterans Administration. During that time, she met James Hashiguchi while attending the wedding of her cousin Taka and Beverly Sawasaki. However, there is some speculation that they met at the Poston Relocation Camp during WWII. Ryo and Jim fell in love and married March 12th, 1960. Two years later they had a daughter, Cheryl. In 1963 they bought their first and only house in Sylmar, California, where Ryo would eventually make her transition. Ryo worked as a librarian; first as a PTA/PTSA volunteer at Harding Street Elementary School, then as a volunteer at San Fernando Junior High School. In 1976 she was recognized by the LA Unified School District, the City of Los Angeles, Mayor Tom Bradley and his wife, for her dedication and service as a volunteer. In 1977, she began working at Olive View Medical Center as a Typing Clerk, but was quickly promoted to Accounting Clerk. While there, she attended Los Angeles Mission College to expand her knowledge of accounting. She retired from Los Angeles County in 1999. Ryo was an avid bowler, winning a trip to Washington DC in 1976 to participate in a tournament to bowl in Europe. She didn’t win the trip to Europe, but was able to make some new friends, do a bit of sightseeing, and meet Jesse Owens. A very creative person; arts and crafts were another of Ryo’s passions. She crocheted, scrap booked, rubber stamped, painted ceramics, and made all manner of items. She handmade trick or treat bags by cutting out cats, witches on brooms, and jack-o-lanterns from construction paper, free hand; and when her daughter was a small child, she made most of Cheryl’s clothes. Ryo enjoyed travel, visiting most of North America, including Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas. She loved wildlife, animals, and nature and was concerned about ecology and human ailments. She gave generously to many charitable organizations; two of her favorites were the Wildlife Waystation and the National MS Society. Ryo is survived by her husband, James Hashiguchi, daughter, Cheryl Mesler Colbert, son-in-law Paul Colbert, sisters Setsuko Sugaya Yoshisato and Chie Sugaya, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Ryotaro Sugaya and Yone Hayashi, brothers Shigeru Sugaya, Takeshi Sugaya, and Shioji Sugaya, sisters Yoshie Sugaya Kariya and Mary Sugaya Hirase, and nieces Kathy Kariya and Linda Kariya Arita. A private ceremony to scatter her ashes at sea will be held at the end of July.