Published April 17, 2024

With a heavy heart, Keiro mourns the passing of Sakaye Aratani, the beloved wife of George Aratani, one of our esteemed founders. Sakaye will always be remembered as a kind, elegant, compassionate friend and Keiro supporter. She and George are indelibly ingrained in Keiro’s legacy of caring for older adults and caregivers in Our Community. George and Sakaye led by example, with humility, generosity of spirit, and visionary leadership in their collective and individual pursuits of community engagement. While heading the Aratani Foundation, Sakaye continued to generously support Keiro as the organization transitioned to community-based programs and services to address the diverse aging needs of older adults and caregivers residing in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.

Sakaye was a gracious host and steadfast friend who thrived into her 100s, buoyed by the love of her family. She was the epitome of aging with grace and dignity, always offering a warm smile, cheerful conversation, and embracing the philosophy of “arigatai” – gratitude for her life and those around her. Ever present at Keiro events, including a guest appearance in Keiro’s 60^th anniversary video, Sakaye greeted everyone with kindness and sincerity. Her presence will be missed, but her values and dedication to the Japanese and Japanese American community will be everlasting.