Former Albany Mayor Jewel Okawachi: 1928-2013

Former Albany Mayor Jewel Okawachi died in the early morning hours Sunday at her home at the age of 84, according to family members.

"Shortly after midnight on July 14, 2013, Jewel Okawachi passed away in her sleep at home from lung cancer," said a notice from the family. "At the time of her death she was surrounded by her three sons, David, Stan and Mark." The disease was diagnosed in late May, by which time it had spread, the family said.

Mayor Peggy Thomsen said she issued instructions that the flag be flown at half-staff at City Hall Monday and that she will ask that the City Council adjourn its Monday night meeting in Okawachi's honor.

"She's Albany's first lady," Thomsen said. "Things got done because of Jewel. It's hard for a lot us because she was such a special person."

Okawachi, who was born Oct. 31, 1928 in San Francisco and lived in the Albany home she grew up in, served two terms on the council (2000-2008), including one year as mayor (2002), and spent many years not only working full-time and raising her three sons but also devoting her considerable energy to serving on city commissions and otherwise volunteering for the schools and other community needs.

Albany's Terrace Park was renamed Jewel's Terrace Park in 2009 in recognition of her contributions, including her service to Albany parks and green space. She served on the city's Parks & Recreation Commission and the Waterfront Commission, in addition to the Pension Board and the Waste Management Authority Board. The park renaming also recognized her longtime daily walk through the park.

Thomsen met Okawachi when both were involved with PTA, before Okawachi became politically involved, and was struck by Okawachi's dedication to service without recognition.

"She didn't want credit – she just wanted to get the job done," recalled Thomsen, who was among those who recruited Okawachi for public office.

Okawachi also on occasion spoke publicly of her relocation at age 14 with her family to one of the internment camps for people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. They were interned in the middle of an Arizona desert at the Gila River Relocation Center.

Her brother died serving in the U.S. Army in Italy during the war, and her father was devastated by the wartime experience, never fully recovering after he returned and reestablished his dental practice, she told an audience at the Albany Community Center in 2007, according to Albany Today.

When she left the camp at age 16, she returned to the family home and asked the people who had taken it over to leave, she recalled. "I think back at 16 I had a lot of nerve," she said during her talk, according to the Albany Today account. "I probably didn’t know any better."

Her parents faced a lot of discrimination and bureaucratic resistance when they moved to Albany and struggled to build their house in 1928, she told the Albany audience. Albany in the 1920s had only five Asian families and one black family, and real estate agents tried to prevent non-whites from moving in, she said.

A 2008 City Council resolution thanking her for her service noted that she graduated from Albany High in 1946, raised her three sons and owned her own business, D&S Composing Service, until she retired.

A 2009 resolution presented to the council for renaming Terrace Park included a list of the many organizations she helped, noting, "Jewel has been a tireless volunteer for Albany, committing her time to the Albany Education Foundation, the Police Activities League, the City’s Youth Task Force, the Prevention Council, the Drug & Alcohol Task Force, Albany Little League, the Boy Scouts, the first Teen Center, Albany High School Track & Field, Albany High Athletic Boosters, the Albany Community Foundation, the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the Solano Avenue Association, the Albany Historical Society, the Friends of the Albany Library, the Friends of the Albany Seniors, and Soroptimist International."

In addition to her three sons, Okawachi is survived by brother Vernon and sister-in-law Emi Nishi, daughters-in-law Gaby and Yuka, and grandchildren Natalie, Gregory, Logan and Satomi. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Sammy.

"In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family has requested that donations be made in her memory to any of the following charitable organizations that meant so much to her," the family statement said. "They are the Albany Community Foundation, the Albany Senior Center, the Albany Education Foundation and the Berkeley Humane Society."

"Jewel has requested a private funeral service with only family members present. The family is also planning a gathering of her family, friends and colleagues to celebrate her life in 4-6 weeks. Details for this event have yet to be finalized."

Anyone wishing to share remembrances or condolences are invited to do so in the comments section below.