Sadaomi "Sam" Oshikawa, PhD

Born February 22, 1929, passed peacefully on September 4, 2024 after a long illness. Sam was born in Tokyo, Japan and served in the Japanese Navy during World War II. When the war ended, he returned to Tokyo and studied at Waseda University.  Sam came to the United States in 1953 as part of the second class of students from Japan on Fulbright Scholarships. He pursued his education at University of Colorado – Boulder, UW, and then began his first teaching position at San Jose State, eventually returning to Seattle and becoming a tenured professor in the Business School a UW.  

Sam met his wife, Phyllis Helen Graf, at a YWCA dance where they were both chaperones. The couple settled down in Lake Forest Park, had two daughters, and eventually began a small property management business. Working from home allowed for more time with his daughters, and for fun, including daily swims at “Aqua Dive Swim Club”, weekly attendance at University Unitarian Church, and traveling to Japan and any sunny international location.  

Family and friends will remember him as a quiet man with a great smile, a bottomless stomach, as a grateful immigrant, and loving husband, father and “Ojiisan”. Sam is survived by wife Phyllis, and daughters Suzanne Norring (Timo, Alex and Anna) and Sara Oshikawa-Clay (Kevin, Mari and Kai). Okage Sama De.  

Thanks to caregivers Robert and Bob and the loving staff at Acacia Adult Family Home. At Sam’s request, no services will be held. Memorial gifts to FIUTS(Foundation for International Understanding Through Students), an organization that supported Sam when he first arrived in Seattle: 909 NE 43rd St, Suite 210, Seattle, WA 98105 (or see link below).