Joseph Yamaoka

Joseph Han Yamaoka departed this life on 30 December 2020 peacefully in his sleep after a difficult cancer fight. He is mourned by all those who knew him during his 85 years. Born in Los Angeles, California 13 February 1935 to Otto Han Yamaoka of Los Angeles and Mizuze “Mia” Ichioka of Hiroshima, Japan. The Yamaokas were early screen actors in Hollywood, and Otto was an importer/exporter of trade goods between the United States and Japan from the 1930’s onward.

A lifelong sports enthusiast and sportsman, Joe enjoyed baseball, bridge, tennis and his fly fishing trips. He followed the examples of his athlete father and uncles who played high school baseball and football in their hometown of Seattle, Washington, and lettered in Varsity Baseball at Power Memorial in New York City. Accomplished in Physics, he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Manhattan College in 1956 and was the Senior Class President. He followed the “Jaspers” in their competitive exploits for decades.

Joe worked as an engineer for General Electric in Syracuse, NY for over a decade, and then worked at Grumman Aircraft on Long Island while attending law school. He later joined Proctor and Gamble after receiving his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, NY in 1971. He graduated St. John’s as his class secretary and on the Dean’s List.

Joe gave enthusiastic support for the furtherance of education and the careers of all his nieces and nephews. He mentored and substantially guided the expansion of learning and intellect of those around him in their individual endeavors.

Joe lived for many years in downtown Philadelphia where he was a patron of the theater and cheered on the Phillies, Eagles and Sixers. A dog lover, especially of basset hounds, Joe retired and moved to West Chester, PA with his basset hound mix, Charlie in 2017.

Joe is survived by his cousins, Curtis Yamaoka of St. Michaels, MD.; Jon Yamaoka of South Orange, NJ; Peter Yamaoka of Roxbury, NY; Mira Yamaoka of Boston, MA; Carrie Yamaoka of Glen Cove, NY.

And the descendants of close family friends, William and Jane Brennan and William and Alice Tomann:

Jane Brennan of Southampton, NJ; William and Jacqueline Brennan of Greensboro, NC, and their children, Kiera and Liam; Mary Anne and Richard Morey of Hamilton, NJ, and their children, Alyssa Penick and her husband Scott, and Sarah Jane; Nancy and Barry Kay of Hamilton, NJ, and their children, Rachel and Shannon; Kathleen and Joseph Whalen of Florence, NJ, and their children, Johnathan and Kelsie; Michael and Kimberly Brennan of Fair Haven, NJ; Jennifer Brennan and her husband Ciaran McNally of Southampton, NJ; Catherine Tomann Buchanan and husband William of California, MD.; Elizabeth Tomann Lowy and her husband Thomas of Wayne, PA.; Susanna Tomann Chlipala and her husband Piotr of Breckenridge, CO.

Burial will be at Holy Cross Burial Park and Mausoleum in East Brunswick, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society, would be appreciated and are encouraged