Akira “Aki” Yoshida
December 19, 1923 – October 27, 2008
Akira passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer. He was predeceased by his wife Tokuko, sister Shizu and brother Kenji. He is survived by his three sons Vern (Brenda), Lance and Rhys, grandchildren Greg and Morganna, and many other relatives.
Akira’s parents Mankichi and Yasu Yoshida immigrated to Canada from Japan in 1913 and settled in Steveston, B.C. where Aki was born. He fished the West Coast with his family until World War II. During the war he resided in Grand Forks, Alberta and Toronto. After the war, he moved his wife and son back to B.C. and settled in Nanaimo. He found employment at Western Marine (Nanaimo Shipyards) and then for almost thirty years at Madill Logging Equipment. In 1960, he and his wife founded The Grotto Cafe, later Restaurant. The Grotto was a Nanaimo fixture for four decades. Akira was respected by many and will be missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of Akira’s life will be held at First Memorial Hall at 1720 Bowen Rd. on November 22, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Flowers and koden gratefully declined. Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Claytree Society for People with Developmental Disabilities, 3 & 4 Estevan Rd., Nanaimo, BC V9S 3Y3.