Henry I. Hayashida

Henry I. Hayashida died peacefully on June 12, 2018. A 55-year Monterey Peninsula resident, he was born April 30, 1926 in Morro Bay, CA, to Kichiji and Yaye (Kiyota) Hayashida. The family moved to Los Alamos then later to Saticoy, south of Oxnard.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the family was interned in Tulare Camp and later relocated to Gila River Camp in Southern Arizona. Upon release, they moved to Santa Barbara. Soon after his older brother enlisted, Henry also joined the Army and after training in Florida he shipped to France serving in the 75th Infantry Division.

After leaving the Army, Henry moved to Ohio to attend school studying mechanical drawing. He joined his family in Watsonville where he worked on farms and helped his brother, Louie, build houses. Henry and Louie started their own business, Hayashida Brothers, buying their first farm in Corralitos just past Merk Lake. They purchased another farm near Sunset Beach and continued to farm and build homes. Upon leaving the farming business, Henry worked at Kaiser Refractories in Moss Landing, then the County of Monterey from which he retired. He continued with his drawings and building of household items.

Henry was a man of integrity and generous with his time and support of others. He was devoted to his wife and enjoyed time with family and friends. He also enjoyed cooking his own version of ethnic dishes and watching sports. He was a life member of the VFW and the Japanese American Citizen League.

He lived a “good long life”. His wife, Akemi, predeceased him in 2000. He leaves his daughter and son-in-law, Joyce & Ronald Garnett; his son-of-heart, Mel Fortes; grandchildren, Jodice, Joleen and Ronald Anthony Garnett; brother, Louie Hayashida; sisters, Mary Collins and Grace Tamura and several nieces and nephews. His brother, Ben Hayashida, also predeceased him.

A graveside service will take place at Monterey City Cemetery on Monday, July 16 at 11:00 AM.

The family wishes to thank his doctors who cared for him over the years and most recently, the nurses and aides at VNA Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please contribute in his memory to the VNA-Hospice, PO Box 2480, Monterey, CA, 93940.