A celebration of the life of Fredrick Yukio Tamura, a Hawaiian who spent summers enjoying friends in Sitka, will be held noon Saturday at Ernie’s Old-Time Saloon.
Those attending are invited to take dishes to share.
Fred died July 9 in Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu, at the age of 71.
He was born in Hawaii and lived there throughout his life. He served in the U.S. Navy, and was retired as a Coast Guard welder on Sand Island.
After his wife died in 2000, he began traveling, and would regularly spend June through October in Sitka, where he made many friends, including Jeff Nielsen, and would visit with them – some of his favorite spots were the Moose Lodge, Ernie’s, Pioneer Bar, the American Legion and Sitka Tribe of Alaska, where he liked to play bingo.
He greatly enjoyed bazaars and rummage sales, and would buy items in Hawaii and sell them – and give them away – in Sitka and other Alaska towns.
Fred is survived by his sons, Jon, Glen and Ben; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous friends.