OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS
Denver Post
Thursday, September 6, 2007
SATO , SAM I., M.D.
Sam I. Sato , MD, 83, died on August 27, 2007, in Tucson, AZ, after a lengthy illness. Dr. Sato was born on December 13, 1923, in Brighton, CO. son of the late Sakuju and Sada Sato . His youth was spent on the family farm in rural Brighton. He was an outstanding student, enrolling in the University of Colorado at the age of 16 where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year. He entered the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver, CO, in an accelerated medical program due to wartime. Dr. Sato graduated with honors in 1946 at the age of 21.
He married Sarah Nakagawa in 1945 and together they moved to Charleston, West Virginia where he served his internship. Moving to Cleveland, OH, he did his residency in Dermatology at Case Western Reserve University and practiced there for 45 years, retiring in 1992.
He was a member of many professional societies including as a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatological Surgery, Ohio State Medical Society, Medical Arts Association of Cleveland, Aescularian Society, Cutaneous Therapy Society, Cleveland Dermatological Society, and Cleveland Academy of Medicine.
He and Sarah were active in the Cleveland community where he served on the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Music, Lyric Opera of Cleveland, Hiram College, Heather Hill Hospital, and Cleveland International Program. He was a member of Mayfield Country Club, the Union Club, Cleveland Skating Club and Mentor Harbor Yacht Club. He and Sarah were Patrons of the Northern Ohio Opera, Cleveland, OH, The Metropolitan Opera, New York, Cleveland Music School Settlement and Northern Ohio Opera Association.
Together, Dr. and Mrs. Sato founded the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
In 1994, Dr. Sato went into kidney failure and Sarah gave him one of her kidneys. At that time, they were the oldest spouse to spouse organ transplant team. In 1995, they moved to Tucson and enjoyed many holidays, birthdays, and celebrations with their family. Dr. Sato loved to travel visiting all continents except Antarctica. He sport fished around the world, often taking his sons and grandsons along.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sarah, two sons, S. Douglas Sato , and Sam E. (Karen) Sato , of Tucson, grand- children, Kristin (Erik) Valenzuela, Margie (Ryan) Sullivan, Blair Sato , Brandon Sato , and Steven D. Sato , Jr., and one great-granddaughter, Ellie Sullivan. Also surviving are four sisters, Amy (Noburo) Oda, Aiko (Ken) Horiuchi, Helen Sato , and Joanne Sato and many nieces and nephews.
A private memorial service was held. Memorial gifts can be sent to: Sato Center for Suzuki Studies, Development Office, Cleveland Institute of Music, 11021 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106.
Sam I. Sato , MD, 83, died on August 27, 2007, in Tucson, AZ, after a lengthy illness. Dr. Sato was born on December 13, 1923, in Brighton, CO. son of the late Sakuju and Sada Sato . His youth was spent on the family farm in rural Brighton. He was an outstanding student, enrolling in the University of Colorado at the age of 16 where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year. He entered the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver, CO, in an accelerated medical program due to wartime. Dr. Sato graduated with honors in 1946 at the age of 21.
He married Sarah Nakagawa in 1945 and together they moved to Charleston, West Virginia where he served his internship. Moving to Cleveland, OH, he did his residency in Dermatology at Case Western Reserve University and practiced there for 45 years, retiring in 1992.
He was a member of many professional societies including as a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatological Surgery, Ohio State Medical Society, Medical Arts Association of Cleveland, Aescularian Society, Cutaneous Therapy Society, Cleveland Dermatological Society, and Cleveland Academy of Medicine.
He and Sarah were active in the Cleveland community where he served on the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Music, Lyric Opera of Cleveland, Hiram College, Heather Hill Hospital, and Cleveland International Program. He was a member of Mayfield Country Club, the Union Club, Cleveland Skating Club and Mentor Harbor Yacht Club. He and Sarah were Patrons of the Northern Ohio Opera, Cleveland, OH, The Metropolitan Opera, New York, Cleveland Music School Settlement and Northern Ohio Opera Association.
Together, Dr. and Mrs. Sato founded the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
In 1994, Dr. Sato went into kidney failure and Sarah gave him one of her kidneys. At that time, they were the oldest spouse to spouse organ transplant team. In 1995, they moved to Tucson and enjoyed many holidays, birthdays, and celebrations with their family. Dr. Sato loved to travel visiting all continents except Antarctica. He sport fished around the world, often taking his sons and grandsons along.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sarah, two sons, S. Douglas Sato , and Sam E. (Karen) Sato , of Tucson, grand- children, Kristin (Erik) Valenzuela, Margie (Ryan) Sullivan, Blair Sato , Brandon Sato , and Steven D. Sato , Jr., and one great-granddaughter, Ellie Sullivan. Also surviving are four sisters, Amy (Noburo) Oda, Aiko (Ken) Horiuchi, Helen Sato , and Joanne Sato and many nieces and nephews.
A private memorial service was held. Memorial gifts can be sent to: Sato Center for Suzuki Studies, Development Office, Cleveland Institute of Music, 11021 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106.
