Setsuko Takahashi Ishiyama
March 20, 1918-March 15, 2014
Palo Alto, California

Setsuko Ishiyama, a gracious and beloved member of the Palo Alto community for 62 years, passed away in her home on March 15, surrounded by her family. Setsu, as she was known to all, was 95.

The daughter of Torao and Natsu Takahashi, Setsu was born in Los Angeles and grew up on Terminal Island, where her father was captain of a tuna fishing boat. After graduating from San Pedro High School, Setsu attended Keisen Women?s College near Tokyo. She developed strong friendships with Keisen faculty and fellow students during her two years in Japan and maintained those relationships for the rest of her life.

In April 1942, shortly after the United States entered World War II, Setsu and her family were forced to leave their homes for internment camps. Setsu and four of her younger siblings were sent to the assembly center at Santa Anita Racetrack and then to the Manzanar internment camp in the Owens Valley. Setsu was allowed to transfer to the Heart Mountain internment camp, near Cody, Wyo., to be with her fiancé, George Ishiyama, to whom she had become engaged while in Los Angeles. George and Setsu were married in January 1943 in nearby Powell, Wyo., and started their life together in the internment camp.

After being released from Heart Mountain in 1944, Setsu and George moved to Tuckahoe, N.Y., where the first of Setsu and George's four children was born. In 1946, Setsu and George returned to Los Angeles, where they reunited with their siblings and parents and completed their family with three daughters, one of whom, Dorthea, died shortly after birth.

When the family moved to Palo Alto in 1952, Setsu quickly became involved in her children's schools, first at Walter Hays, then at Jordan Middle School and Palo Alto High School. Members of the community still fondly remember Setsu sharing the Japanese traditions of celebrating Girls Day and Boys Day with dolls and kites. Her sense of humor, talent for getting things done, and unfailing good taste made Setsu a natural leader who bonded with a small group of other extraordinary Palo Alto women of that era. At the same time, Setsu began 35 years of service as a Pink Lady with the Stanford Hospital Auxiliary, offering special attention to new mothers as they prepared to take their infants home.

While busy with her own children and their classmates, hospital patients and cultural activities, Setsu also cared for her aging in-laws. When responsibilities at home lessened somewhat in the 1970s, Setsu increased the traveling she did with George, enjoying trips to Europe, Africa and Asia, especially Japan. In later years, Setsu spent time at her home in Island Park, Idaho, on the banks of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River. She was especially happy to be out in nature, sharing beauty with family, friends, babies and dogs.

Setsu was a graceful athlete and later in her life channeled much of her enthusiasm into being a super fan of Stanford sports. For many years, she attended Stanford football games as a season ticket holder and also enjoyed track meets and tennis matches. Her passion, however, was for women's basketball. From the arrival of Tara VanDerveer as head coach at Stanford in 1985, Setsu cheered the team at virtually every home game until she was physically unable to do so. To honor Setsu's dedication to Stanford and to its women's basketball program in particular, the head coach is now officially known as the Setsuko Ishiyama director of women's basketball.

In addition to her family, Setsu was cared for by an extraordinary team of doctors, nurses and caregivers who attended her with love and loyalty as well as the best medical attention possible. Setsu responded to these wonderful people with gratitude, frequently expressing her thanks and ensuring that all knew they were appreciated.

Setsu is survived by her children Nelson Ishiyama (Terrie McDonald), Margaret Ishiyama Raffin, Patricia Ishiyama; grandchildren Elizabeth Raffin and Julia Ishiyama; brother Kenichi Takahashi; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by husband George, daughter Dorthea, brother Fumio Takahashi, and sisters Hiro Nonoshita, Kimiko Takahashi and Mary Hirashima.