In Memory

Toshio Odano - Class Of 1941

Toshio Odano

Toshio Odano (January 19, 1923 - August 26, 2014) passed away peacefully in the arms of his wife at their home in Canoga Park, California. He was 91. A lifelong resident of Southern California, Tosh was born in South Pasadena to Issei parents.

Tosh graduated from South Pasadena High School, and began his college career at the University of Redlands. His studies were interrupted by World War II when he and his family were interned at Gila River Relocation Camp in Arizona. Tosh and his family left Camp to move to Chicago where he was enrolled at Evanston Collegiate Institute. It was at Evanston where he met Mary Jean Hildebrant, his wife of 70 years. Tosh served from 1945 - 1950 in the US Army, Military Intelligence Service in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Upon his return from Japan in 1950, he resumed studies at Indiana University receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography. He attended UCLA, earning a Master's degree in geography. 

Tosh loved to travel, especially to Japan, where he visited his family and pursued his passion of photographing the nation's ever-changing landscape. He was also a lifelong Dodgers fan. Tosh and Mary Jean raised four children, Dale, Steven (Nomi), Allyn, and Jan. He was a proud grandfather of Tyler Haywood, Alfonso and Evan Carreon, Jacob Stapp, and Julia Odano, and a proud great-grandfather of Natalie Haywood. Tosh is preceded in death by his half-brother Hideo Odano and half-sister Mitsue Odano Yamaouchi (both of Hiroshima, Japan); brother Henry Odano (SPHS '43) of Los Angeles; and grandson Evan Odano Carreon of Los Angeles. He is mourned by his families in Japan and the United States and he will be missed by all who knew him.

Los Angeles Times, November 20, 2014