Memories of Dr. Jerrold (Jerry) Hiura | Ever Loved

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In memory of

Dr. Jerrold (Jerry) Hiura

Los Gatos, CA, USA

September 8, 1947 - December 26, 2019

Sep 8, 1947 - Dec 26, 2019

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Ben Miyaji

The arts, the Bay Area and beyond lost a warrior in Jerry Hiura. He was quiet but his presence demanded respect. I first met Jerry when I was appointed to the San Jose Arts Commission in 1992. Jerry was the chair and I was the newbie. This started an almost 30-year friendship, mentorship and being my dentist (I think almost everyone at one time or the other was a patient of Dr. Jerry). Jerry’s passion for the arts, community, diversity and artists was inspiring. Jerry’s quiet leadership, friendship, passion and generosity will be missed. Thank you for all you have done. Rest in peace gentle warrior.

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Sophie Horiuchi-Forrester

Deepest condolences to Lucia and family. Jerry was an incredible generous force who did so much for the community - as a dentist, as an artist, as a mentor and so much more. He always sought to bring more people to the table, connect and weave a greater sense of community and shared purpose. He always made me feel welcome and encouraged; he always carried this tremendous contagious optimism and a bold vision of what could be, might be. Always so generous to Yu-Ai Kai and many other organizations, and mentored many of us, trying to figure out our place in the world. Jerry will be greatly missed, but leaves many of us so inspired to carry on the important work. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey.

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Bruce Davis

San Jose, CA, USA

There is so much that I will miss Jerry for, most especially his advocacy for the arts over the past 2 decades that I knew and worked with him. And his smile.

Most of all, I will miss our J-Town lunches very much. Always gracious and eager to catch up on the latest arts and funding news in the Valley and California. He was such a great smart guy and very into helping his community.

He will be missed. There is now a big void where Jerry used to stand.

Bruce Davis

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Trami Cron

CATS

Ben Miyaji

Audrey Yu-Speight

Please consider a gift to Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS).

$5,552.00

Raised by 37 people

Learn more & give

Bruce Davis

My best wishes for Lucia and Jerry's family to heal from his passing.

Those who knew and worked with him, shall miss forever miss him.

I know I will...

Bruce Davis

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Danny Harris

Jerry was such a kind and generous soul and my family and I are so saddened by his passing. In addition to being our family's dentist, I was also fortunate enough to work closely with him during my time at the Knight Foundation. Jerry was a wonderful and committed advocate for San Jose, Japantown, and the arts. I always enjoyed our time together, even when in the dentist's chair(!), and feel so fortunate to have known him as a partner and friend. He cared so deeply about his community and his passion was contagious. I left every meeting of ours excited by a new idea of his and inspired by a new possible partner or project he wanted to introduce me to. We will truly miss Jerry. May his memory be a blessing. Our deepest condolences to his family and everyone at Japantown Dental. - Danny, Noga, Mila, and Leo Harris

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Barbara Hiura

2019, Kubota's Restaurant, North 5th Street, San Jose, CA, USA

Jerry, Lucia, Dorothy (Mom) and Barbara

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CATS

Cindy Toy

Ben Miyaji

Audrey Yu-Speight

Comments:

Barbara Hiura

This a photo taken in mid-November celebrating his, my Mom’s 96th birthday. It was such a happy time just... Read more This a photo taken in mid-November celebrating his, my Mom’s 96th birthday. It was such a happy time just a short while ago. ... Read more This a photo taken in mid-November celebrating his,... Read more

Amy Chan

Condolences to Dr. Hiura's family and everyone at his practice. My husband and I enjoyed being his patients for many years and we will miss his humor, generosity, and travel stories.

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Winnie Chu

San Jose, CA, USA

Our annual reunion with American Leadership Forum Class V

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Audrey Yu-Speight

HENRY NAKATA

2019

SVAPFF 11.1.19

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Comments:

HENRY NAKATA

SVAPFF Honors Dr. Jerry Hiura. https://youtu.be/nKH6LZt5j5U SVAPFF Honors Dr. Jerry Hiura. https://youtu.be/nKH6LZt5j5U SVAPFF Honors Dr. Jerry Hiura. https://youtu.be/nKH6LZt5j5U... Read more

Todd Hirozawa

1983, San Jose Arts Council and San Jose Taiko

Our warmest condolences to Lucia, the Hiura family and Japantown Dental.

When Dr. Jer first joined the San Jose Arts Council, he and Jim Zuur supported the San Jose Taiko group funding for a part-time general manager. The rest is history, for both Dr. Jer and SJT.

Being one of his captive audience (dental chair), we have often shared our love of Italian truffles, Mont Belle socks, Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine. He has always supported our family's businesses from jeans to sushi.

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Keith Inouye

Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to Jerry's wife Lucia, mother Dorothy, and sister Barbara and all who were touched by Dr. Hiura's life and passions. His presence and leadership in the community will be greatly missed. - Rev. Keith Inouye & the congregation of Wesley United Methodist Church (Japantown, San Jose)

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Audrey Yu-Speight

CATS

2019, Tsugaru Restaurant in San Jose

Jerry was always available to help, give us advice, as well as his thoughts regarding upcoming events. Here he is with Cindy Toy and Steve Yamaguma, Co-chairs of SVAP FilmFest.

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Leianne Lamb

Audrey Yu-Speight

Andrew Morikawa

2018, San Jose, CA, USA

L-R: Dr. Jerrold Hiura, his mom Dorothy Hiura, cousin Dennis Morikawa, sister Barbara Hiura

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Comments:

Andrew Morikawa

Jerry's cousins, Dennis and Andrew Morikawa, were visiting in November 2018 to celebrate his mom's Dorothy's... Read more Jerry's cousins, Dennis and Andrew Morikawa, were visiting in November 2018 to celebrate his mom's Dorothy's 85th birthday. ... Read more Jerry's cousins, Dennis and Andrew Morikawa, were visiting... Read more

Geordie Smith

Jerry was my dentist for approximately 35 years. I knew him when he was a cheerful young dentist until he was a cheerful older dentist. In my mind he’s still youthful. He was always so full of life. He was always kind, considerate, and full of information and ideas. He will be missed.

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Audrey Yu-Speight

CATS

2017, Pho 69

2017 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest Opening Night get together.

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Audrey Yu-Speight

CATS

2015, Santa Clara Convention Center, Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA, USA

Jerry and Lucia ❤️

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Leianne Lamb

Audrey Yu-Speight

Comments:

Wayne Kumagai

fantastic picture! fantastic picture! fantastic picture!

CATS

2015, Santa Clara Convention Center, Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA, USA

Dr. Jerry Hiura, awarded the Gordon N. Chan Leadership Award

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Leianne Lamb

Audrey Yu-Speight

Comments:

Wayne Kumagai

Jerry was very thoughtful and asked many questions so he could dig deeper to understand. Jerry was very thoughtful and asked many questions so he could dig deeper to understand. Jerry was very thoughtful and asked many questions... Read more

Maribel Alvarez

So many wonderful memories of Jerry- always kind, smart, witty, dedicated, elegant. A huge loss for so many who were blessed to know him.

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Leianne Lamb

Audrey Yu-Speight

Comments:

Sharon Uyeda

I agree fully. I agree fully. I agree fully.

Carlos Pérez

Today is a sad day for us here in the South Bay Arts, we lost a true Friend, Artist Colleague, My Dentist and of course a true Hero for the Arts! We Love You Jerry

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Leianne Lamb

Audrey Yu-Speight

GERRYE WONG

San Jose, CA

When I was following my dream to build a Chinese American Museum in San Jose, I inquired who would be the leader in Japantown to contact. Many said - go to Jerry Hiura as he's a great lover of Asian American history and the arts. Trembling at my first fundraising cold call, I called and asked for an appointment. The busy dentist, of course he was in a hurry and kept me waiting with more trembling thoughts. but when he did finally show up, his ready smile and warm handshake led me to succumb to his charms while begging for his support and $$$. He gave both, won me over and from then on, for the next 40 years, we shared the deep mission to spread Asian American history and the arts to our fellow Americans. To a great friend - I salute you, Jerry and keep charming all the ladies up in Heaven with your innocent grin. . Luckily for you, they won't be begging you for money anymore like this old fundraising friend Gerrye nagged you always.
Rest in peace!
Gerrye Wong, co founder CHCP

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Audrey Yu-Speight

ALLAN SEID

Jerry,
Your quiet leadership, good judgment, and fierce spirit to always advocate for social justice for Asian Americans will long be remembered and inspiring. In any given generation, there are few
heroes like you.
With affection and admiration,
Allan and Mary Seid

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Jon Jang

"Here, There and Everywhere"

At an event in 1987, Jerry Hiura invited my trio to perform. He requested that we perform Lennon-McCartney’s Here, There and Everywhere. Without overthinking this request, I learned that this song expressed one word that would describe Jerry Hiura: humility. And that Jerry was “here, there and everywhere” in the communities.

The first time I met Jerry was when I attended a book party for his book, The Hawk’s Well: A Collection of Japanese American Art and Literature in 1987. During the late 80s, Jerry invited tenor saxophonist Francis Wong and me on piano to perform at a jazz club in San Jose along with poet Lawson Fusao Inada, who became Oregon’s fifth Poet Laureate twenty years later. Jerry also supported the production of my CD recording, Never Give Up! that featured a work called Reparations Now! Concerto for Large Ensemble and Taiko inspired by the San Jose Day of Remembrance program in 1987 which was organized by the Nihonmachi Outreach Committee (NOC).

In 1995, the year Jerry co-founded CATS (Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene), he was involved in the creative process of a new multidisciplinary work called After Hours, which featured a collaboration between writer-poet David Mura, actor Kelvin Han Yee and me as the composer-pianist.

Jerry was one of the Executive Producers of my most recent CD recording, The Pledge of Black Asian Allegiance, which pays tribute to Malcolm X and Yuri Kochiyama. Jerry and Lucia also supported my CD recording, Paper Son, Paper Songs to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and Chinese immigrant resistance to racist exclusionary laws.

I dubbed Dr. Jerry a Chinese nickname: Dr. Phil Ling because he gave me enough crowns to build a middle kingdom! Whenever Dr. Jerry took an impression of my bite in which my mouth had to be closed for 5 minutes, I became an audience of one for arts advocate Jerry, who would give his strong opinions about the political dynamics in the San Jose arts field. Even though I had a front row seat, all the patients and staff could hear his opinions surrounding a sensitive topic concerning race. LOL! Although I appreciate the crowning achievements Dr. Jerry did with my teeth, it was amusing to watch Dr. Jerry act more of an orator than an oral surgeon.

To Bruthah Jerry, one of the first JA Renaissance men that I ever knew: Thank you Jerry for sharing your genuine humility. Thank you Jerry and Lucia for supporting individual artists such as myself. Thank you Jerry for being an arts change maker and a leader in our communities!

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Leianne Lamb

Audrey Yu-Speight

Steve Yamaguma

1980, Foothill College, El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA, USA

Jerry Hiura (left) at the Norcal premier of Hito Hata

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Audrey Yu-Speight

Comments:

Steve Yamaguma

I had the opportunity to work with Jerry, Allan Tate, and other community folk to stage the Norcal premier... Read more I had the opportunity to work with Jerry, Allan Tate, and other community folk to stage the Norcal premier of Hito Hata by Duane... Read more I had the opportunity to work with Jerry, Allan Tate,... Read more

J Ho

Throughout your lifetime, many people come and go in your life. Some leave a deep impression and effect in so many ways- new friends, new adventures, new outlooks- Dr Jerry was one of those people. I will always be grateful our lives crossed and hope we can carry on his legacy of generosity and love. ❤️

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Leianne Lamb

Trami Cron

E Lorenzo

Audrey Yu-Speight

Geoff Alexander

2017

Jerry was a dear friend and also my dentist. Here’s a Jerry story that won’t make the papers. Two years ago, my 90-year-old father was confined to a rehab facility. We discovered that he could not chew food due to mal-fitting dentures made by a previous dentist. Never a complainer, my dad hid the fact that he couldn’t chew until he entered the facility. I asked Jerry if he’d make a house call to dad’s rehab facility, as my father was not ambulatory. Jerry saw him the very next day, made an examination, and determined how to fix the problem. The following day, Shirley and Olive from the office showed up, took his dentures back to the office, and then returned a day later with the fix. As a result, my dad could again chew food for the final year of his life. I went to the office to pay dad’s dental bill. Jerry refused payment although I kept insisting. He never let me pay him. Jerry was special. He was a phenomenal dentist, a wonderful conversationalist, and a contributor to any arts organization that asked for a donation. Above all, he had a great heart, which is the part of Jerry I’ll miss the most
- Geoff Alexander

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Leianne Lamb

Audrey Yu-Speight

Comments:

BRUCE WAKAYAMA

Dr Jerry was Nancy and my dentist. My whole family went to Jerry's dad before he became a doctor. While he... Read more Dr Jerry was Nancy and my dentist. My whole family went to Jerry's dad before he became a doctor. While he was earning a his degree,... Read more Dr Jerry was Nancy and my dentist. My whole family ... Read more

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