Obituary: Author and Scholar Donald Hamilton Estes died Saturday, May 7, 2005, at age 68

Donald Hamilton Estes

ESTES, DONALD HAMILTON August 22, 1936 to May 7, 2005

Donald Hamilton Estes, 68, died Saturday as a result of complications related to cardiac surgery performed earlier in the week...Mr. Estes was a noted authority on the Japanese American experience; he authored numerous articles and frequently spoke in many forums on the subject. He created or coordinated major exhibits regarding the Japanese American community, including "The Hundred Year Road: Japan to San Diego" shown in the San Diego Museum of History; a 4-city, oral history study on the resettlement of the Japanese Americans following World War II (Japanese American National Museum); a video made for the 50th anniversary reunion of the Japanese Americans from San Diego who were incarcerated in the Poston Arizona Camp III during WWII; and several others. He was very active in the San Diego Japanese American community.

He is a founding member of the Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego and had been an Executive Board member since its inception, in addition to serving as curator. He was on the Board of the San Diego Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) since 1967, serving twice as its President, the newsletter editor for 20 years, and historian since 1990. He received the Silver Pin Award from the National JACL for his long-standing service to the Japanese American community. He also had been a member of the Scholarly Advisory Board of the Japanese American National Museum since 1989, and was on the Executive Board of the Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego from 1990-93...

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 5/10/2005. To read the entire article, please visit: http://www.legacy.com/signonsandiego/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=3524826