Samuel Takeo Himoto photograph collection

Samuel Takeo Himoto (1925-2007) was born in Isleton, California. During World War II, he and his family were interned at Tule Lake Relocation Center in California. Upon their release, his family relocated to Rockford, Illinois where Samuel finished high school. He was then drafted into the United States Army Air Corps in 1945 and served in Bremerton, Germany until 1946. After he was honorably discharged from military service, Himoto returned to Chicago and obtained a job at Universal Pen Hospital, a business that had specialized in fountain pen repairs since 1923. He eventually became the owner of this business and continued to work steadily on pen repairs and engraving until his retirement in 2004. Samuel passed away on November 19, 2007.

Mary Suyama Himoto was born in Great Falls, Montana to Harry and Tami Suyama. Samuel and Mary married in 1959 and were active members of the Midwest Bonsai Society and avid Chicago Bears fans. Mary passed away on December 23, 1997.

Source: Himoto, Samuel Takeo