Ralph Akutagawa

Loving husband, dad and grandpa, Ralph Akutagawa of Redondo Beach passed away with family at his side on July 6, 2024 at the age of 92. He was born in Kapa’a, Kauai in November, 1931 to Mitoyo and Tsuruji Akutagawa, the youngest of seven children. He had an idyllic rural childhood where he lived a few houses from the ocean and spent much of his time outdoors, at the beach, and at his family’s local general store. As a teen he earned spending money working at the Dole Pineapple fields.

He served in the Air Force at Hickam Air Force Base in Pearl Harbor. It was at a party on Sandy Beach in Honolulu where he met his future wife Marion, a bright young nursing student. He earned a degree in Business Administration at the University of Bowling Green, in Ohio, where they married and had their first child. With a baby in tow, they traveled cross country to Los Angeles, and bought a home in Torrance to raise their family. They later settled in Redondo Beach.

Ralph had a successful career with the IRS and retired at age 55. He loved taking his family on trips and outings, photography, music, movies, and travel. He was an avid sports fan and sportsman – enjoying fishing, playing golf and for much of his life, a daily game of tennis. He was preceded in death by Marion, his beloved wife of 52 years. A loving dad and proud grandpa, he is survived by his children Jon (Sonya), Ann Wolfson (Brian), and Ken; grandsons Sean, Daniel, Alex and Brandon; and sister Linda Yuen.

A memorial committal service will be held at Green Hills in Rancho Palos Verdes on August 12 at noon.